The Gift of Breath Are you breathing into your feelings? This was the question my yoga instructor asked during class recently. It stopped me in my downward dog. Imagine if we all took the time to breathe into our feelings instead of immediately reacting to them. Breathing into our feelings is the purest form of acceptance. I do not have to label, define, declare, explain or act upon my feelings. I just need to breathe into them. Imagine the miscommunication and conflict avoided if, instead of instantly reacting to our feelings, we simply gave ourselves permission to breathe into them. by Jennifer Stern Consider all the self-criticism, the self-limiting narratives and the self-doubt minimized by first breathing into, rather than personalizing and acting on, our feelings. This simple step of breathing into our feelings gifts us a true pause – a pause that allows us to simply practice breath, the breath of silence, the breath of calm, the breath of self-care. Our mind slows down. Our breathing slows down. Our heart rate slows down. We literally gift ourselves a respite – for mind, body and spirit – a time to breathe, to reset, to start again. The freedom from becoming our feelings. Jennifer Stern, LISW, is a Loss and Bereavement Specialist at Ellen F. Casper, PH.D and Associates in Beachwood. For more information she can be reached at 216.464.4243. A Fall Harvest Festival at Montefiore Montefiore celebrated its 25th anniversary in Beachwood with a family-friendly event on Sunday, October 30, 2016, with nearly 500 attendees enjoying everything from a bounce house, magician, animal show, commemorative canvas art project, balloon clown, face painting, caricature artist and sweet treats including ice cream, freshly-popped popcorn, cookies, donuts and apple cider. Happy 25th Anniversary Montefiore! Beachwood City Council member and Montefiore board member Barbara Bellin Janovitz and Montefiore president and CEO Seth Vilensky display a proclamation issued by the City of Beachwood recognizing October 30, 2016 as “Montefiore 25th Anniversary Day in the City of Beachwood.” FREE PICK UP & DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME OR OFFICE i op s w hur NoyNd NL $ d e Y Purch t Car ou Re ase: 5 Gif ertificat $50 ceiv 2 se: $ Gift C eal) a (to u e: $10 Gift Ca se fo G r urch ive: $5 next m P e r you ift Cer d r r nex tifica Rec use for you t me u te al) eN Yot (to purchase of $20 or more D O SUMMERS 4OFF 6OFF 10OF $ $ purchase of $20 or more *Total before tax Must present coupon. Dine-in only. One coupon per table per party. Offer good through 4/15/16. Not valid with any other offers or OFF 20% Good at any of our 9 locations. 5708 Mayfield Rd. • The Greens of Lyndhurst 4866 Richmond Rd. • Warrensvi $ $ 440-461-9077 216-831 $ donramon-granfiestamex.com Your entire dry cleaning and laundry order! Incoming orders only. Not valid on alterations, households, storage or with any other offer. Expires 2-28-15. 12-31-16. 4OFF 6OFF 10OFF purchase of $30 or more *Total before tax Happy Hour: Mon - Fri, 3-6 pm Margaritas & Beer purchase of $30 or more purchase of $50 or mo purchase of $50 or more *Total before tax A Leader for More an a Century - Since 1881 to be exact. Must present coupon. Dine-in only. Offer good through 12/31/16. Not valid with any other offers or specials. 5708 Mayfield Rd. Closed Christmas Eve & Day The Greens of Lyndhurst donramon-granfiestamex.com 440-461-9077 4866 Richmond Rd. Warrensville Hts 216-831-3100 34 Beachwood Buzz n December 2016