'Yoga Basics' @ Discovery Yoga.

I'm new to the Yoga scene. As a bit of an acolyte of Andrew Weil, MD, I've long learned of the benefits of mind-body medicine. Through his extensive library of CD offerings through Sounds True recordings, I have explored Breathwork, Guided Imagery, Self-Hypnosis, Meditation and Music Therapy. All were worthy explorations that I recommend to everyone. All serve to influence the ANS (Autonomic Nervous System) balance infavor of the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS - the Rest and Digest branch) over the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS - the Fight or Flight branch). These techniques only require the daily discipline to practice them. Only 15-20 minutes a day is a good practice.

What makes Yoga and T'ai Chi even more valuable is that they, too influence ANS balance toward the PNS, but do so with the combined benefit of physical exercise. They are the wedding of movement and meditation, so the benefits are doubled. I hope you will consider Yoga for the new year. Suzanne's class at Discovery Yoga is one of the best, anywhere. You just learn a few poses each week, take them home, practice them, then learn a few more. By the end of the course you have learned an entire program that you have been gently guided through. Plus you can stop and ask questions, too. What is your experience with Yoga? How about T'ai Chi? Or Mind/Body Medicine? Please share at the comment link below. Peace.

Fort Mose

I highly recommend a visit to Fort Mose.

It will open your eyes to a whole side of history we have yet to explore.

James Bullock and the Fort Mose Historical Society deserve praise. So does the Florida State Parks System. This place is inspiring.

Roadside Cleanup...

Today, I had a little spare time so I rode my rusty old beat up Schwinn up to the first and second entrances of St. Augustine South and picked up litter. I usually do it somewhere between 4-5 times a year when the accumulated junk just overwhelms me when I drive by.

I find picking up litter to be strangely therapeutic. First off, please realize that I'm not some self-satisfied, self-righteous tree-hugger. My reasons for picking up trash are more pragmatic. You see, I started doing so a few years back while my Dad was still alive. I was caring for him as dementia robbed us of the amazing gentleman he had been his entire life. When he finally passed on after a long deterioration, I had to sell his properties to settle his affairs.

It was while attempting to sell his small rentals that I began to take notice of the neighborhood. What had long bothered me about the litter strewn down Shore Drive began to take a malevolent role. I realized I couldn't just rely on fixing up the rentals. I had to get to work on fixing up the neighborhood if I hoped to sell these houses.

So, back in 2005-2006 I began periodically cleaning up litter. It was something I had done where ever I lived, but now I did it with more purpose. This is what I learned....

1. I found a preponderence of cigarette butts/packs, fast-food containers/bags, beer bottles/cans, etc. Which allowed me to draw a conclusion: "People who won't take care of themselves, won't take care of the world around them".


2. I realized that: "Litter leads to Neglect...Neglect leads to Decay...Decay leads to Property Crime...Property Crime leads to Violent Crime". So, by picking up trash, I'm not doing so to save the earth. I'm doing so to fight crime by interrupting a neighborhood's slide from neglect to crime before it gains momentum.


3. Lastly, I have arrived at this nostrum: "If you let people treat your neighborhood like a ghetto, one day you'll wake up in a ghetto".

So I'll keep my periodic cleanups. I feel good after I'm done. I may look silly doing it, but I don't care. I'm not too good to pick up trash, but I am too good to live in a ghetto.

Matt Jeffs - 11.14.08

Guy Persone

Check out this week's show with Guy Persone. He's some character who shows up uninvited to the St. Augustine Record and claims to represent them. They've been good sports by humoring him and he doesn't seem to be an immediate threat to himself or others. Still, he can be a little, 'ahem', erratic. We never know when he'll show up, so stay tuned.

Question of the Day...

Who needs pictures? What is the one memorable moment in your past that you can still see perfectly clearly in your mind's eye?

- Matt 10.31.08

'Control Room' at WFCF

Here we are in the 'Control Room' (oooooohhh) of 88.5FM WFCF Flagler College Radio (Radio with a Reason). My weekly program on WFCF ran for 9 years and enjoyed the highest Arbitron rating and listenership on Flagler College Radio. I hope to return one day when the opportunity presents itself. I loved starting our weekend together, bringing our listeners interesting people and hopefully enjoyable music.