Kathleen's Kundalini Yoga Page for Seniors

The five different kinds of prana in the body The experience of prana is what is important, not just reading about it. How does the body operate with this prana...? Well, in the body there are five prana currents, with a principal one. Those are called vayus, or vital airs or pranas. They are called pancha vayus, pancha means five, so we have five of them: o The principal one is also called prana and it is the one that operates the head and all the senses, the mind, the brain. It is connected to the breathing, the nose. When you begin to focus on breathing and mind, you will actually begin, when awakened, to see the relationship between the prana and the breath. When you begin to see the relationship between the prana and the breath, you will be able to gain control over the mind. o The prana that works the lower area, all the downward actions, like the excretory functions, is called Apana. The one that works the upper from the navel up is Prana. o The one that works digestion is called Samana. o The one that works to distribute things throughout the body, like the oxygen, food, is called Vyana. o The one that works as an upward current, like in Kundalini and speaking, singing, is called Udana. Sri Vasudeva Diagram from Olgakabel

We’re all busy, and many of us don’t have time to formally practice mindfulness skills. However, we can practice informally throughout the day. Pick an activity... that constitutes part of your daily morning routine, such as brushing your teeth, shaving, or having a shower. When you do it, totally focus on what you are doing: the body movements, the taste, the touch, the smell, the sight, the sound etc. Again and again, your attention will wander. As soon as you realize this has happened, gently acknowledge it, note what distracted you, and bring your attention back to the your activity. You can learn more about mindfulness here - https://thehappinesstrap.com/what-is-mindfulness/ Hope it helps!

It's not always this simple, but *sometimes* it is: shifts in how we respond to intrusive thoughts from PTSD or anxiety can shape our internal response and the ...strength of future intrusive thoughts. Sometimes just shifting from "OMG NO! The intrusive thought is here! Run away! " to "Oh, hello. You are back, huh? Ok, let's deal with you and put you back where you belong " can bring a lot of relief. For myself and many of the individuals I have worked with, noticing without judgment, then engaging with it in a meaningful way (through writing, moving, visualizing, or languaging a conversation about it), and then a gentle body shift (like getting up to water plants or making a cup of tea) can help manage intrusive thoughts in a much healthier way than frantically trying not to have the thought. Download this flowchart as a PDF at: http://lindsaybraman.com/intrusive-thought-flowchart or get a coffee mug, pillow, or tote bag at https://society6.com/lindsaybraman?sort=new Welcome to new and recent followers. I love learning with you and sharing my art. Gentle reminder: my content is not mental health treatment, social media is not therapy, and my content is for general educational purposes only. I am unable to answer messages or comments about your mental health. If you are in need of mental health support, reach out to a therapist in your area to establish a professional relationship and get the care you deserve, or text "home" to 741741 to get in touch with the crisis text line for support today. [IMAGE DESCRIPTION} Image depicts a hand-drawn flowchart, on the right side of the image is white text on a dark teal background, the left side shows teal text on a white background. Circle in center states: intrusive thought. One arrow from this text extends left and one arrow extends right. Left side of image: line from "intrusive thought" connects to bubble with the words "noticing without judgment. From noticing without judgment there are three connecting lines: 1. Writing it down and sealing it in an envelope until therapy, 2. Talk with the thought and parent it, 3. Visualizing putting it on a shelf until later. All three options connect back to a box at the bottom of the left side which states: move on with your day. Right side of image: the line from "intrusive thought" center bubble connects with a box labeled "BLOCK IT!" From this box in arrow extends to a box labeled "thoughts get louder" the next arrow points to "frantic attempts to block. Arrows depict a cycle of back and forth movement, as thoughts get louder despite attempts to block the thought. The cycle ends with an arrow pointing to a box titled "panic," which has an arrow pointing to a box titled "crash." Crash has an arrow that returns to the top center bubble titled "intrusive thought"

Interesting read..... The psoas muscle is one of the most important muscles in your body. It lies deep within the centre of your core, connecting your femur to your lower back. While that might sound scary, the scarier thing is how it could potentially affect our mental state if it gets too locked up and tight. Those seeking psoas muscle pain relief might not only feel more mobile in their hips and lower back, but they also might feel less fearful and anxious. ... According to some, like therapist and filmmaker Danielle Prohom Olson, the psoas muscle (pronounced so-as) is like the muscle of the soul, and by relaxing it, you can reconnect to yourself, your body, and feel more balanced.

Five minute video of the Singing to the Trees / Loving Awareness Practice. Listen a few times and then you can do it yourself!

I love to start each day with some Yoga. However, I am also engaging more active minutes which includes walking with my Nordic poles, fitbit coaching for cardio and strength, group online fitbit combinations with online friends and family. Adding and layering approaches to my fitness has helped during this time. Why not add a little something to Your life?

Smile...you cant help it....