Peachester Natural Therapies

Breathe Spaciousness Into Your Body:

“Give your body breathing space and you’ll create more space in your life”

Is your body clenching, sucking it all in, squished and tight? Or perhaps today, it’s feeling relaxed, open, spacious and coping well with whatever life throws at it.

You’ll never know though (if it’s closed or spacious) unless you mindfully take the time to check in with how your body is travelling on any given day. The earlier you catch disappearing spaciousness the easier it will be to come back to a relaxed and spacious body and a more relaxed spacious you. And, you gota love that.

A simple 2 minute ritual of actually breathing more space into your body can dramatically alter the whole mood, flow and experience of your day. Guaranteed!!! Remember this handy mantra “Spaciousness goes where the breath flows”.

Take a moment to notice your body now.

Is your body pushing through the day with the “hand brake” on – closed and tight …… or cruising along nicely in fourth gear – relaxed and open? Perhaps you are somewhere in between.

If your shoulders become slumped, rounded or tight, you lose spaciousness not to mention a deficiency for your heart chakra.

If you’re feeling anxious your stomach is likely to tighten and tense and you lose spaciousness.

If you chew your nails your jaw is likely to be clenched losing spaciousness.

Feel or sense each inhale slowly invite a little more spaciousness into your shoulders, neck or elsewhere and then use your exhale – deliberately – with a little force – as it encourages releasing and letting go. After 5, 6 or even 7 breath cycles you’ll soon be feeling more spacious in that part of your body.

Create spaciousness in your hips:

Many of us hold frustration and stress in our hips. Yep, we clench them, and then clench them some more. Locking in all that juicy frustration. Time to let go.

1. Focus on your buttocks.

2. Start breathing into your buttocks

3. Get a sense or feeling of them un-clenching, releasing and letting go with each exhale

4. Inhale into your buttocks and get a sense of creating more spaciousness with each inhale. Inhale spaciousness ……. exhale letting go. Inhale spaciousness …… exhale letting go.

When you bring your awareness and breath to any area of your body, more blood and energy flows there. You create space. Its’ that simple.

Create spaciousness in your tummy:

1. Place your hands on your belly area.

2. Breathe into your belly – feel it rise on the inhale.

3. Inhale spaciousness into your belly – exhale and feel (no matter how small) a releasing and letting go.

4. Inhaling spaciousness …… exhaling releasing and letting go Continue until your belly is soft, relaxed and filling like a balloon on each inhale.

The more breath you invite into your belly the more space you create not only for your stomach but organs as well.

Create spaciousness in your heart:

1. Place your hands on your heart area. Using your hands helps hold your awareness there.

2. Breathe into your heart – notice how your heart feels – no judgement – just notice

3. Inhale spaciousness into your heart – exhale and feel a releasing and letting go. Feel or sense a softening of your heart muscle.

4. Inhaling spaciousness …… exhaling letting go. Continue until your heart feels softer, more open and relaxed.

**If you are struggling today opening your heart you might find laying on a yoga bolster or rolled blanket really, really helpful in creating more space for your heart.

Create space in your neck, shoulders and shoulder blade area.

1. Focus on your shoulders and neck.

2. Start breathing into your shoulder and neck area.

3. Get a sense or feeling of this area un-clenching, releasing and letting go with each exhale

4. Inhale into your this area and get a sense of creating more spaciousness with each inhale. Inhale spaciousness ……. exhale letting go.

Inhale spaciousness …… exhale letting go. Continue until your shoulders feel more open, relaxed and spacious.

Create spaciousness in your hands – it’s a beautiful thing:

I personally love doing this spacious breathing ritual into my hands, fingers and wrists. You might be surprised how much stress and tightness they hold.

1. Focus on your hands

2. Start breathing into your hands – your fingers – palm and back of the hands – wrist

3. Get a sense or feeling of them un-clenching, releasing and letting go with each exhale

4. Inhale into your hands and get a sense of creating more spaciousness with each inhale. Inhale spaciousness ……. exhale letting go.

Inhale spaciousness …… exhale letting go.

