Happiness & Wellness Therapy

Grief is the normal and natural reaction to the loss of something special to us, and can present itself in varying degrees. While we can experience intense grief with the loss of a loved one, we can also grieve the closing of our favourite local restaurant or the retirement of our favourite physician (@psych_today ) During these times it is important to counter the heavy effect of grief and find ways to experience some lightness, not matter how small... At Happiness & Wellnes...s Therapy we highly recommend the integration of yoga poses (that feel good to you) and diaphragmatic breath to help ease the heaviness of grief as a complement to the other aspects of yoga (ie. self-reflection, kindness, mindfulness, breath-work, meditation, etc.) as it helps loosen/lighten the emotional and physical tightness/heaviness in our bodies caused by grief. This can also help one find peace and stability during a difficult time. We welcome you to notice if the following words from Karla Helbert (2016) resonate with you, and if so, to please keep this in mind when you next experience a loss in your life: The practice of yoga addresses self-care, helps to integrate the experience of loss and supports feelings of connection and relationship with loved ones who have died. #griefjourney #grief #hugsheal #selfcare #healing #animalassistedtherapy #masteringthemind #mindbodyhealth #clarity #peace #happiness #wellness #therapy #balance #stillness #immunity #resilience #yogapsychology #yoga #ayurveda #ayurvedicyogatherapy #counselling #psychotherapy #mindfulness #mindfulmovement #breath #concentration #meditation #mentalhealth #ottawa

Fear is of two kinds, 'normal fear' and 'imaginary fear'. According to Swami Sivananda, the percentage of normal fear will only be five percent whereas imaginary fear will come to ninety-five percent. 'Normal fear' is healthy, instinctual and built in us for survival to preserve life. This is the fight-flight-freeze response, which causes physiological reactions and is triggered by a psychological fear. At times this is helpful to keep us safe from danger; however, some indi...viduals have an overactive response and external support (in whatever form resonates with you) is recommended to help regulate and heal these responses that can at times feel completely out of your control. 'Imaginary fear; depletes all energy and produces uneasiness, discomfort and disharmony in the mind body systems. This is False Evidence Appearing Real. Fear of the unfamiliar, which is only in our imagination, keeps us hostage to the possibility of our lives. According to the sages, animals and humans are driven by the same instinctual urges. However, unlike animals, we have the power to examine and eliminate our fears through yogic techniques of contemplation and meditation. The next time you experience fear, we invite you to take a moment to pause and observe its physiological effect(s) on you, and regulate your mind-body systems with a grounding technique (eg. diaphragmatic breathing, petting a friendly animal, looking at a calming image, etc.) so that you can then challenge your thoughts and contemplate whether it is a ‘normal fear’ or an ‘imaginary fear’ based on a F.alse E.vidence A.ppearing R.eal and if integrating meditation into your daily routine feels safe, this time tested practice can help you observe and release the deeper mental imprints (ie. samskaras) fuelling the harmful thoughts and physiological reactions... AND PLEASE REMEMBER TO BE KIND TO YOURSELF shining the light of awareness and the journey itself are the goals #strengthenthemind #challengeyourfears #falseevidenceappearingreal #samskara #wherethoughtgoesenergyflows #balance #resilience #immunity #happiness #wellness #therapy #counseling #psychotherapy #yoga #ayurveda #ayurvedicyogatherapy #mindfulness #selfstudy #mindfulmovement #breath #concentration #meditation #selfcompassion #mindbodyhealth #mentalhealth #peacetotheworld #frommetowe #bekind #snowmobile #womenwhosnowmobile

The Pet Effect known as the human-animal bond, which is the mutually beneficial relationship between people and animals that positively impacts the health and well-being of both. Positive human-animal interaction can help alleviate stress, anxiety, depression, and feelings of loneliness and social isolation. Furthermore, interactions with animals can help people manage their long-term mental health conditions. (Source: @mentalhealthamerica ) We welcome you to take a pause... from today’s fast-paced and interconnected world that can at times be tough on our mental health and mindfully interact with (or even hug) a furry friend. If you don‘t have a furry friend in your life you may want to integrate a daily walk (which has its own health benefits) to your routine, since there are many friendly dog owners who welcome you to pet their dog if you ask. Enjoy! #thepeteffect #simplicity #balance #stillness #selfcare #immunity #resilience #happiness #wellness #therapy #yogapsychology #yoga #ayurveda #ayurvedicyogatherapy #counselling #psychotherapy #mindfulness #mindfulmovement #breath #concentration #meditation #animalassistedtherapy #shilohfdr #mentalhealth #mindbodyhealth #onedayatatime #globalcommunity #bekind #behumble #peace (photo credit: @hakunanatada ) See more

