Tag: #justdoit

#lessonsthroughjoy, #lifelessons, Political

Making the Ask

emyminzel

Lessons Through Joy –

by Emy Minzel

The intention of this book called “Lessons Through Joy!” is to share how adventuring out into the wild wilderness of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area has transformed The Adventure Sisters profoundly. The Adventure Sisters consist of two middle aged women. My dear friend Stacy Crep and I.

Together we created BWCAdventureSisters/Facebook page. We created our blogs and began writing this book Lessons Through Joy! then proceeded to craft two other books immediately following. We are posting chapters from Lessons Through Joy! to inspire other women to expand out of the comfort zone into personal growth and joyful living.

The time we spent in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has contributed to the expansion of all the important areas in life. In my confidence, my career, my relationships, spiritual growth, personal development, even my Dharma/life purpose. It is my hope that sharing our escapades in “Lessons through Joy!”  and how they have transformed us, will motivate others to connect to the environment. And hopefully grow National support in the campaign to #SavetheBoundaryWaters.org

My name is Emy Minzel. I am a 47-year-old woman that feels much younger at heart. I have one daughter who is 30. Yep, go ahead and do the math… we are good with it! I would not change a thing. She is my best friend and an amazing human who I am very proud to know. Jason and I have been married for 16 years. We have one dog Hank and two cats, Beatrix Basi, and Sage.

I am an only child. Raised as a free range, latch key kid on the Iron Range of northern Minnesota by a single mother. My mother worked a lot to make sure we had what we needed. She let me follow my instincts and try different extracurricular activities. Now I realize how growing up with so much freedom made me who I am and gave me many skills I still rely on today. I am committed to practicing my best aptitudes in service to the greater good. While bravely allowing myself freedom and vulnerability to gain personal growth and wisdom through diverse experiences.  

I am in love with nature. This may sound weird to you. But I believe love is just a word unless you use it as a verb. Love is an act. Love means you apply action towards expressing that feeling. I consider myself an environmentalist; therefor I am very interested in politics. In 2018 I ran as a Candidate for the Minnesota State Representative. Then in 2022 I ran for Minnesota State Senate seat in my district.

My political effort was spurred on by the proposed permits to allow dangerous copper/sulfide mining. I simply can’t fathom how MN Legislators would even consider allowing mining practice known to cause disastrous pollution in the sacred Boundary Waters Canoe Area. 

These mines exist all over the world and have a 100% failure record of devastating contamination of the regions where they exist. Polluting water with forever chemicals, that are impossible to clean up and last for over 500 years. Thus, causing taxpayers billions of dollars as they will be left with the Super Fund Site cleanup bill after the mining company inevitably declares bankruptcy.

It is my love of water and wilderness of northern Minnesota that inspired me to alter my life path. I am determined to do what I can to protect what I love. What’s left of Minnesota’s clean water, and the undervalued beautiful gem of my home state, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Before my political runs, I was blessed to work from home as a Massage Therapist. Stacy, my Adventure Sister and I, were writing manuscripts together doing our best to manifest publishing a Best-Selling book series. We have written three books together like the one you are reading now. It’s unconventional, with two authors sharing two perspectives.

We think it is appropriate to share how being different from each other is a blessing. The journeys we’ve shared inspired the desire to encourage others to find the resolution to pursue their own adventures. These quests have allowed us both to level up greatly in our lives and we want that for you too.

Of course, I have several other interests that make me who I am. am the kind of girl who nurtures my family, pets and plants, likes to cook, garden and care for my community, and run chainsaw. I love to work with my hands, hiking with my dog, and doing anything in or on the water. The kind of girl who sings gratitude to the water while floating in it or on it, intentionally meditating to send love to the world. Filling my cup with soul food by Volunteering as a Board Member of the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in my community. Which gives me the gift of being inspired by good hearted, talented folks, while spending time with outstanding people I admire.

