A Valentine’s Day Reminder to Love YOURSELF! By Nancy Weshkoff

A Valentine’s Day Reminder to Love YOURSELF!

By Nancy Weshkoff

February is the month of love.  We are reminded of this with a celebration of Valentine’s Day.   I love Valentine’s Day and enjoy spending time with my husband celebrating our lifelong partnership.

I would also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that it is important to love and take care of yourself.    If you cannot love yourself, it is difficult to love anyone else.

For women, we often look in the mirror and see faults: You may not like your hair color, a wrinkle that has appeared, a change in weight, etc.  Instead of focusing on the negative, focus on the POSITIVE.  If you say to yourself “I hate myself”, your mind starts to believe it.   Conversely if you say something positive such as “I love myself”, you start to feel better.   When I see a wrinkle appear on my face, I remind myself that it means I smiled a lot in my life.

Part of loving yourself is taking time for yourself.   As caregivers, we often help everyone else first and ourselves last.   I am reminded here of the inflight directions by flight attendants as the plane is getting ready to take off.   If an emergency occurs, and if you are travelling with a child, we are told to put the oxygen mask on yourself first, then on the child.  Why?  Because if you cannot take care of yourself you cannot take care of the child.

So how can you take a small step towards loving and taking care of yourself?   You can start with a positive affirmation.   “I love myself” is a great one, or choose something else that resonates with you such as “I am smart”, “I am kind”, “I am beautiful”,  etc.   Repeat this to yourself several times a day.

How about scheduling an hour for YOU?    A great yoga class is a wonderful way to stretch your body, reduce muscle tension, release anxiety through  breathing techniques and meditation, and feel wonderful.   You do not need prior experience to try a yoga or meditation class at Moonflower Yoga. There are beginner-level yoga classes on the schedule 7 days a week, and our great yoga teachers will help you feel right at home as you give yourself an hour of peace and love.  Come give it a try!

If you live in the area of Bellmore in Nassau County on Long Island’s south shore, we would love to have you join us for an hour of time for YOU.   It’s a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day for yourself.