There can be no life without change, and to be afraid of what is different or unfamiliar is to be afraid of life. ~ unknown During this pandemic many events have been outside of our control, and so at Happiness & Wellness we decided to adapt without losing the essence of our beings and services. Yesterday we welcomed past Yoga for Mental Health & Happiness clients via a secure virtual platform for a 3 hrs ReConnecting Wellness Retreat to deepen our practice and help cultiv...ate a clear and peaceful mind so that we can respond to life (vs. react or repress). While in the past we would meet in person for this experiential therapeutic process, we can now connect from the comfort of our own personal meditative space. The theme we reviewed and deepened was ahimsa: the compassion of non-violence/non-harming in thought, word, and action. It was also a reminder that you do not need to be able to do a headstand to be a yogi, and nor do you need to turn vegan to practice ahimsa. An essential element of a yoga practice is our relationship with the practice of compassion towards Self and others... We welcome you to ask yourself the following questions: How can I deepen my practice of compassion? How can I change my harmful pattern(s)? How can I change how I relate to myself and others? How can I choose to be kinder to myself and others? How can I choose to wish myself and others well? How can I combat inner violence with heartfelt gratitude? Since gratitude is like a muscle, how can I work on it more to make it stronger? #ahimsa #compassion #yogaformentalhealth #masteringthemind #mindbodyhealth #clarity #peace #happiness #wellness #therapy #unionwithselfandallthatexists #balance #stillness #immunity #resilience #yogapsychology #yoga #ayurveda #ayurvedicyogatherapy #counselling #psychotherapy #mindfulness #mindfulmovement #breath #concentration #meditation #mentalhealth #ottawa #globalcommunity #selfcare

Attachments and expectations can be seen as the greatest cause of our suffering, while acceptance and present-moment awareness can be seen as the fast track to relieving it. Our wish for you in 2021 is to make a commitment with yourself to explore the benefits of having a meditation practice to help you ride the waves of life, to take action with a clear mind, and to help your mind find peace, love, forgiveness and understanding to help make this world a better place. #non...attachment #lettinggo #happynewyear #2021 #happyholidays #fireworks #celebration #hapiness #wellness #therapy #therapydog #animalassistedtherapy #counseling #psychotherapy #yoga #ayurveda #ayurvedicyogatherapy #mindfulness #mindfulmovement #breath #concentration #meditation #mentalhealth #mindbodyhealth #onedayatatime #globalcommunity #bekind #behumble #clarity #peace See more

Peace: inner calm in body, speech, and mind. Do you ever feel like your life is so busy that you have no idea how to actually slow down and live in the moment? We welcome you to place your phone down after reading this post and take a moment to pause and reflect on whether, and if so how, the dis-ease of busyness may be robbing from you and the world around you. If so, how can you integrate a little more peace in your life to enhance clarity, resilience, happiness and welln...ess #pause #reflect #vitaminnature #stillness #immunity #resilience #simplepleasures #keepsmiling #happiness #wellness #therapy #yogapsychology #yoga #ayurveda #ayurvedicyogatherapy #counselling #psychotherapy #mindfulness #mindfulmovement #breath #concentration #meditation #mentalhealth #mindbodyhealth #onedayatatime #globalcommunity #bekind #behumble #clarity #peace See more

Wishing everyone a peaceful holiday season with much happiness and wellness #holidaying #holidayingwithdogs #pause #rest #recharge #onedayatatime #globalcommunity #happiness #wellness #therapy #therapydogs #shilohfdr #pappy #dogsofinstagram #animalassistedtherapy #mindbodyhealth #mentalhealth #counseling #psychotherapy #yoga #ayurveda #ayurvedicyogatherapy #mindfulmovement #breath #concentration #meditation #mindfulness #mindbodyhealth #clarity #peace #joytotheworld

This holiday season, make sure to check in with yourself and others. If you aren’t feeling well, know #ItsOKToNotBeOK. There is strength in asking for support. Learn about services and resources: OttawaPublicHealth.ca/COVIDMentalHealth

Sending out virtual hugs as we transition into the first day of winter. Please remember that while this may be the shortest and darkest day of the year... from then on, the days begin to get longer again! Wishing everyone much peace and optimism #virtualhug #solstice #stillness #naturetherapy #immunity #resilience #simplepleasures #keepsmiling #happiness #wellness #therapy #yogapsychology #yoga #ayurveda #ayurvedicyogatherapy #counselling #psychotherapy #mindfulness #mindfulmovement #breath #concentration #meditation #mentalhealth #mindbodyhealth #onedayatatime #globalcommunity #bekind #behumble #clarity #peace

Kindness can be referred to by doing favors and good deeds for others; helping them; taking care of them. If there was one magical cure for many of the woes of the world, it might be the power of kindness. When the epidemic of stress, anxiety, and depression threatens to overload the medical system and impede progress toward a greater sense of common humanity, and when the world can seem more divided than united, giving and receiving kindness is a way to connect at a deeper... level. Kindness is a means of acknowledging that the needs of others are worthy of attention and that actions on their behalf are meaningful (@chopra ). The great thing about kindness is that you have a free lifetime unlimited supply and the more you give, the more you have! NOTE: please don’t forget to be kind to yourself as well We welcome you to take a moment and reflect on what it means to you to be kind to others, and also how receiving kindness from others feels to you . #thepowerofkindness #bekind #behumble #peace #globalcommunity #simplepleasures #keepsmiling #immunity #resilience #happiness #wellness #therapy #yogapsychology #yoga #ayurveda #ayurvedicyogatherapy #counselling #psychotherapy #mindfulness #mindfulmovement #breath #concentration #meditation #animalassistedtherapy #ottawa #mentalhealth #mindbodyhealth #onedayatatime