Continue until your hands feel lighter, spacious and more relaxed. You’ll also find this has a flow on effect up your arms as well.

With thanks http://thehealthylivinglounge.com/2012/03/27/give-your-body-spaciousness/

Firstly, I have to say, this is not to discredit or shut out our amazing Men! I love, honour and am so grateful for all the men in my life and the collective consciousness of the masculine - such powerful, dynamic and palpative energy!

There's been a shift in our society, one that's not for the better. It was traditional that Men would have their gathering time and women theirs. A time to be there for each other and support each other, to honour the inner masculine/feminine, and give oppurtunity for the elders to guide and teach the younger members of the society. This doesn't happen in the same way. Instead we gather in groups to play competitive sport, drink alcohol, gossip, go shopping etc, etc. The deep connection with spirit is missing, and we look to fill that in whatever way our 'elders' ie media, family, peers, tell us. And still we feel disconnected, alone, worthless, misguided, and so much more. It's no wonder that mental illness is soaring despite living in one of the luckiest countries in the world.

The good news is that we have power to change that. We have the power to change anything in our life, mould it in whatever way we wish, be who we want to be. Oh, it's a household known phenomena - 'the Law of Universal Attraction', 'the Power of Positive Thinking', 'the Power of Now'. But to 'know' and to 'do' are very different things indeed.

I've been working on myself for a few years now, peeling back layers, changing old ego habits, doing Journey work, meditating with crystals, understanding shamanism and sacred ceremony, becoming a yogini. These have ALL been extremely amazing and enlightening, and I wouldn't be here writing this now if not for all that inner work. But I have also come to learn the importance of gathering with like minded people and the profound healing and sharing that creates.

When I was younger, I was always the tom boy, didn't like dresses or looking too girly. I also was very emotionally closed and stored a LOT of negative emotions in my body. I am still learning how to feel rather than automatically push the emotions down, but thanks to Journey work I am really changing that pattern. Now I've discovered a connection to the divine feminine and inner freedom. At Being Woman 2012, I did a workshop that connected me to my vulnerability. Now this was a side of me that I pretty much disregarded, considering it a weakness. But what I discovered was the most beautiful and delicate gift, right there inside of me. Vulnerability is a womens power. To be in a state of vulnerability, you can't have your guard up; you have to be open, emotions flow freely and a portal direct to source is opened up and affects everyone who comes into contct with it! In fact, it affect the entire universe, it's as if we pull out a cosmic bottle stopper and allow Source itself to flow freely from behind the veil of existance into existance itself on every level. Feminine power dissolves animosity, fear, hatred, defensivness, aggression, meanness. Have you ever cried in front of a man and watched all the defences tumble down around him to reveal his soul nature? Then you know the Power of the Feminine. The more women can stand in their power, the greater the balance for light will be in our collective consciousness. We can stop wars, create Peace and harmony and heal each other and the planet.

Feminine Power is NOT about man-bashing, gossiping, shopping, doing your nails or burning your bra. That time was needed in our evolvment, but it is now passed. Now is the time to step into your True Nature.

Well, I've probably got you pretty motivated and excited, maybe a bit awestruck at how much you had underestimated yourself. But HOW???!!!  How do we achieve this in our crazy life, running after kids, cooking meals, resolving family arguements, taking the pets to the vet, work and maybe some down time like a movie to have a break. This may be a bit of an old tune, as I say it every time to anyone who listens - meditate EVERY DAY! You can find a way, I promise. If you pray for help it will come, an answer will appear. Next, make the time to join a womens sacred circle. A sacred circle connects us, gives us the powerful collective energy to feel into ourselves and heals so much wounding. To nurture and be nurtured, love and be loved, just for being you, is a beautiful experience. If you can connect with a group every month, you will grow and blossom like a beautiful rose in spring.

We are holding a New Moon circle at Peachester, please feel welcome to join us. If you wish to create your own circle, google 'new moon rituals' or similar. There are many wonderful and easy to follow suggestions online. Feel with your heart as to which is right for you.

Until next time, all the best with your journey, this life is a precious gift and I pray that you find your way to your true nature quickly.

