How are you faring through these extraordinary times? As you know I’m all about healthy Visioning practice and I suggest that we practice focusing on and give thanks for our healthy bodies every day, rather than all of the negative news and virus cell images. I thought I’d share some of the things that are sustaining me these days as we continue our protecting and adapting measures to contain the epidemic. Take what you like and leave the rest (or share with family and friends that are struggling with the sustained circumstances): * Daily spiritual practice – (whatever that is for you…) – Meditation, Chanting, Yoga, Qi Gong, Journaling, Pilates, Dance, Art, Crafts, Knitting. Always helpful to practice at the same time every day, to solidify healthy … continue reading
Category: Self-Care
Accessing & Trusting Your Body Wisdom
One way to find relief that helps us move beyond taking a pill or searching the internet, is to get in touch with our Body Wisdom. You may call this intuition, guidance, knowing or even magic. I have found that when I have a question about what is happening in my body – my head wants to figure out a solution and Do something. When I take the time to slow down, get quiet and ask my body for information, I usually get a different answer and somehow wiser information. I might ask “What is it I need to know or understand?” Then I listen with my heart for the answer. This may take some time and patience. I feel that I am tuning in … continue reading
Stirring Up Dust & Stirring Up Memories
As I continue to clean out my garage I’ve been stirring up plenty of dust and experiencing stirred up memories as well. Ahhhh… No wonder we procrastinate about clearing clutter… Tapping To Acknowledge & Release Stirred Up Memories Set Up Statement: “Even though I’m feeling so many stirred up memories and part of me is holding on, for whatever reason, I choose to acknowledge and release the past with love and acceptance.” Reminder Statements: (while tapping around on the body points) “All these memories *** some of them good *** and some of them not so good *** all of these memories *** feeling sad *** so uncomfortable *** all these memories *** moving through my body *** I’d really like to let this go *** feeling … continue reading
Physical & Emotional Impact of Pain
“Tapping is so effective at relieving chronic pain because it helps release unresolved emotions keeping the body in a stressed-out state. By tapping to remove the negative emotional charge from specific events and other past and current issues, the brain gets the message that it is safe to relax tense muscles and lessens nerve sensitivity. That’s when the body can heal itself – of chronic pain and other symptoms as well.” Eric Robins, M.D. Expert in treating chronic pain This quote from the introduction to our friend, Nick Ortner’s, book The Tapping Solution For Pain Relief inspires us to try this crazy tapping thing on everything, including chronic or even long standing pain. Let’s face it, pain causes stress, stress causes tension, fatigue and plenty of emotional … continue reading
Powerful Questions To Reduce Your Stress
Here is a simple practice to reduce stress, when traveling or when you are home: 1. Begin with a few minutes of Energization exercises, stretching or yoga postures. 2. Sit quietly in Meditation and visualize how you want to feel in your daily life. Really notice the sensations, the energy in your body when you are feeling calm, relaxed and healthy. 3. Ask yourself – What do I need to STOP doing to feel better? What am I saying NO to? And write that down. 4. What do you need to START doing to feel better? What are you saying YES to? And write that down as well. 5. Choose one action you can take this week and commit: ________________________________________ 6. Resistance to change is a nature part of the process of … continue reading
Energizing Your Daily Practice
I learned these wonderful energization exercises at The Expanding Light at Ananda in Nevada City, California (www.expandinglight.org) when I attended a month long Yoga Teacher Training in 1998 and I have returned for personal retreat each year. We include a few of these exercises as preparation for meditation each week in our Monday classes at Synergy. This week let’s explore them more deeply as motivation for including them in daily practice. I will be returning to the EL January 13 – 16 to attend a Meditation retreat with one of my beloved teachers, Gyandev McCord. Here’s the link for more information: https://www.expandinglight.org/program/?programID=PRANA https://www.expandinglight.org/program/?programID=PRANA Paramhansa Yogananda, the well known yoga master, created the Energization Exercises as a scientific and systematic method for increasing … continue reading
Calming Down the Fight or Flight (or Flee) Response
This week I thought we might practice calming down the stress in our lives. There is plenty of scary stuff happening in our world and maybe not enough reminders to slow down, breathe deeply, move mindfully and ask for support. Ahhhh… Causes of Stress The flight or fight response in the body is an automatic function designed to help us survive when we are in danger. When every day experiences keep firing the stress response our immune system is impacted, which can lead to fatigue, insomnia, depression and illness. I believe that we always have a choice about how we respond to life. As we move into the fall and winter months, give yourself permission to slow down, nurture … continue reading
Self-Care for Caregivers
IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCE No one wants to ignore their loved ones when they need support and it’s simply not healthy or practical to completely ignore our own needs either. This week I worked with three different clients who are caregivers. One taking care of a spouse, another helping with her 90+ year old mother-in-law and another young person taking care of her grandmother. All of us will be called on, at one time or another, to be a caregiver for a loved one. This can be one of the most challenging responsibilities we ever take on. I don’t have children, however I imagine that caring for your own children is different, although filled with it’s own challenges, than caring for a parent or spouse. … continue reading