Stacy once told me I am intimidating and that I have big energy. I figure I am only 4’11 ½ “how intimidating can I be?! I would prefer to say I am passionate. Unafraid to give you my opinion in a respectful manner. This is who I am now. Not who I was a decade ago. I was not a joiner, and I was a homebody.

Over a decade ago, before we took our first adventure into the BWCA. I would have just finished Massage Therapy certification program, rented a space in town. Focused on getting clients and aiming for success. Yet, I began to feel there was something missing in my life. Something I couldn’t put my finger on. Feeling restless I had decided to seek spiritual meaning in life.

This is where our story of transformation begins. As divine intervention and divine timing will do. I met my Adventure Sister Stacy at a Stepping into the Metaphysical Energy class. It was taught by Bobby Sullivan in St. Cloud MN, at a store called Mind, Body, Spirit.  Her contributions to the class were insightful, and we came to learn that we both had just completed a Reiki Energy Healing course at the time. We exchanged phone numbers to “trade” energy work and practice. I took her card, left, then promptly forgot her name. To be honest, at that point in my life I was so introverted that I would not have called her to exchange Reiki.

Thank goodness she called me! Stacy was very pleasant in the class which felt safe for me to agree that we meet at my office. When she arrived for our trades, we didn’t really talk too much, just your niceties of acquaintances meeting for the second time, and we got straight to work. There were no words spoken during our first Reiki Energy Healing exchange. Yet, I felt a big energy shifting inside me.

By the end of this session, we both felt as if we were connected in a past life. As if we were sisters in a different lifetime.  We had just met… I was not “woke” by any means. Yet there was no denying we both felt a soul family connection to a woman we just met.

Thankfully Stacy only lived a town away from me at the time. We started trading Reiki often; we both looked forward to seeing each other. Learning little bits and pieces about our lives, and we started looking for more metaphysical classes to take together. Stacy felt like the safe, slightly older sister I never had. It was a bonus that she always picked me up and drove me around! At that time in life, it was very hard to get me out of the house.

We found great classes and events like a book study for the Bhagavad Gita class with Jaja Myra. Whom hosted Homa Fire Ceremonies honoring Ganesha the Indian Elephant headed God known for removing obstacles and Lakshmi the Indian Goddess of Beauty and Success. These ceremonies were powerful movers of energy that helped me expand my mind and spirit.

We would go to Shamanic drumming circles, learning more about shamanism. Attending several events where there were all sorts of new age spiritual modalities to try. It was clear these metaphysical practices were helping me become more aware. Aware of who I really was inside and asking myself. “Why was I hiding from the world?”

About a year later, I was still a homebody surfing the web when Groupon came across my email. It was 3-night, 4-day canoe adventure through Voyager North Outfitters in Ely, MN. I am originally from northern Minnesota. My great-great grandfather immigrated from Germany just before Hitler’s reign and settled in the densely forested land near the Vermillion River. The old farmhouse he built with his hands is still standing. We call it “the farm” and serves as a shared sanctuary and getaway for our family today. Since I am familiar with the beauty of the Boreal Forest in Northern Minnesota. This Groupon adventure called to me.

I thought of Stacy immediately. Probably because she was one of the only friends who would even consider doing something so outdoorsy. On a hunch, I forwarded her the email. Curious and hopeful of her response. I knew I couldn’t afford to go at the time, I believe it was just after Christmas and we were not financially able. It was just after the 2008 recession, and I was struggling with the demands of a new business.

Before I knew it, she emailed me and said, “I hope you are ok with it, I just purchased two of these for us!” She offered to “trade” with me for the purchase price. I felt it was a very fair trade so YES… I was okay with it! We were both excited. We didn’t know it then, but this is the adventure that would change our lives.

This Lesson Through Joy taught me humility and to ask for what you want. Since this lesson 14 years ago. I have lived this philosophy not just preached it. If I want something, I say so. No more hiding in my house or waiting for permission. This one vulnerable ‘ask’ literally changed my life. It helped me grow confidence to self-promote while building a business.

