The Pause to Relax

08/08/2025

Keeping the convo going about stress, women's heart health, and hopeful options, here is a local TV show, Fit for Life, I was interviewed on in June, and is now on U Tube. Equine Assisted Psychotherapist, Brenda von Rautenkranz, invited me to sit and speak about this revised version of my book, The Pause to Relax, and exactly why I updated the manuscript. Since we were on her farm in Sykesville, Md. and horses all around us, we did do some "horsey" talk, as we are both so passionate about the gift that they offer for all of us. Feel free to share and delve into her timely work at the VR Therapy Center.

A conversation with author, speaker & Licensed Massage Therapist Linda Penkala on her new Book, the Pause to Relax. In the book Linda discusses ways for a be...

07/31/2025

My Book Launch BUZZ is still ever-present in my life after Tuesday's successful gathering at Cafe Columbia! It was a magical moment, with over 30 men and women, friends, clients, my family, my son Lance, and his son Josh, all taking the time to celebrate with me at this launch. Thanks to Kytu and her beautiful cafe in Columbia, Jenn, who took all payments for the books before I signed them, Terri, who did a marvelous setup, and Kathy, who lent a hand, as always. I gave away some fun gifts, but the most Divine winner, of my win picture as a jockey, was Brenda, who went crazy as a horsewoman, as she really and truly wanted it! And it was hers!!! We had a toast at the end to celebrate this milestone for me after all these years and to remind all women that we need to continue being part of the solution to high CVD risks, thereby lessening the numbers. My hope and prayer is that each person who attended will have fun with their swag bag gifts, as each is a reminder to pay attention, breathe in the beautiful Ylang Ylang nasal inhaler when stressed, and to Pause daily! If you did not make it, you can purchase the book on Amazon at any time.

07/28/2025

To pause and relax is a gift you give yourself in the midst of living life! And what benefits and healing moments this choice offers all who make it. I hope you allow yourself to join me tomorrow, 4:30, at my Book Launch of The Pause to Relax, my revised version of my heart health book. I spent all of 2024 diving deep into research to enhance and update the current statistics of women's heart health post-pandemic. What I found was startling, but also humbling, because more needs to be done. Hence, my book offers tools, and tips to enhance and offer balancee and hope.
To pause and relax is a gift you give yourself in the midst of living life! And what benefits and healing moments this choice offers all who make it. I hope you'll allow yourself to join me tomorrow at the book launch of The Pause to Relax, my revised version of my heart health book. I spent all of 2024 conducting in-depth research to enhance and update the current statistics on women's heart health post-pandemic. What I found was startling, but also humbling, because more needs to be done. Hence, my book offers tools and tips to enhance and offer balancee and hope. Here is the address Cafe Columbia at 5550 Sterrett Place, Suite 103 in Columbia, MD 21044

07/10/2025

It's official: with the launch of my book, The Pause to Relax, I'm bringing my revised book to the world, both locally and globally! Please join me as I joyfully celebrate this long journey of publishing a book, the last year of updated research for all women to know, and the final fun part of sharing it with boots on the ground! I blended my two careers, as a jockey and as a current LMT, so it is an easy read, although a heavy topic. Heart disease takes millions of lives globally, but when I read that women are dying more of CVD than men, I knew I had to be part of the solution. Please join me if you can, RSVP, and I hope to see you to share my passion for empowering women with hopeful lifestyle choices!

06/12/2025

What a fantastic day yesterday, that began with Mary Beth Dulin, makeup artist extraordinaire, coming to my home for Jenn Gruber and me in preparation for our TV shoot. We then traveled to Sykesville to the vR Growth and Learning Center, owned by Brenda Von Rautenkranz, for our interview on Howard County's Cable channel. Brenda uses horses as part of her therapy with adults and children. We had a fun and engaging chat about my newly revised book, The Pause to Relax, so we can both be part of the solution to reduce women's CVD risks. After our TV shoot, we went out into the peaceful woods with her horse, Capone, to have Anne Kelley take some beautiful shots of my book, Capone, and me in creative settings. Her vision for the perfect spot, I am sure, will result in some fine photos. Anne and Carol Suser, the publisher of Clarksville Neighbor, will choose the best for a cover shot for their July paper. Thanks to these astute business women who are helping make a difference in lives!!

