I’d rather lie down in a yoga corpse pose than go for a run any day of the week.  But after going for a power walk with a friend recently, something inspired me to try jogging again.  It must have been those endorphins making me feel good about exercising.

The last time I jogged was years ago and I’ve never been strongly devoted to it.  Running makes me feel like I’m about to collapse any second, usually within my first lap.  Clearly, I’m out of shape!  While I love practicing hatha yoga at home, I need some cardiovascular in my routine, so I’ve decided to give jogging a second chance.

I found a website for beginner joggers and the advice is to start slowly — just five minutes a jog for the first week, then gradually build to 30 minutes of jogging, five days a week, which is the recommended schedule.

For now, I’m doing a combination of jogging and walking a few times a week.  And I’ve applied a yoga trick that I find very helpful — I focus on my breathing.  That helps me not to pant out of control and to keep going.

To learn more about jogging for beginners, click here:  http://www.joggingforbeginners.com/.

Is life a haphazard series of events or are we all part of a grand design, much bigger and greater than we could ever know?

This is one of the questions that’s explored by author, Rachel Simon, in her recent memoir, “Building a Home with My Husband.”  This book was part of my summer reading and I highly recommend it to anyone who’s ever been through a home renovation.  Even if you haven’t remodeled a house, there’s still a lot of insights this memoir has to offer about life, love and relationships.

To stimulate conversations among her readers, Rachel Simon has started the @Home Book Tour.  Basically, if you live in the Delaware or Philadelphia area, Rachel can arrange a personal home visit for 12 or more friends who have read and purchased her book.  For those who live further away, the author can schedule a visit via phone or website for at least 6 friends gathered together in one home.  These visits are free and in an e-mail, Rachel wrote, “I hope to do as many of these as possible.”

For more information, go to http://www.rachelsimon.comand click on the Rachel @Home Book Tour.

This year has not been kind to the magazine publishing world, with so many publications folding  that there’s even a website called MagazineDeathPool.com.  But that hasn’t stopped Greg Sullivan and Joe Diaz from creating a brand new travel magazine called “Afar.”  With a focus on cultural travel, the founders of Afar have a mission to “inspire and guide those who travel the world seeking to connect with its people, experience, their culture and understand their perspectives.”  They have even created an Afar Foundation, promoting cross-cultural exchange for college students and recent graduates who are looking to immerse themselves in another country.  Unlike other travel magazines that focus on hotels and resorts, Afar is all about connecting with real people and places through experiential travel.  To subscribe to the magazine or check out the website, click here:   http://www.afar.com/.

It’s hard to focus on my office job when I’d rather be at the beach.  Of course, in this economy I’m grateful to be working, but that’s beside the point.  When I’m feeling sluggish at my desk, my instinct is to make myself a cup of coffee.  Sometimes I think it’s more of an excuse to get up than out of a real need for caffeine.  If you’re a habitual coffee or soda drinker, here are five caffeine-free pick me up pointers to get you through the day:

1) Pick up the phone.  It’s so easy to get caught up in e-mails and instant messaging these days.  Making phone calls helps to build relationships with your colleagues and gives your eyes a break from staring at the computer screen.

2) Practice yoga at your desk.  I’m not talking about anything fancy, just simple stretches and deep breathing exercises.  For yoga postures at work, check out YogaJournal.com.

3) Take a brisk walk around the office.  Make it look like you’re on your way to a meeting and be sure to have a folder in hand.

4) Get a dose of sunshine.  Go out for lunch, but if you can’t, then at least take a brief break outside.  There’s nothing like fresh air and natural Vitamin D.

5) Drink ginger tea.  The spiciness of this herbal tea helps to reinvigorate, plus ginger is widely known for its health benefits.

Frank McCourt, author of my favorite memoir, “Angela’s Ashes” died on July 19th at the age of 78.  When I heard the news, it made me reflect on how much I’ve enjoyed McCourt’s writing and what an inspiration he had been in his lifetime.  Growing up in an Irish slum under destitute conditions, McCourt managed to escape the poverty and move to New York City as a young man.  He became an English teacher in the New York City public school system and after retiring in his 60s, he published his first book, ”Angela’s Ashes,” which won him the Pulitzer Prize.  His memoir also became a popular movie that touched a wide audience.

Students of McCourt, some who have become authors themselves, remember him in a New York Times article for his story telling and ability to teach writing.  To read more, click here http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/books/20frank.html?_r=1&scp=5&sq=mccourt&st=cse.

If you’re single and haven’t had any luck with online dating or friends playing matchmaker, then how about trying something entirely different like bartering for a mate?  That’s what 38-year-old, Kelly O’very, of Salt Lake City did when she placed a classified ad in KSL that read, “Free Jeep with wedding ring… Let’s get hitched!”  We don’t know yet if her barter idea will lead to good news, but I applaud Kelly on her guts and creativity.  For the full article, click on.

One of my favorite authors, Rachel Simon, has published a new memoir, “Building a Home with My Husband,” a story about the re-design of her home and the restoration of love.  What I admire about Simon is that her writing is filled with warmth, humor and keen insights about personal relationships.  She is well-known for her bestselling memoir, “Riding the Bus with My Sister,” which describes her relationship with her mentally retarded sister, and became a television movie starring Rosie O’Donnell and Andie MacDowell.  Now, “Building a Home with My Husband” has been praised by Kirkus Review as “a poetic appraisal of life’s big questions” and by Publisher’s Weekly as “inspirational.”  It is the first book on my summer reading list and I’m already savoring the beginning chapters.  Since love is a major theme, it’s sure to be a memoir that will appeal to a wide audience, even if you haven’t gone through a home renovation.

Simon is currently on a book tour this summer, making appearances in the Northeast.  I had the great fortune of meeting her in person at her first appearance in Princeton, NJ.  I found Simon to be gracious, warm and extremely approachable.  For more information about her memoir and book tour, click here to Simon’s website:  www.rachelsimon.com.

(left) Michelle and Rachel Simon

This year’s summer solstice will be marked by a day of tranquility in Times Square.  If you’re in New York or planning a visit, save the date:  Sunday, June 21, 2009 for the Mind over Madness Yoga-fest. Participation is free, as long as you can find enough space for your yoga mat!  For details, click on the link below:

http://www.timessquarenyc.org/about_us/events_solstice.html

If you love a bargain and plan on being in New York City this spring, check out NYC: The Real Deal at  www.nycgo.com/realdeal.  The site is sponsored by New York City’s official tourism organization and has links to all kinds of special offers, such as Madame Tussauds, the Cosmetics Warehouse, the New York Waterway Tours, and Jazz at Lincoln Center, just to name a few.  For out-of-town visitors, make sure to click on the hotel listings for great savings!