“Making the ask” is a skill I didn’t possess before then. Being brave enough to be vulnerable humbled me then brought me connections to many exceptional people since. It eventually grew to the ability to knock on doors and ask my community for donations and volunteers while campaigning for a position in congress and so much more.

Just last month, I learned of an artist work week retreat opportunity through the Oberholtzer Foundation. In northern Minnesota on the protected Mallard Island. The applications for this retreat were due last November. Since I had just learned about it two months prior to the retreat date. My intuition said. “Just try!” So, I did.

Two weeks later, I got an email saying that a spot had opened. They said I was welcome to go if I was available. The joy I felt while reading that acceptance email was enough to make me cry happy tears. As it happens, I just returned from that trip, July 21st, 2024. It ended up being one of the best experiences of my life!

These simple exercises of going out of my comfort zones. Being vulnerable and humble enough to ask for what I want. Really has opened more doors than I ever could have imagined. My advice is to voice your desires into the Universe and anyone who will listen.

It has become one of my favorite pieces of advice to share with others. “The answer is always no, if you don’t ask!”

With much love,

Emy Minzel

Heart Centered, Nature Lover, Writer, Advocate, Adventurer, Yogi, and so much more…

EmyMinzel.com

StacyCrep.com

BWCAdventureSisters/Facebook.com

#yoga, Uncategorized

What is Kundalini Yoga?

emyminzel

I get this question all the time.

So, I’d like to explain to you what I’ve found Kundalini Yoga to be like.

Kundalini is not your typical yoga poses with sun salutations and warrior series. Although these poses can be integrated into a Kundalini fusion set it is not what a typical practice looks like. Kundalini is very focused on spinal health. All the nerves and most important arteries run through the spine so it’s important to keep it healthy. There will be flexing, bending, twisting of the spine so to keep the energy flowing through the whole spinal column for optimal health.

My friend once called it yoga for people who don’t yoga. Others say it is a yoga practice you can do until your 90!

I suggest you try kundalini at least one time. Just come with an open mind on what your practice will be like. I’ll do my best to describe a typical Kundalini yoga set so you do have some idea what to expect.

First, we connect with our breath and “tune in” by singing the Adi mantra at least three times.

‘Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo’

It means, infinite wisdom I call on you. Divine wisdom I call on you.

You are calling in the intention to bring the wisdom of your higher self to your practice. It is said to be connected to the ‘Golden chain of teachers’ you’ve had in this life and others.

Then I also like to chant the Charn mantra of protection four times. The number four refers to pillars of boundaries of the four directions and elements. This chant offers protection on the spiritual level as we open our energy to healing.

Aad Guray Nameh
I bow to (or call upon) the primal Guru (wisdom)
Jugaad Guray Nameh
I bow (or call upon) to the Truth that has existed throughout the ages.
Sat Guray Nameh
I bow to (or call upon) True Wisdom.
Siri Guru Dayvay Nameh
I bow to (or call upon) the Great Divine Wisdom within.

Chanting is an important part of Kundalini practice because it stimulates your vagus nerve which is one of the longest nerve in the body. It connects the digestive system and the brain which is pretty important. Stimulating this nerve activates the energy of the upper Chakras. (p.s. I promise nobody cares if you can’t sing! Just allow yourself to do it.)

I’d like to add that Yoga is not a religion; it is a philosophy and physical science that we use to encourage you to just tap into your own intuition and wisdom of your unique spirit.

Then we go into a Kundalini set which is called a Kriya. These exercises are deeply incorporated with the breath. Most of the exercises we do will be matched with the breath. If we are doing a leg lift, we will inhale up, exhale down. If we are doing cat cow, we inhale cow/exhale cat.

