Yoga & Healing

Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity. ~ Simone WeilAttention is the rarest and purest form of generosity. ~ Simone Weil

Thank you! There is no one-size-fits-all approach. It's important to teach an appropriate practice for a particular individual for a particular moment/time. There are many practices to choose from.

Can't travel for a winter getaway this year? This will help... :)

Another Yoga practice proven (as though it's a new discovery!) Yes, practicing relaxation is essential for quality of life

"Pick almost any common medical condition that’s made worse by stress or inflammation everything from arthritis to inflammatory bowel disease and there’s research showing that vagus nerve stimulation can help treat it or relieve its symptoms." .... Yet again recent science (re)discovering what has been understood and addressed for hundreds (if not thousands) of years in the practice of Yoga! You don't need electrical stimulation, learn Yogic breathing (Pranayama practices) chant or sing... and notice how you feel as a result! All this and SO much more

It's about understanding that the body and mind are actually ONE! BodyMind / MindBody I would love for this to be taught in schools...learning to listen to our inner needs, which we can only do when we get still.....quiet.....

Wow, this is beautiful! https://www.facebook.com/alexandralove333/videos/10158370526212731/

Eat a wholesome diet at regular times. At least 70% of your immune system is in your gut and the gut needs a steady supply of quality nutrients to defend itself from foreign pathogens.Targeted foods that boost the immune system include cinnamon, turmeric, wheat germ, elderberry, red or pink grapefruit, lemon, oranges, pear, unsweetened yogurt, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, kale, spinach, Swiss chard, wild but safe mushrooms, raw garlic, tomatoes, egg yolks, and honey (especially Manuka honey variety). *Note, these vege's need to be cooked!

The Power of Impressions The yogic theory of saskras, or subliminal impressions of past painful or pleasurable experiences is one of India’s most fascinati...ng contributions to our understanding of human psychology. Briefly, when we experience aversion to a painful experience, or attachment to a pleasurable one, an impression of that experience is laid down in our psyche, which is said to be a ‘seed’ of experience which will sprout again. In other words, when we are unable to fully ‘show up’ for any given experience, a remnant of it is deposited in our ‘subtle body.' What is the subtle body? The subtle body is said to interpenetrate and underlie the physical body in the sense that it is a model for explaining how unresolved past experiences shape our relationship to the body (and its health) in the present. In Tantrik psychology, a metaphor of digestion is used when we are unable to fully ‘digest’ a given experience, part of the ‘energy’ of that experience is deposited and will need to be digested later, hopefully before it toxifies and thereby distorts our experience of the people and events in the present. By means of this ‘samskral net’, we project our past-based assumptions, fears, and expectations on the present-moment situation; thus we are not able to ‘show up’ for the reality of the situation. Since the goal of yoga may be phrased as ‘seeing reality clearly’, it is of paramount importance to become aware of, and then dissolve, the samskras that obscure our vision. Samskra theory is thus far more important to yoga psychology than the theory of karma. To go deeper into this teaching about how Samskara shows up in our bodies and in our lives and how to dissolve them read the full blog post here: https://bit.ly/subtle-impressions

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INHALATION During inhalation, do not tighten the throat as was mentioned in a previous post. Avoid sucking the air in through a tensed airway which further crea...tes tension. Instead, open and make space for the air to enter, without effort and without creating tension. Other areas to watch which otherwise will tense during the inhale... - Hands and feet will clench. - Mouth, eyes, brow will tense. - The pit of the stomach area (CV 15 in Acupuncture) will tense and pull inwards and upwards, putting pressure on the stomach and heart. - Anus and perineum will clench So during the inhale, open all the above areas. One can sit or lie down and really pay attention. As the inhale comes, smile and open, rather than tighten and suck air in, creating further tension. EXHALATION Allow exhalation to occur without forcing, without rushing, without collapsing. Don't give up all the internal spaciousness and spinal uprightness you've built during a proper inhalation. Continue to build this with the next inhalation, and the next... Once breath is well managed, one can begin to work with Prana. Prana is Pra-An meaning 'before breath', or the life-force which powers the breath. Image: Acu chart showing Conception Vessel 15 (CV 15)

...and you need to be

Wow! A rugby coach talking about mental health and making room for others to show their vulnerability....SO important!

Some wonderful teachers here:

This Yoga Therapy practices shows how you can ease a panic attack (shallow breathing, racing thoughts.) This movement combined with sound helps to deepen and lengthen breathing while calming the mind. #EaseAnxiety #GeneralPublic

Today the state of the world hit me. So far I have been accepting the way things are, aware of the GREAT changes that we are going through and that are to come. But today I crashed. I observed that I couldn't settle, that thoughts were scattering everywhere. Finally I stood still, felt deeply inwards and asked myself "How do I feel?" [depressed, anxious, grieving] and then "What do I need?" [......to STOP.] I lay down for a while with grief ...and after some time became aware of the experience of stopping.....of its necessity....and then as grief melted away became aware of spaciousness that was growing within. Eventually I opened my eyes and watched humming birds flying around, heard....silence.....and felt present. How do you feel? What do you need?

This video introduces you to a practice that helps you to become present in THIS moment. Through this practice you can find some spaciousness from thoughts of the future or memories of the past, from craving certain experiences and pushing away others, it can even help to pacify fear-based reactivity. When we can pacify that continual internal chatter peace and spaciousness can blossom. You can practice Here-Nowing in 5 - 20+ min, almost anywhere, anytime. It's great to do as a centring practice at different times throughout your day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU9Us2BVs3M

If you're experiencing stress or anxiety here's a practice that can help you to alleviate shallow breathing and relaxing muscle tension while helping you to calm thoughts and create calm deep breathing. If you're really struggling with shallow breathing please first watch my video showing a practice to alleviate a panic attack. This video takes you through stage #1 of this practice.

If you or someone you care about experiences panic attacks this video demonstrates a practice that can help to deepen the breath and calm racing thoughts. Continue to inhale as you come up to all fours and exhale as you move back (into what is called Child's Pose) as long as is needed (past the end of the video,)....you can try it with or without the counting or simply place your focus on the flow of the movement.

Given the stress and panic at the moment here's a BodyMind practice to share with people you know who are having panic attacks. I am also posting a separate video to to teach you how to decrease the stress response, deepen breathing and create a state of calm.