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Women In Plastics: Year In Review
On Wednesday, May 5, 2021, Women In Plastics hosted its first “virtual coffee chat.” This event provided a space for a casual morning chat to get the participants’ day started with intention, as well as offering a relaxed atmosphere for small group networking. The virtual event was led by Valerie Willms, a licensed professional in Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist (AYS) and Yoga Teacher (E-RYT). She employs Yoga and Ayurveda as therapeutic sciences and uses these foundations as the catalyst for personal transformation. She led the group on mindfulness, meditation and holistic self-care.
Participants enjoyed a cup of coffee, tea or water and started with some simple yoga stretches that anyone can perform. During the poses, participants had the option to turn off their video or step out of the line of sight. The stretching helped everyone loosen up, as all too often we find our shoulders scrunched up to our ears as we spend time typing on our keyboards and absorbing the stress of the day.
Once shoulders were realigned, Willms guided the group through a short meditation that was focused on centering and preparing for the day. Meditation can instill a sense of calm, peace and balance that can benefit your emotional well-being and your overall health … and these benefits don’t end when your meditation session ends. Meditation can help carry you more calmly through your day. With closed eyes, and breathing intentionally, participants focused on what they heard in their surroundings. This let their senses explore their space and helped to let go of what had either just happened or what may happen. In other words, it reset the mind. With a clear mind, you can effectively think through a situation, problem or event. I challenge you to use this method the next time you find yourself being reactive or overthinking what the future may hold.
The intimate group setting of the coffee chat was another means of connecting and networking within our industry and our peers. While I greatly value the larger virtual events that the Women In Plastics have brought to our industry over the past year, I truly enjoyed this smaller, more intimate setting. Thank you, Valerie Willms, for equipping us with knowledge on how to reset our thoughts and move with intention throughout the day. And thank you to the Women In Plastics leadership team for your innovation and vision for the programs you presented in 2021.
— Deena Baker, CartierWilson LLC
Originally published in the International Association of Plastics Distribution Performance Plastics Magazine, December 2021/January 2022 publication.
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