In this way it is sort of like a hatha yoga. Very connected to the breath work. Instead of flowing from one pose to the next we do a moving posture for a specific length of time. If we do leg lifts for 2 minutes we will also do cat/cow for two minutes which continues for the rest of the kriya set for each posture.

It differs from asana yoga because during the kriya I will ask you to speed up the breath and the movements to a rapid pace. This really stirs up the prana and energy in the body.

If you’ve not heard of the breath of fire, it is a rapid pace breath that creates heat and stirs energy/prana/lifeforce in the lower Chakras pulling it up to the upper body. It can be strenuous, but the effects leave you feeling energized and lighter!

Typically, we build heat then rest, build heat then rest, until it is time for savasana. After savasana we have exercised the body which is an important step. Once the body is tired the mind is more able to come into a peaceful state while we continue into a singing meditation like the Kirtan Kriya.

The Kirtan Kriya was brought to the west by Yogi Bhajan and is one of the most popular meditations used in Kundalini.

This simple yet powerful meditation uses, pranayama/breathing, mudras/hand gestures, mantras/powerful words (specifically Sat Nam), locks/root lock, and dristi (3rd eye focus.) giving the body and the mind something to do while you sing the mantra and lift the spirit. Each mantra has a specific meaning, and the singing creates vibrations in the body that promote peace and calming feelings we desire.

The Kirtan Kriya is said to promote internal peace, it is a mantra you can use to help you release habits or behaviors you no longer desire to keep. It is good for improving memory and mental clarity by increasing your ability to focus.

In short Kundalini can be intense but in short bursts. It is also very powerful physically and spiritually lifting practice.  

If you have blockages in the Chakras, a Kundalini practice could help you to heal them. Just like other types of healing physical or mental, this is not always comfortable. You may have an emotional release because you are moving those stuck energies up and out of the body. You can read more about energetic emotional release here.

What you should know about Energetic Emotional Release – Emy Minzel

I hope this clarifies any questions you have about kundalini yoga, and I hope it intrigues you enough to come and try a Kundalini class at Spirit River Yoga and Massage!

Sign up at SpiritRiverYoga.com

Blessings,

Emy Minzel

CMT-200RYT

CEO of Spirit River Yoga and Massage

SpiritRiverYoga@gmail.com

Uncategorized

Decisions, Decisions…

emyminzel

It’s no secret that our life path is just made up of decisions we make along the way. In our careers, family, friends and even our health, the path is a product of decisions we’ve made prior. How my life looks today is directly because of the things I chose in the past. Sometimes we make bad decisions because we just don’t know, what we don’t know yet!

We must not kick ourselves in the butt when we do find out. It is then that we can use that opportunity to make an even more informed decision and move on from there. Who I am now, recognizes that in my younger years I would sometimes try to blame others for my failings instead of taking responsibility for my decisions. I had to get out of my own way and grow. I had to learn it was all up to me and my decisions to get the life I wanted.

Even when my decision was to be lazy and unproductive with my time, affecting any progress, the old me would think “Well if it’s meant to be it will be!” When really, it will be if I decide to make it so!

When Stacy posted her blog Let’s talk about Desire yesterday on stacycrep.com she hit the nail on the head talking about desire and distraction. I wanted to share my expericence of chosing destractions over what I truly desired and how I changed my thinking to prioritize what I truly wanted.

This thinking ‘if it was meant to be will be’ was justifying behaviors and decisions that were not getting me anywhere! I just didn’t see that it was me, standing in my way to the life I really wanted. It took years before I was ready to admit that my dissatisfaction was my own fault. That the decisions I made each moment of the day was the product of how I felt about life. Then, I had my “Ah ha!” moment and realized that nobody can change my life but me!

After this awakening, I started experimenting with mantras and found one that I loved and motivated me to take responsibility for my decisions. I still have it on a post-it note on my bathroom mirror. It says “I deserve the best! I take charge of my schedule and my life!” This simple yet powerful mantra moved me to get off the couch and start making progress towards the career and life I know I wanted but wasn’t making any progress getting too. I finally saw it because I stopped procrastinating and started doing what I knew I needed to do.

