Celebrating the Miracle of Life on the Yoga Mat

Jennifer Stanley • June 2, 2026

Say hello to Eowyn and Arwen, the two newest members of the Only in Sedona Yoga/A Quiet Place family

When was the last time you sat back and simply marveled at the complexity, the wonder, of all the living things in the world?

This world is so full of magic, it has long baffled me that most humans don’t spend more of their brief trip around the sun reveling in awe and gratitude at the gift of creation. Think of the miracle of each individual living cell. Then, recognize that trillions of them come together to create you and other complex marvels of the universe.

Like kittens.

Today, we pause to honor the miracle of life and celebrate its endless cycle of renewal, as we welcome Arwen and Eowyn, the two newest members of the Only in Sedona Yoga and A Quiet Place family.

New Life, New Promises, New Possibilities

To be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure I was ready for another fur baby. Losing Poe, and then Squeeks, hurt so deeply. One of my fatal flaws is that I don’t get over things easily. Since discovering my own neurodiversity, I’ve become convinced that autism and ADHD are both evolutionary adaptations and representative of little more than differences in how the human mind perceives time and its passage.

However, one fine day a few weeks back, I found my beloved in the garden, quietly crying over Squeeks and wanting another kitten. He found some on Nextdoor; could we?

Long story short, I softened my “I’m not ready” stance.

If It Weren’t for Imperfect Timing, We’d Have No Time (or Kittens) at All

My one caveat was that I wanted the kittens to remain with their mother as long as possible. I am utterly convinced of the magic of the microbiome [1]. My dietary interventions played a part in my own healing process. I also learned the hard way from Squeeks, whom my ex and I adopted at just five weeks old, that failing to nurture microbiome development in infancy leads to a world of future health trouble. Even though she lived to a ripe old age of 15, Squeeks, much like me, had chronic issues that began young. Back then, we simply didn’t know.

History repeats itself. Just as my ex and I had to adopt Squeeks before she was ready, lest she fall prey to the unscrupulous who scour the world for free animals, Eowyn and Arwen needed to find a home at a very early age. My beloved didn’t want them going elsewhere, so home to A Quiet Place they came.

A New Opportunity to Love Better

Things improve with each generation if we take care not to destroy them. It’s one of the reasons I will never understand things like war and violence. I’m just not able to perceive their necessity when we have the intelligence to do better as a species. In my optimistic moments, I visualize humans as elephants. In Africa, forest elephants are known as gardeners or shepherds [2] of the forest, as they clean up old plants and disperse the seeds of entire trees with their mighty size. Imagine if humans likewise competed, not with bullets or bombs but by seeing who could grow the healthiest foods, provide the happiest living conditions for all of creation, great and small? What would the world be like if we focused our energy not on destruction, but by taking pride in who can create the happiest, healthiest environment for everyone?

I digress. However, humans do have an incredible capacity to learn from our mistakes, and I keep hoping in time, we as a species can do better. As for my little part, I’m grateful to have learned about nutrition and the importance of the microbiome. Not to be gross, but I take a bit of pride in seeing Eowyn and Arwen’s stools go from slightly runny to a more normal, solid consistency. It’s also a joy to see and feel them put on a little weight in just a few short days.

Lost Love Is Never Replaced — But Love and Life Go On

I’ll never forget, or truly ever get over, the loss of my Squeeks and my Poe. All living beings teach us valuable lessons, and they blessed me with the most important ones without ever uttering a single word. What is it that’s worth living for, after all, if not to share love with other souls? We’re all teammates on the same magical mystery tour through the universe; surely, we aren’t here simply to turn the dials. As part of the living universe, we are meant to live, too.

Squeeks taught me that it’s okay to have boundaries, to differentiate myself and assert my individuality, even when others didn’t understand me. Poe taught me that I could bring goodness and joy to others, even when I was suffering myself, that I didn’t have to wait for the universe to be kind to me to start treating myself and those around me with the same empathy I so craved.

The most important lesson Squeeks and Poe taught me is the value of love. I’m convinced it’s the missing part of the “glue” holding our universe together. While most people are linear, I envision creation as like the four points of a compass: matter, energy, time — and love. Around those four dimensional points swirls all the ever-changing good stuff that is the magic of life. In my imagination, that’s why the planets and stars are all round.

After all, destruction is a limiting force by definition. What inspires people to pick up the pieces? It isn’t the desire to topple it all again, but a desire to see everything working together harmoniously. The human desire to make things better isn’t to “one-up” one another; it’s to make life gradually sweeter for all. Learning how to do so while coloring inside the lines of Newton’s law — the one that states for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction — is the true challenge facing humanity. If human beings, human intelligence can be said to have a purpose, to me, it must be this: to figure out how to best nurture this miracle of life of which we are very much a part.

Our challenge as people should be training our giant brains to become good shepherds of Spaceship Earth. That we can do this, I have little doubt. Whether or not we will is a matter of faith, including faith in our fellow human beings. Like it or not, humans are also the world’s apex predator. However, wise predators know not to destroy their habitat or harvest their entire food source, for to do so would mean their doom as well.

I’m convinced humanity can do it, though. They can learn to become guardians of Spaceship Earth’s delicate balance, if they are mindful enough.

As for me, though, I’ve waxed philosophical enough for one day. I have kittens to cuddle. This bonding time is crucial for their wee nervous systems. The nervous system fascinates me as much as the microbiome, much for the same reasons. I am not a physician, but my own health issues necessitated learning how to heal myself nevertheless. Other mammals aren’t that different.