06/02/2025

My revised book, The Pause to Relax is LIVE and ready to purchase on Amazon! Here is the link so you can share this and make a difference in the women in your life. We need support and stress reducing tools and tips to make a difference in us dying of CVD more than men!

Purchase The Pause To Relax You will come away with simple techniques for life.You will see the distinct line connecting stress and heart health.You will find a clear path for intentional wellness.You will feel hopeful with these new tools to enhance quality of life.You will experience a sense of cl...

05/28/2025

I am just as excited as my sweet girl here, being days away from the publication of The Pause to Relax!! Today, we listed the prices of the book, including color or black and white, along with the type of paper. Lots of decisions go into the journey of being an Indie Author, but I love every minute of it. Here are the price points so far: The paperback will be in color and priced at $17.99; the Hardback will be in black and white and priced at $26.99; and the eBook will be priced at $7.99 and available in color. In the next few days, I hope to share the QR codes, and my website will feature a landing page for purchasing my book. There are numerous moving parts each day leading up to publication, when we go live to the world! Can I get a WOO WOO?!?

05/16/2025

After volumes of research and new photos, along with new "Horsey Hints" I will share very soon, my newly published book. The latest title is The Pause to Relax, a Woman's Guide to Robust Heart Health. I published the first book in 2019 with a slightly different title, which is still on Amazon, but will be replaced with this new one, as the health statistics have shifted for women. We are still dying more of CVD than men, but the good news is that lessening stress and paying attention to lifestyle choices make a profound difference in longevity outcomes. Our hearts need some help, and this little book of 140 pages offers a wealth of timely information for all. Let me know what you think of the cover!!

02/20/2025

During this heart health awareness month, here is the latest research on how the pandemic impacted cardiovascular health and how the numbers reversed the progress made. Take this to heart, as you have the cards in your hands to play the deck smartly, making wiser lifestyle choices to prevent CVD, future heart attacks, and early death.

Heart disease death rates fell for nearly a decade but jumped back up with the advent of COVID-19, a new study finds.

02/01/2025

Take time this heart health month of February to read my article, when our government and health agencies try to remind us that heart disease is the #1 killer of all of us. More than half of Americans don't know this statistic, but YOU should, as women are perishing from CVD more than men are. More than all the cancers combined, this preventable disease can be addressed and halted, lowering the numbers. That is the precise reason I wrote my book, The Pause to Relax, on Amazon and in e-book formats: to educate and encourage women to begin to pay attention. Please share this article with as many people as you can to be part of the solution:

Explore insightful health tips in 'Holding Space for Your Heart in 2025' by Linda Penkala. Discover mindful moments to enhance well-being and heart health as you embrace a balanced lifestyle this New Year.

12/19/2024

The stress from grief is a topic many may feel, but not articulate or think about. It is a process to go through, like it or not. But the Winter is a particularly tough time, especially during December if you are missing a loved one who passed away. But fear not, there is hope in the pages of this timely issue of Contentment Magazine published by the American Institute of Stress. The insights from each article compassionately written offer nuggets of hope and healing. It was my extreme honor to be one of the authors who contributed an article: Navigating New Waters of Grief, from Tsunamis to Ripples on the Waves Toward Healing (P. 48). Please feel free to share away, so others may be Blessed with these words and inspiration:

10/24/2024

You never know when a heart flower will show its beautiful color and shape! In a pot on my back deck, there is a mostly dead petunia, but there are two flowers, and this is the best one to show off her hearts. As a heart health holistic health educator, this warms my heart and soul, as I hope it does for you!
But look beside it, and see what she will eventually become—shriveled up and dead! But she is offering us all a space of gratitude, patience, and peace to be still with her beauty! So enjoy and return to this space of healing, and begin to pay attention to your heart choices. Or read my book, The Pause to Relax Ladies for Robust Heart Health, on Amazon or Kindle! Find your own heart plants!!!