Dear Gentle Reader, thank you for passing by and visiting my page. I trust you have a bountiful day.
As a mother, I want Christmas to be perfect. I want my girls to have a special time, to have fond memories and happy thoughts…yet as I am learning we cant make our children happy, we cant force someone else to see life the same as us. We have to allow our children , friends and loved ones the space to find their own path, to make their own mistakes (learning opportunities) seek their own truth and understanding. It is hard to stand by and see someone you love and care about in pain.
Like most of you, this has being year of upheaval – a year of small changes yet massive impact. A year where I have bled to death and had to crawl up and sew myself together.
If you are going through a rough time and feel there is no way out. No way you can change your situation, please stop awhile and read these few words.
You Can Change.
How?
When you feel downhearted, alone and lonely, how can you get-up and feel better again?
1.Be Gentle
Take time to pause, touch your soul and breathe. Yoga encourages you to accept yourself as you are. A daily yoga practice gives you sooo much more than toned arms and cellulite free thighs.
2.Breathe
Yoga gives you space. Space to breathe. Space to reflect, to love and nurture yourself.
It doesn’t happen overnight. Yet every day, every moment you show up on your mat you are making a commitment to yourself, to the unseen world that you matter. A statement that you care enough about yourself to get up and take another step towards celebrating your greatness.
Do You Feel fat and Ugly? And Hate What You See In the Mirrror?
That’s OK. Yoga accepts you just the way you are. Yoga poses can be adapted to suit all shapes and sizes.
This Is What Kathy Did…
I remember one student, Kathy, a very big busted lady. Kathy wanted to do yoga. All her “skinny friends” did yoga and were always raving about how great they felt.
Yet Kathy dreaded the idea of wearing a skinny leotard. She is a big lady and the thought of laying down on the floor, freaked her out. She felt uncomfortable laying on her stomach as her breast got squashed and she felt restricted. Plus Kathy thought there was no way she could get up again without support or stumbling over.
No Problem:
Kathy practices most of floor poses sitting on a chair, using it as a prop ….seated cobra, seated side twists, supported tree pose (using back of chair) there are so many ways you can adapt yoga to suit your body shape and size. This simple adaptation, gives Kathy the confidence she lacked and is helping her to feel better about herself.
Are You Grief-stricken, Mourning the Loss of Loved Ones?
Much as I love Christmas, it is tinged with sadness and sorrow. My dear cousin Sherry died just before Christmas (1996) and we buried her at the end of that year. Her presence is always missed, and I often find myself locked in memories of her passing, especially on Christmas Day as we grew up spending every Christmas and New Year together.
If you are mourning the loss of loved ones, it isn’t easy to let go off your grief. People mean well and will say nice things, like “it was for the best.” Or “she is in a better place.”
When you are in grief, those words are hollow and meaningless.
It was the death of my cousin and brother which finally trigged my desire for peace which finally led me to yoga.
Yoga is so gentle. It was bliss to feel my body unfold and come alive. Standing in the mountain pose became my refuge. I would stand for minutes breathing deep down into the earth and imagine roots growing from the soles of my feet. I felt strong and as I breathed in I felt warm inside..like you do eating a bowl of soup on a cold winters day.
If you are locked in grief and sadness, be gentle and stand tall…
Lower your shoulders, lengthen your neck, take a deep breath in through your nose and slowly send that breath all the way to your feet. Repeat three to five times. Each time allow your breath to go deeper into your body and flow through your heart and down your thighs into your feet.
Do You Suffer From Back Ache, Stiff Shoulders, Aches and Pains?
Yoga is a living science. An art which you weave into your daily life. You do not have to go to a class to practice yoga.
This Is What My Mum Does…
My mother is 76 years old and to this day always hooks her bra on from behind. That is her yoga. She stands straight and bends her arms back as she hooks up her bra. This simple stretch, done with awareness, helps to keep her shoulders supple. And is a wonderful way to stretch your upper arm muscles. If you don’t wear a bra, then simple cross your arms behind your back, lower your shoulders and grease your arms.
Do You Feel Exhausted? Overworked? Burnt-Out?
So many of my students come to yoga to relieve stress. Yet struggle to find the time to fit yoga into their busy schedule. They want practical yoga-on-the-go. Something they can quickly slot into their busy schedule, calm them down and carry on with their lives.
No Problem.
Brush Your Teeth With Awareness
It is easy to slot a few minutes of calm into your life.
For example when you brush your teeth, stand tall and straight. Don’t lean over into the sink or rest your hands on the basin. Stand straight or sit upright in a chair, spread your toes out and feel your feet totally connect with the floor. Lower your shoulders, smile and brush your teeth. Really focus on the sensations you can experience in your mouth, the different biting surfaces, ask yourself what does my saliva taste like? Is it salty, sweet, foul tasting? Run your tongue over your teeth. Exercise your tongue. Stretch and curl your tongue. Open and close your jaw and make funny faces. Massage your gums with your tooth brush.
As long as you are present and make that commitment to fully engage in the “brushing your teeth experience” that is yoga and a beautiful way to reconnect with yourself when you wake up and, bring yourself back into your body after a hard day at work.
What Is Your Challenge?
What has happened to you over the past year of so which has left you feeling drained, unsupported, exhausted or overwhelmed? What would you like to change in your life? What would you like to be different in 2011?
I would love to get to know you. To find out if there is something I can do to share with you simple yoga techniques to bring your life back into balance. To support and nurture you as we journey through this thing we call life.
Please feel free to write a comment below and share your story. I would love to hear from you. Thank You.
Namaste
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