Matters of the Heart

 

Everyone has read a book or two that has that "POW" effect, the one that grabs your heart and touches you so deeply you can never fully go back to the way you were.  You have this new sense of awareness, a tool you can work with to change your entire life.  Books that have a profound impact must be shared.  So here it is:  "The Untethered Soul, the journey beyond yourself", by Michael Singer.  This book was highly recommended to me by my yoga teacher.  Had I known what effect it was going to have, I wouldn't have waited so long to pick it up.  This book is fabulous for anyone who is looking to move forward, live lighter, and let it go.

So many of us have lived through pain.  We have grown from it and we have stopped growing because of it.  We have defense mechanisms that show up when something feels uncomfortable, something that reminds us of a place we don't want to revisit.  So we get busy, drink, shop, get angry, or completely shut down.  We don't want to feel it, so we don't let it go.  It gets captured, blocked and locked.  Your energy goes way down and you can't figure out why you're not feeling the good stuff.  By the good stuff, I mean the energy you feel that doesn't require sleep or food, the energy that builds up inside you and makes you feel like you can take on the world.  We've all had that as well.  So why don't we feel it all the time? 

 

Micheal Singer explains the largest energy center in your body, The Heart:

 

" The only reason you don't feel this energy all the time is because you block it.  You block it by closing your heart, by closing your mind and by pulling yourself into a restricted space inside.  This closes you off from all the energy.  When you close your heart or you close your mind, you hide in the darkness within you.  There is no light.  There is no energy.  There is nothing flowing.  There energy is still there but it can't get in.  This is what it means to be BLOCKED.  That is why you have no energy when you are depressed.  There are centers within that channel your energy flow.  When you close them, there is no energy.  When you open them, there is energy.  We all have our defense mechanisms.  It seems only natural when you have an upsetting or traumatic experience. that you shut down at the mere thought of experiencing such feelings ever again.  The problem is that shutting down, closing our hearts, is not doing us any good.  Contrary to our beliefs, it does not really protect us from anything.  He goes on to say, "It just cuts you off from your source of energy.  In the end, it only serves to lock you inside."

  

Keeping Your Heart Open: Yoga and Meditation

 

The good news is that we can learn to retrain the heart, if you will.  We can learn to keep our hearts open, that is if we choose to.  We all want to feel love, joy and enthusiasm.  We all want to be free.  What would it feel like if we could, regardless of any experiences that come up, stand in a place of total freedom, total inner freedom?  What would it feel like to allow our life experiences to pass through us without getting locked and blocked, losing our flow of energy?  How would it feel if the energy kept flowing and the rush of love, joy and zest for life filled us up and we had access to it anytime all the time?  My guess?  Pretty awesome.  Look out for my next few posts regarding this fabulously intelligent, heart warming book.  Maybe we can learn something together.

Two things we can practice to keep the heart center open:  Yoga and Meditation.  There are all kinds of heart opening poses.  Click on the video below and learn one of many...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Words Affect Us

 

After teaching an evening class the other day, one of the students talked with me a bit after class.  She talked with me about healing.  Healing her relationships, healing herself, and as she told me the story of her own evolution, she reminded me exactly how much words can hurt, but more importantly how they can heal. 

Many years ago, in my teens, I had sex with a boy.  It was my first time.  Due to the unfortunate timing of these circumstances, I was labeled "SLUT" of the school.  I remember one particular girl who stalked me every single day, waiting to corner me to shout at the top of her lungs so everyone with in miles would hear, "SLUT!!!!"  I was scared to death of her.  Even though I knew intellectually that it was not true, I began to internalize the words and fear wrapped itself around me choking my voice, my heart.  I could not find my voice at the time and so tried very hard to shrink away so no one would see me.  I did this for many years.

 

What Words Are We Using?

 

When I finally did start speaking up, words of anger came out.  I spoke words of anger for years.  It didn't feel good.  I always felt like I was sticking my foot in my mouth or speaking up at the wrong time, again just wanting to shrink away.  My saving grace were the kind people I met along the way. People who were balanced, loving people.  The kind of people who were gentle with me, who helped guide me to a better place through beautiful words, loving thoughts, and tremendous patience.  I learned how to speak gently to myself.  I learned slowly how to be kinder to myself, how to love myself.  I am still learning and growing so much, slowly finding the voice that helps me create healthy boundaries.