Celebrating the Miracle of Life on the Yoga Mat

The next time we go live on Saturday night, you’ll notice a new prop in our yoga space here at A Quiet Place. Eowyn and Arwen are still a bit too small to play with their older cousins, so we got them a safe enclosure where they can play, grow and socialize when they aren’t camped out in the bedroom with me and my beloved.

I’m excited for you all to watch them grow with us, and bear witness to the miracle of life.

Life goes on. And love is real. If we define “real” as “what lasts when everything else is gone,” then love might be the only real thing there is. Everything else is subject to change.

Life is love.

And life is good.

Thank you for being with us and helping us celebrate its ongoing miracle.

References:

[1]

Besostri, Alberto, et. al. “A one-health decalogue for breastfeeding: Microbiota-targeted strategy for infant gastrointestinal and neurodevelopmental health.” National Library of Medicine/PubMed. March 27, 2026. Retrieved June 2, 2026, from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13074328/

[2]

Williams, Jeremy. “The elephant gardeners of the African forest.” Earthbound Report. March 26, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2026, from:

https://earthbound.report/2015/03/26/the-elephant-gardeners-of-the-african-forest/

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Can't Sleep? Try This Evening Ritual (Updated for 2026)

By Jennifer Stefanow • July 13, 2026

Can’t Sleep? Try This Evening Ritual (Updated for 2026) Written by Jennifer Stanley Few things in life are psychologically harder to cope with than insomnia. You know sleeplessness is going to affect you the next day. Worse is the anxiety that builds when it strikes night after night. You stumble through waking life like a zombie but curse the sight of your bedroom ceiling through your open eyelids at night. Although scientists don’t fully understand why living creatures need sleep, they know it harms your health when you don’t get enough. You become more accident prone, and your risk of various diseases increases. Plus, you get moody and snap at loved ones, straining your relationships As someone who struggles with insomnia, I empathize. While nothing health-related is guaranteed, certain habits and practices can nevertheless make it easier to get your Zzz’s. Try parts or all of this evening ritual the next time you can’t sleep or, worse, suffer a stretch of insomnia. What’s Causing Your Insomnia? Get Mindful Finding the root cause of your insomnia might be a no-brainer. An ailing loved one, a struggling relationship, work woes, financial troubles — all can impact sleep quantity and quality. If difficult life circumstances underpin your insomnia, radically accepting that you might find it hard to sleep for a while can sometimes, ironically, help. If not, at least it stops that nagging anxiety-choir of “what’s wrong with me, I’m exhausted, I know I need rest.” Acknowledging, “Hey, anyone would be struggling right now,” can be just the shot of loving-kindness your weary soul needs, and while it’s no substitute for eight solid hours, it’s better than fighting a losing battle with dreamland. Medicine, Food, and Hormones, Oh, My! At other times however, your insomnia might arise from physical or environmental factors you may not have considered. For example, medications as diverse as beta blockers [1], antidepressants and even cold tablets can affect sleep. Undiagnosed food allergies can likewise affect slumber by raising histamine levels [2] that promote wakefulness. If you suspect a sensitivity but can’t afford testing, the elimination diet method can sometimes pinpoint a culprit. Be patient and methodical, as it can take a while if you’re sensitive to something outside of the Big 8. Hormones are also a factor — shout out to my other 50-somethings experiencing night sweats. High cortisol levels are a common offender [3], hence, why it’s harder to sleep during life’s most stressful moments. However, keep in mind that changes in other hormonal levels, such as estrogen [4], can also cause cortisol fluctuations. If possible, consider a consultation with your doctor. If primary care offers few answers, a qualified naturopath or other holistic health practitioner may take more time to go over all over your symptoms and your life history to establish a course of care. Examine Your Daily Routine How you pace your day influences how well you sleep at night. In general, you want to tackle your toughest mental and physical activities soon after waking, taking on less stressful activities as you get closer to bedtime. Recently, some people have reported terrific success using the 10-3-2-1-0 sleep rule. What Is the 10-3-2-1-0 Sleep Rule? Dr. Jess Andrade, sports medicine physician, explains the 10-3-2-1-0 sleep rule [5] as a guide of activities to cease at specific intervals before bedtime to encourage more restful sleep. It works like this: Stop drinking caffeine 10 hours or more before bedtime. Caffeine blocks your adenosine receptors [6], a body chemical that builds up over the course of the day, making you sleepy. Finish your last big meal at least three hours before bed. Digestion can stimulate you, keeping you awake, and lying down too quickly after eating can trigger gastric reflux. Stop all work activities at least two hours before bed and begin your evening ritual. Turn off all screens at least one hour before bed, as it stimulates your mind and the blue light can keep you awake [7] by affecting melatonin. How many times do you hit snooze? Zero! That’s a big goose egg. Studies suggest hitting snooze doesn’t add to quality sleep and may extend morning grogginess [8], a condition called sleep inertia. The Role of Exercise What about exercise? Doesn’t a good daily workout help you get more rest? Yes, and exercise should absolutely be a part of your routine — with one caveat. Three hours before bed, cease all heavy physical activity. You can still include a gentle, soothing yoga routine, such as the one below, to ease you into dreamland. However, save anything that exerts your muscle power or gets your heart pumping for earlier in the day, as it keeps your core temperature elevated [9] and revs up your metabolism, which can make sleep elusive.