Weekend intensive … all about the HEART, our cardiovascular (physical and otherwise) health vis-a-vis yoga. Another weekend with dedicated cohorts and knowledgeable teachers who shared and taught from their “heart” – More on this as I go through all my notes and the materials … as they laughed, indeed, it’s a super-crash course Med School 101. When MDs teach yoga, its kind of interesting – but mostly surprised how humble they are… At the same time, their sincere words lend validation to this whole training where it’s about deep thought and care into what’s a best yoga prescription for that particular student/client who stands before us. Aiding them in harmony with the rest of the team involved in their healing journey. It’s a collaborative when it’s not about ego of credit taking but taking a multi-prong approach so we can all learn and grow.
Sensory overload whether @ work or play, there is that to contend with … longing for that time to unplug and experience that delicious … Pratyahara state.
Whenever one is overwhelmed in trying to meet the demands of life (ironically with me, it’s balancing the mounting yoga therapy TT assignments with rest of my life), invoke the power to connect with the Higher Self. Sometimes that could mean setting an intention, chanting, align with an affirmation that resonates with you, visualizations. Visualizations is not so much an “escape”, it’s not a cop out – but it is a “refuge” you find within to center and ground yourself when you see the brain fog seeping in to fuzz your vision. Or it can help in the mind-numbing or sensory numbing moments … It’s not any special skill – anyone and everyone has the ability to be clairvoyant. Certain types of physical yoga invites an ideal setup to unleash the clairvoyance in us.
With your minds eyes, replay from a stream of consciousness, places that give you deep sense of being. Just being. Being calm, being happy, being ecstatic, being thankful, being present… a place to just be with not a care in the world. Doing little to nothing. Choose one image – Think of a beautiful place, the most beautiful and powerful place – maybe it’s a place you’ve actually been to or a place you imagined, whatever the place is, it’s a special place that holds a soulful significance to you. That place representing beauty, solace, comfort and limitless, unbound power to you. Transport yourself to that spot that transcends our notion of time and space. What sounds do you hear? What’s the temperature like? What’s the lighting like? Breathe the spacious air; breathe that fresh smell of white sands; touch the sky reaching up, then sink your bare toes into the sands … feel the earth beneath you as you ground down; kiss the wind … feel the light. Feel the vibrations within the stillness.
Touch the sky; bless the water; caress the sands… Haahhhhhh
(Yoga teachers … feel free to use this …kind of hypnotherapy-ish I realize & I have more and more ideas and teachings – share and spread the peace ~)
Just heard a interview of a popular comedian with Terry Gross where he laments how he cannot deal with “calm” as without multi-tasking and constant chaos, he can’t feel “alive” – well, no wonder he struggled with addictions. It’s the brain chemicals – the neurotransmitters – that rajas state – that’s been so messed with, an equilibrium is hard to settle into. If chaos makes you feel alive, find out the root cause – why is that? What are the fears?
Praying for heart health for those who cannot sit still – having spent the whole weekend on the subject of Cardiovascular health, so thankful for this beating pulsating heart of ours. Got to go – have to get my heart rate variability up and up to the new “normal” so that I can come down later to let it rest into deep meaningful rest … that dance between the intervals where rest is deep and work is intense – both states needed for optimal health. It’s the yin and the yang – we embrace the whole spectrum of being.
A balance act as always.
Have a lovely day !
Greeted by lovely wall hangings…immediately knew this is my kind of place! Why? It’s Rumi.
Woke up before dawn to go see the sunrise … 
Y-san had a beautiful crystal by the fireplace …lovely grounding energy is felt. 
Lovely yoga studio on a cold day at Shasta City… cozy with snow falling outside & it’s April?
At Stewart Mineral Hot Spring …as suggested by Y-san, going between the HOT mineral bath and then splash into the cooling outside water then … tiptoe into the sauna. Feeling cleansed and purified. Gratitude for this ritual Native Americans also practiced. In silence. Mind fog lifts; sediments whirling around settles to the bottom and the water surface is calm, not a ripple of disturbance…refreshed. Deep Restoration one can feel at cellular level takes place. In gratitude.
