Hello and welcome to The Zen Den. My name is Alison and while I am passionate about many things, my most inspiring driving force is human connection. Blogger, content writer, orthopedic exercise specialist, motivational speaker, international yoga pro, published songwriter, avid poker player, mom and wife are just a few of my titles. But when I do my job at NASA, I am known simply as “The Fairy Zenmother” a role I deeply love because people invite me into their space to help them find their center, relax and stretch their muscles and destress their mind. Here in the blogosphere version of The Zen Den, I invite you into my world where I will explore ideas for creating a better tomorrow and a kinder today. And hopefully, with insight, authenticity and humor; my words, observations and experiences will help you feel calm, centered, intellectually challenged and spiritually enlightened. Alternatively, if you have something you would like to see covered in The Zen Den, just let me know. Your feedback is welcome and valuable to the success of this blog. Finally, my heart is filled with gratitude to have this opportunity to share with all of you.
She felt lonely and depressed, she said. As she relayed her feelings to me it became clear that she believed somewhere in the midst of her extremely demanding life – she had “lost her joy.” “I understand,” I assured her. When I feel overwhelmed or...
Today I woke up in my new digs in my new city of Austin. Keeping in line with HGTV’s House Hunter’s theme – I have deemed my new (built in the 70’s) apartment the “Tree Top Bungalow”. Located on the top floor and on the corner of the building our...
She tells me the story in exhaustive detail . . . “and then I said to him, etc. and he told me, etc.” As I struggle to keep my focus on her original intent of sharing her angst with me, I find my mind drifting back and forth between wondering how...
Don’t Dance? No Biggie. I Hope You Laugh! No doubt we are all familiar with the old adage “laughter is the best medicine.” After almost 39 years of waking up next to my chosen one, I have come to recognize laughter as one of the key ingredients for...
“I love how you live your life with a heart full of gratitude”, my husband said. “But honestly, the idea of practicing gratitude has really never resonated with me. The whole gratitude thing doesn’t come naturally for me. It’s just more words and...
This personal story is my take on a man who just happens to be a politician. It has nothing to do with political party, left or right, liberal or conservative. It is simply about how one human being’s words inspired this human being’s heart and mind...
Something about sitting alone sipping on a martini, people watching and listening to my own thoughts, stirs my curiosity and arouses more questions than answers . . . When I tune in to listen to a President of the United States speak, whether...
Her soft crepe-skinned hands, gnarled and weathered by time, draw me in closer. I’m there to comfort, soothe and help strengthen her aging muscles and joints but my heart is only feeling the desire to connect . . . to listen, learn and grow from her...
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t need a clean slate every now and then. Whether it involves a negative relationship, a business venture gone poorly or personal reflection – at some point in our lives we all come to a place where we simply need a...