For years I knew I wanted to be a writer, yet I just did not believe in myself. So, I did not even attempt to write. When I did, it was in my journal and for my eyes only. I complained about it a lot because I was so unhappy with my lack of progress. Instead of taking the initiative to write something worth sharing, I would nap, clean, veg on the couch or anything at all besides write. How in the world did I expect to be a writer if I wasn’t confident enough to even try?

It was one small, yet life-changing decision several years ago, that got me fired up about my life goals again. Adventure Sister Stacy had encouraged me to start writing and she decided she was also going to write too. This sister solidarity gave me just enough support that I was willing to give it a shot. When we started writing, Stacy and I set a small goal of 500 words a week to keep us accountable. The best surprise was that we both ended up blowing the doors off that goal and had a great time while doing it!

We kept writing and writing and now have three books waiting for us to publish! As it turns out, editing is not cheap, and we needed to find a way to pay for the next step of making our publishing goals happen. A year after we got just our book proposals edited and paid for, we still needed the money to edit the rest of the books. We sat on this conundrum for a while and together made the decision to start putting together women’s retreats to help raise the funds to bring our books to fruition!

This is a very exciting next step in our writing careers, and all came about organically from our decision to keep making progress towards our goals and dreams. When it occurs to me that I wasted several years of my life because of my decision not to believe in myself, it can bum me out at times. Yet I know I cannot get down on myself too bad, because you don’t know, what you don’t know until you know! When you do, look at the progress you can make!

I am so thankful that I made myself take initiative to make one of my dreams come true. I did this by taking responsibility for how I was spending my time and energy and changed it to what I needed. These small decisions added up to big changes in myself and my life. I do my best to make good decisions and take responsibility with this life I’ve been blessed with. Doing so has increased my self-esteem and motivates me to keep moving forward with my goals and dreams; one small decision at a time.

Wishing you love and blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

@EmyMinzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

http://stacycrep.com

*Photo taken at Candie Kitchen in Knife River, Minnesota

 

 

 

Uncategorized

Do it anyway

emyminzel

There are times in our lives when we must do things we really just don’t want to do. Even if it is something we like doing, if we feel like we have no choice but to, how we feel about it can change. Of course, there are lots of days our work is just what we must do. Yet we can feel resistant about our chores, responsibilities or even recreational activities, if they become to feel excessive or if we have no choice but to do them.

Stacy and I are almost halfway through our 40-day kundalini Nabhi kriya practice. We promised to support and encourage each other as we go through this challenge. I feel I have benefitted by being held accountable and cheered on by my dear friend; to do this yoga routine every day, for 40 days, with no days off. Somedays are much harder than others but I always feel better after I do it.

At first it annoyed me that there were no days off for rest. But I now believe the main point of this Kundalini practice is to form a healthy habit and keep the promise to yourself. I have learned that keeping this promise and doing it even though I just don’t want too, has benefitted me in a way that I was not expecting. I have discovered that spend time every day tending to my mind body spirit connection, has made me feel like I am doing a better job at loving myself!

Though I love to write and have held myself to posting a blog every other day, even this can start to seem like work somedays. Like it’s something I must do, even when I don’t feel like it, but I still push through and get it done. I still do my best to write something worth reading, and I do it because I promised I would. Because it is important to my heart and soul that we build and sustain a wonderful community of Adventure Sisters readers and bring joy and positivity to the day. In a world that is bombarded daily with not so happy happenings; Stacy and I want to bring light and love to our loyal readers. Maybe even an uplifting meme to others who may just come upon our words by magic.

Through the words we write and our other daily practices, we work to keep our promises to ourselves and others and it feels great to keep promises! Yes, somedays it’s hard but in all honesty, it has turned out to be the best thing I do all day as well. Keeping my promise to myself and others fulfills me in a way that taking a day off never has.

