I spent a lot of time this weekend in deep reflection on the tragedy of 9/11 and seeking a way to powerfully connect the beauty of our hearts into the world we live in.
The hands are an extension of our heart. I believe one of the powerful tools to express the qualities of our heart is touch. Touch supports us to develop the ability to align our inner world and outer experience. We can start with an awareness of how we feel in our heart and expand this feeling to extend down our arms to our hands and into the world.
Touch is a precious and simple gift that magnifies our expression, our attention and our care for the people and the world around us.
Not sure where to start? Watch this video where Chris introduces a simple touch technique that will inspire you to utilize the power that is waiting to be expressed through your touch.
Meditation creates the space to sit with the full experience of being human, the good, the challenging and everything in between.
The key to develop and maintain a regular practice is to DO IT! No excuses, no stories just begin today and sit for the time you have set aside even if it is 1 minute to start.
Here are 4 tips to support your daily meditation practice. 1. Practice at the same time every day.
This gets your body into a rhythm and it will begin to move easily into a meditative state.
2. Practice in the same location everyday.
This creates an environment that supports you to settle in easily and quickly.
3. Practice the same technique for at least 28-30 days if not longer.
Meditation is designed to help us move past the ordinary consciousness and into deeper states of awareness/being.
4. Set a timer and commit to move towards 15 minutes of daily meditation practice.
I find it helpful to do my practices first thing in the morning and at the end of the day to ensure I have time to practice. If my schedule gets really jammed I wil practice for the length of one full breath…. remember, show up no matter what!
A consistent meditation practice is more important than practicing for one hour per week. Use these tips to help and support you in maintaining a successful practice. Success in meditation means you did the practice, START TODAY!
There are various styles and techniques of meditation, it is important to find one that resonates with you. Here are a few of my favorite teachers and schools of meditation: Clairvision, Sally Kempton & Adyashanti.
I will be introducing a new technique each month on the Facebook group, please send a request to be included if you are interested to join us!
Watch this short video for tips to support your meditation practice.
What is Therapeutic Yoga (also known as Yoga Therapy)?
Therapeutic Yoga is a system of yoga that focuses on aligning and integrating the body, mind and heart. It supports clients to bring the structure of the body into optimal alignment with the flow of gravity to create ease, balance, strength and flexibility.
Who needs Therapeutic Yoga?
Therapeutic yoga is ideal for clients who are recovering from injury, surgery or have a limitation that would be best managed in a one-to-one session.
How does it work?
1. We start with an assessment of the current state and create a plan for healing. We asnwer the question where do they want to be?
2. I teach the client how to breathe fully and freely.(Pranayama = breathing practice)
3. I teach the client about the anatomy of the body and the optimal alignment.
4. We practice basic alignment and build a home practice. (Which is most often focued our your everyday posture)
Can I do therapeutic yoga if I have never done yoga before?
YES! We always start at the beginning with how a client sits, stands and walks. Each home practice routine is designed for the individual to focus on what is working and build the strength or flexibility that is needed to improve the condition.
Watch this short view with more details:
Therapeutic Yoga (Yoga Therapy) is a powerful tool to support your health and to increase your vitality.
What tools do you use to recover from injury, surgery or to navigate limitations?
A regular self-care routine is an essential component for great health and lasting wellness. What does it mean to have good health and wellness?
Health is soundness of body, mind and heart and freedom from dis-ease.
Wellness is the state of being healthy in body, mind and heart as a result of deliberate effort. Wellness is an approach to health care that emphasizes prevention and prolonging life rather than just treating disease.
Notice the voices that may be sounding off in your head opposing this idea of self care through prevention.
The Anti-Health Battalion like to employ statements like:
“I can’t afford a massage.”
“I don’t have time.”
“I can’t relax, I have too much to do.”
I like to focus on what IS possible and how a little effort to nurture ourselves is like making small deposits in your health account that will add up over time.
Try on these empowered statements from the Inner Health Alliance:
“I can give myself a 5 minute foot massage.”
“I can trade massage with my partner instead of watching TV.”
“Learning to relax is a practice and I will start today.”
Touch is a gift you can easily give yourself and your loved ones! Here is a short video on the Benefits of Massage.
There are small moments in our day where we have the opportunity to choose health, the invitation is always open.
I believe our world would be a better place if we received a massage every Monday.
How can you improve your self-care practice today?
In February of 2011 I completed the level 1 HoopGirl Teacher Training with Christabel Zamor. It was an amazing, fun filled weekend of learning new hoop dance skills and learning to lead classes. I love the company philosophy “Get fit, Feel Sexy, Have Fun!” It was an incredible group of loving and open hearted women committed to empowering each other. To my delight and surprise my photo is featured in the HoopGirl Newsletter for March 2011 about half way down the page, check it out!
Benefits of Hoop Dance:
Improves strength, flexibility and balance.
Builds stamina and core strength.
Supports and enhances good posture and alignment.
Enhances rhythm and coordination.
Promotes FUN and freedom of expression!
Reduces stress and back pain.
Deepens mind-body connection.
Accelerates fat burning and weight loss.
Encourages deep breathing and centering.
I am excited to join Christabel’s Goddess Blossom Women’s Circle in May. She is an inspiring, powerful and loving transformational facilitator.
The holidays are approaching & the days are getting shorter. Many people are struggling to stay healthy & to make preparations for traveling for time with family and friends. Stress is a sinister force that robs us of our health and precious vitality. Did you know that stress reduction is as simple a taking a deep breath?
Take time NOW to reduce stress with this simple breathing practice:
Step #1 Sit with a comfortable and tall spine
Step #2 Relax your face and shoulders
Step #3 Take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. Focus on making the exhale longer that the inhale. Repeat this breath at least 3 times (as often as possible.)
Step #4 On each exhale imagine stress, tension, and anxiety are being released from your body and released to the fire of transformation.
Leave your comments, suggestions, and experiences below and pass it onto your friends!
