Last May, I began my monthly zoom class series called Yoga & the Chakras. I invited my dear friend Kayo Malik (Chinese doctor/acupuncturist) to join me and for the past six months we have been blending our healing systems to achieve one synergistic presentation of the chakra energy model.
It has been very educational to discover that, although the system of Yoga was practiced a continent away from China, each culture developed a subtle body concept that was identical at its core. Just goes to show you that when something is authentic, it is eventually known by all.
I have enjoyed our journey immensely. And, now that we will be culminating with the crown chakra this month, I have decided to give a synopsis of the progression we’ve made through the energetic body – highlighting our two perspectives.
Is there a frog in your throat? Or, did a cat get your tongue? Maybe you find yourself buttoning your lips often? Perhaps you speak with a forked tongue, have a loose tongue or often wag your tongue? Do you speak your mind or do you pay lip service? Do you let people put words in your mouth?
Energetically, we need nourishment. All of us experience emotional trauma and emotional hurts which get buried and may be difficult to access over time. Emotional trauma can cause the brain to be in fight or flight and this stress can lead to the loss of creative potential and a focus on fear rather than love.
Our sacral chakra is known as the self-abode and when balanced energetically, it has the quality to nourish us emotionally. Last week, I posted all about the 2nd chakra’s qualities and importance in overall health. Click here to check it out.
How can we create that energetic nourishment for our self-abode?
I love this topic. The reason I started using essential oils was to get grounded, calm and more at peace. It’s also my main impetus for doing yoga. And, when the two worlds collide, it’s magic.
Energetically, the grounding oils can be used for stabilizing the root chakra. Check out my previous post for a good understanding of the importance of balancing this chakra. I am also hosting a zoom class on Yoga & the Chakras this Saturday where I will be joined by acupuncturist Kayo Malik. Together we will explore the energy behind the root chakra and ways to enhance its grounding quality.
To complement and expand on our upcoming zoom class, I thought I would speak more in depth about some of my essential oil recommendations for the all important root chakra.
As promised some time ago, I am updating you on my exploration with essential oils. I have quite a collection now and have been experimenting with them for specific ailments and general mood enhancement. I am also discovering their benefits for maintaining my overall health. Today I will outline my current regime and the brands and flavors I use. Continue reading “Latest Essential Oil Discoveries”→
For many years, the system of yoga was my “go to” method for health maintenance. After all, it is a terrific course for correcting imbalances in body, mind and spirit. Small episodes of pain and stress would come and go – there was always my practice to guide me through any discomfort.
Until this year. I experienced a rare facial nerve disorder (that I have still yet to diagnose). Although restorative yoga postures, breath work and meditation did help me to relax, the pain and other repercussions of this ailment forced me to search out a viable treatment.
So, I googled my options for healing. You could say that I went on a quest for healing.
And, along the way, I discovered acupuncture, aromatherapy and Jin Shin Jyutsu. Together with the modalities of massage and yoga, these therapies have paved the way toward my well-being.
Because my background is geared to yoga, I applied simple breathing and relaxation techniques to the acupuncture and Jin Shin Jyutsu sessions I received. At first, it merely helped me to stay calm with the uneasiness I felt in these new situations. However, as my comfort level increased, I realized that when I executed these yoga techniques within my treatments, I could awaken my body’s intelligence and amplify my level of awareness.
After a relatively short span of time, not only did my symptoms resolve for longer and longer periods but, in the end, they nearly vanished.
Nowadays, I continue to receive massage and Jin Shin Jyutsu, utilize aromatherapy and am slowly incorporating a stronger yoga practice back into my daily routine. I feel like my body is finally in sync again, a sensation that I had been missing for nearly a year.
Each form of bodywork I experienced has taught me how important the awareness of the present moment is to overall health. I am so thankful that I was able to apply the yogic principles of relaxation and breath work to amplify each modality’s effectiveness.
In turn, I have reapplied this new heightened level of awareness back into my yoga practice. In general, I am staying even more open minded. My body feels a new alertness and there is a deeper level of harmony moving within.
I had discovered that the underlying meaning of each of these modalities is the present moment awareness. And, that, even in the midst of pain, you can lean in, stay attentive and surrender.
Your challenge this week is to locate your own method for generating increased awareness. You may wish to look into one of the modalities that I have mentioned or maybe you already have something simmering on the back burner.
Please keep in mind that whatever you choose should grant you a deeper connection to Self. It should awaken you to your true nature. Only then will you be able to see things as they truly are and live in the present moment.