Love Tanya

Affirmations

When we do affirmations, we are planting a seed. Just like a physical seed, success depends on 2 factors; the potency of the seed, and the suitability of the soil.

The seed is the conscious effort we put into our affirmation. We can make this more potent by faith and will. It’s important not to dilute it with doubt or worry. In all affirmations, intensity of attention comes first. Then impregnate your affirmations with devotion, will, and faith,intensely and repeatedly, unmindful of the results, which will come naturally as the fruits of your labours.

The soil is the Cosmic Consciousness. We can increase our receptivity when we prepare physically and mentally. Adopting suitable meditation posture, using a wool blanket between our body and the seat, and chanting in a dedicated group will benefit greatly. However, chanting is also successful in a busy environment if you can consciously apply yourself to your practice.

Our focus of intention will change depending on the affirmation.  Will affirmations should be accompanied by strong determination. Feeling affirmations by Devotion. Reason affirmations by clear understanding. If using affirmations to overcome negative emotions, such as fear or anger, you should concentrate on the opposite quality.  The cure for fear is the consciousness of bravery; for anger, peace; for weakness, strength; for sickness, health.

“A thought without soul conviction behind it has no value.” -Yogananda

The 5 stages of chanting (another term for affirmations, often used by yogis)–

1.conscious loud chanting

2. whisper chanting 

3. mental chanting. 

4. subconscious chanting 

5. superconscious chanting

Repeat three times for each stage. Sit in Meditation with a clear, calm mind and allow the seed of the affirmation be planted. Each timeyou repeat this, you are fertilising the seed. You will know when your affirmationis a part of your subconscious when either you don’t need to say it anymore, orwhen you say the affirmation in your mind, there is no resistance or augmentativefeeling inside you.

Affirmation guidelines;

Use the present tense.

Be POSITIVE.

Repetition. In order to bring about significant changes in your life, affirmations have to be done several times a day till such time that they become a reality.

Set aside a few times in your day that are consistant - driving to work, doing the dishes, washing your hands after the toilet. The trick is to make it a habit - and at the end of your day, ideally meditate before retiring to bed and review your day, look at your goals and make adjustments as needed.

Affirmation examples;

I feel good about myself and about everybody around me.

All is well. Everything that is happening is only for the highest good of me.

The past is gone. I live only in the present.

I love myself unconditionally and accept myself as I am.

I am a loving, forgiving, gentle and kind person.

I understand that change is inevitable. I welcome change and adapt myself to change. 

Extra research and reading;

www.yogananda-srf.org

www.louisehay.com

Please leave any comments, stories or experiences you wish to share:) 

Namaste

Hi, Tanya here!

I've taken the liberty to be the first blogger out of us, considering that I'm the computer geek and set this up:)

This blog will be utelized by David, Julie and myself to publish inspiring, informative and interesting tid-bits.  

Personally, I have seen a huge shift in myself physically and mentally. I've been getting comments like, "You're so calm and relaxed"  and  "You seem really balanced"

It's true, I feel that way - it great!  Being a scorpio, I have the ability to be red-hot, passionate, stubborn and aloof. There's been many periods in my life that have been packed with 'things to do' and I've been all go-go-go.

I've been faced with a very sobering health curve ball - which is my gift in all ways - and it has steered me into a much more balanced way of being. But aside from that, the one BIGGEST factor to the new ME has been incorporating Meditation into my life twice a day.  I really can't believe the difference it has made. Not only am I more grounded, that all time elusive and increasingly rare phenomena, 'common sense' seems to be with me. And my intuition has gone through the roof. I'm more productive and I've started painting again, which I haven't been able to do while studying Chemistry and Biochemistry for my Naturopathy course.

My advice is start meditating TODAY! It's easy, you'll get more out of yourself and your day. We have heaps of options to help you get into it if it's a new thing. And heaps of options to help you remotivate, including offering group meditations - which is a great way to get into a place of stillness.

That's all from me.  And this favourite quote of mine -

"There are two ways to live your life.

One is as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as if everything is a miracle."

- Albert Einstein

Namaste!

Tanya

Here's a giggle about common sense:) Enjoy!

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