When I started practicing yoga, I became so much more aware of my words.  Learning about the Yamas and Niyamas has taught me to be kinder toward myself, and in doing that I am also kinder toward others.  One particular Yama, Ahimsa, is another name for truth or love.  The general meaning is non-violence in thought, word, deed or action.  When a little gossip sounds like it could be interesting, I ask myself now whether I really want to engage if such talk will result in unloving thoughts about someone.  The answer is no.  So I will take a more diplomatic approach, excuse myself if necessary.  If I am having a bad hair day, and I curse about something, I check in with my body, my heart, and observe how I feel.  When what I am speaking or feeling feels ugly, then I know it is time to sit quietly, breathe, and speak kindly to myself.  When I take the time to check in, no matter what has happened in the past, I know all is well.  You are loved.  You are loved.  You are loved.

 

I Welcome Inspiring Stories of How Words Have Touched Your Life in the Comment Section Below

[caption id="attachment_391" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Relaxing at the Heidelberg Castle"][/caption]

Keeping The Faith

Keeping The Faith In Hard Economic Times

   

I am no stranger to hard economic times.  I remember my parents having $ 5.00 to spare after paying the bills each month. I went to school and worked hard for my bachelor's and master's in hopes I would never be out of a job.  I have had corporate jobs that paid well and no job living in constant fear coupled by physical safety issues resulting from PTSD.  Sometimes I felt like I would just go bananas!  

As I look around today, I meet so many people who also went to school to protect themselves from exactly what is going on right now.  With so many people out of work, walking away from mortgages, unable to meet their basic needs, it is no wonder there is so much fear floating around.  

   

Meditation Helps Calm The Fear

   

I wish we could have our life's path lit all the way down the road, but it just doesn't work that way.  I know we're supposed to enjoy the ride, but sometimes it's easier said than done.  No one said the journey was going to be easy.  But there is something we can do, that doesn't cost a dime, just 5-30 minutes a day that will make the goodness in our lives so much more palpable.  And that, my friends, is meditation.  

If you're not used to meditating, start out slow.  Sometimes it is very difficult to sit for 5 minutes, let alone 30 when your mind is going 100 miles per hour in a million different directions.  When I am working with new students, I have found 2 methods that help newbies quiet their minds.  

    

2 Methods To Help You Start Meditating

 

First find a quiet spot.  It doesn't matter where it is.  You can sit in your cubicle at work, on a chair somewhere, the floor, pillow or no pillow, whatever works for you.  Be comfortable, but be at attention.  This is not sleepy time.  Begin to breath from your belly, like a fat happy baby.  You know how they breathe, right?  When a baby inhales, their bellies get really round and big.  On their exhale, their bellies fall gently.  That's how you breathe.  Now, 2 methods to help you get started:  

1.  Count.   

Now, close your eyes.  Soften your jaw and the muscles in your face.  If your mind wants to go out into a million different directions, count.  Count 4 in and 4 out.  When you get that going, slow down the breath and count 4 in and 8 out and so on.  Feel it out and stick with what works.  It may be you feel more in sync with 6 on the inhale and 10 or 12 on the exhale.  The point is that counting helps focus the mind.  The same thing works with listening to the sound of your own breath and feeling the cool air flowing through your nostrils.  Try both, see what happens.  

2. Chants. Prayer. Music.   

 There is a particular prayer that helps me relax and focus very quickly.  It is a prayer/chant by Craig Pruess and Ananda, "Devi Prayer", 108 beautiful names for the Divine.  You can get in on iTunes.  It is beautiful and transformative.  In fact, I use it quite often whenever I teach restorative classes.  It feels healing and loving and just resonates with the soul.  I  find that most people who hear the prayers, male and female, are moved by its beauty.  Give it a try.  You won't be disappointed.  

[caption id="attachment_380" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Try it! It works."][/caption]