We should rest but, when it comes to keeping promises to yourself; is that something you really want to take a break from? I have found this yoga practice has changed my perspective on things I didn’t even think were related. This daily practice of prayer and physical activity has benefitted my desire to give my body its proper nutrition. To keep healthier practices and hold myself accountable even when it’s the last thing I want to do.

So, when the responsibilities of our goals seem more like work then enjoyment; sometimes it is best to just “do it anyway”. Just maybe by pushing through we end up empowering ourselves more with the courage, confidence, and conviction to keep ourselves moving in the direction of our dreams, goals and aspirations. Nobody can do that for you!

I have been doing my best to change how I view these opportunities in life. Each choice I make either keeps me moving forward to my destination or keeps me from it. Therefore, I choose to do it anyways. That’s why it is worth it to me. I believe I am telling the Universe, “Yes I can, yes I will, and I am worth it.” And you are too!

Wishing you the magical soulful healing you need right now to be the best you can be.

With love,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

@EmyMinzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

Uncategorized

Are you a Do’er?

emyminzel

It seems to me there are two kinds of people; people who talk about what they want and people who do what they want. At different times in my life I have been both. I have even been the worst kind of person (in my opinion) which is a complainer. I complained about everything but took no action to change it.

I hate to hear complaining it is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. When I realized how I was acting I decided to acknowledge my own bull and decided to change my ways.

Instead of complaining I focused on the blessings. If I was fighting with my family I chose to accept that I am still blessed with great clients and my dogs still loved me.

While feeling despair about the environmental protections being dismantled I decided to stand up and say my peace. When that didn’t change anything, I decided to try to put myself in a position that may help me effect change I wish to see in the world.

Complaining never got me anywhere, it only alienated people who liked my happy personality but now were stuck listening to me protest and criticize others. If they offered ways to change, I disregarded it, as if it would not possibly work because I wasn’t willing to try.

When we complain and don’t do anything to fix it or help what we are complaining about it only makes the situation seem worse. In turn the person who was complaining seems like they doesn’t want to do the work it takes to change.

Until I decided to DO something about what I was complaining about, I was just a whiner. Plain and simple. They say there are three things you can do about something you don’t like;

1.Accept it. (Out of the question)

2.Leave it. (Nope, I like it here)

3.Change it. (Sounds like work… but here I am.)

I am not afraid of a little hard work, my mother raised me with hardcore work ethic. I show up, dig in, get my hands dirty or work long hours doing what needs to be done. I was willing to do hard work for my career but somehow had fell short working at defending my beliefs. Until my beliefs (clean water/air/soil/food/equal rights etc…) were being mutilated and poisoned, I realized I had to listen to the calling of my soul.

I was not happy and complaining so much because I knew I wasn’t doing anything at all to stand up for what I believe is right. Well…besides venting on Facebook which solves absolutely nothing. Until I asked myself to accept it, leave it or change it, I was stuck. These three choices are darn brilliant. I recommend you asking yourself to follow the same instruction in situations you are complaining about, it is life changing.

You know what I found out? I am not helpless, my voice matters, my opinion counts, I do have an affect on the outcome of my small corner of the world. Because my actions matter! What you do, has so much more power in manifesting your future then what you say you want in your future.

I can say I want clean water, and safe environment, but if I am complaining to all the wrong people and pointing fingers instead of working to make fixes and changes, it all stays the same.

My point is all the people you look up to, all the people you admire for doing something great…. They are all just regular people who decided to do what they say. I’ve come to realize it’s not because they are any different than me, it is only because they do.

No matter how long it takes or how much work it is. Doing is where the magic happens. You will not become a millionaire watching television or surfing the internet, these things only steal hours of your life that you could use to make your goals happen.

Come on kids! Let’s go DO something! Let’s be the change we wish to see in the world.

Wishing great blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

@emyminzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com