Author Archives: karen5022

Sensing the seasons changing, and ourselves…

Posted on by
Reply
Our actions affect the whole

The Tree of Life
CELEBRATE THE WINTER SOLSTICE WITH PEACE IN YOUR HEART

I love how are senses take in the seasons and how accustomed we are to the changes…in fact, when we have a 70 degree day in January we are excited, but a bit uneasy because our bodies are “accustomed” to winter temperatures.  I remember that warm spell we had back in the Fall, and my sense were so confused, it was gorgeous and warm however, as I took in the natural world around me, everything had gone dormant for the winter, the plants, trees, bugs (except the stink bugs!), it wasn’t green which is the color and sense that goes with 70+ temperatures.  My senses were confused!

I feel the same way when I have a new sensation in moving; this week all my clients and I are exploring how to let go of our “tail” or coccyx (more anatomical), and what amazing things happen.  We felt our knees unlock, our neck become easy and free, and we felt more aware of what was around us. However, we were confused, because it didn’t feel or we didn’t sense ourselves the same way and we actually felt better.  So the word “accustomed” as I used above for the changes in weather could also be called “habits” which is more appropriate for how we sense our bodies or not…habit often times means we aren’t aware at all, we are going through our daily activites just like we always have without noticing ourselves in a conscious way; we are on automatic pilot!

During this busy time find a time to lie down, put your legs up, slide a few books under your head and just be…noticing your sensations without any expectations or judgement…it is challenging, but oh so rewarding.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS – blessings of good health, peace and joy all around!

 

Turning the door knob before I get there…

Posted on by
Reply

I have been noticing that if I am approaching a door with the intent of opening it by turning the knob, I anticipate with my muscles way before I get near the door!!  So I am creating through my “habit” how I am going to use my hand, elbow, shoulder and yes, my back muscles to turn the knob and I’m not even close to the doorknob!!!! I am not even conscious that I am creating that tension!!

WOW, is that ever a lot of extra effort and over tightening all my joints for no reason; however, it did come into my awareness when I “paused” long enough to be present and “notice” what I was habitually doing with my body.

The next time you open a door, pick up a glass or cup, walk to your car to open the door, and,  yes, even taking a step….it is a fun experiment and you could use a lot less energy and save your joints from stiffness, discomfort and pain on down the road; just by being attentive to your habits as you are moving  through your day.

image

 

Reflecting on reflections…how they help us grow

Posted on by
Reply

I was reading an article in the new Yoga Journal about compassion, and how we can learn to cultivate compassion by taking on the character of compassion and breathing that feeling through our bodies; and then sometime during the day consider a compassionate act you can perform; ie,  helping someone to cross the street, yielding to another car in traffic, donating to a charity – all with the feeling of compassion, not duty or obligation.

I have always felt from the eastern philosophy and from the teaching of the Dalai Lama that compassion is recognizing someone’s  suffering and that that someone else is just like you.  You experience someone else’s suffering as your own.  Their suffering is reflected back to us, they are a mirror to our own pain.  And a lot of times it is the fear we see in others that we can’t honor in ourselves; that we could be in the same situation, in the same fragile place they are now in.  Your empathy then becomes compassion, the realization of our commonality.

Consider this practice as you bring someone to mind that is suffering: (from Yoga Journa2013highland lake inn brochurel)

“Like me, this person desires happiness.

Like me, this person wants to be free from suffering

Like me, this person has experienced grief, loneliness and sorrow

Like me, this person is trying to get what he or she needs in life

Like me, this person is evolving

Imagine you are suffering the same way.  Think about how you’d feel.  Think about how much you would want to be free from suffering

Now imagine, how much less alone you would feel if someone actively felt your pain and wanted it to end.  Can you do this for the other person?  Can you actively desire that their suffering end?

Put yourself in the other person’s place, and then feel for a moment that their pain is also yours. Hold the wish that their suffering ends.

Then if possible, do something kind for them, a phone call, donation, picking up groceries; it doesn’t have to be huge.  This practice can be so transformative the it is helpful to do daily and you can see how it can affect your opinions and interactions with every person in your life.”                                            Sally Kempton/Yoga Journal

Neuroscientists now believe that the ability to feel another person’s pain as if it were your own is hardwired in us. We can use this innate ability to offer our understanding to others and also discover ourselves in a deeper way.