September 2011 Yoga Pose of the Month: Warrior I

Warrior I
Sanskrit: Virabhadrasana I
Image provide by YogaJournal.com

This month's article (below) goes perfectly with this month's yoga pose. Feel the energy surging within your body all the way up your spine and out your arms in this pose. We are powerful beings and in holding this pose we can choose to tap into that power and believe. This pose brings out a force within us that isn't always tapped into.

Directions on how to come into the pose:
Stretching back in Down Dog inhale. Exhale, and bring your left leg forward in between your hands for runners lunge. Keep your knee in a 90 degree angle, ankle over knee. From Down Dog to runners lunge. Ground your back foot down, angle it flat towards the top corner of your mat. Bring your hands to your thighs as you lift your upper body up. Maintain good foundation in the legs. Take hands to hips for a moment. Keep your hips both facing forward, like to headlights shining in front of you.

Then raise your hands up high on either side of your ears. Reach tall, pull your ribs away from your waist. Keep that knee over your ankle, no jutting out or in. Open the chest. Open your heart. Bring the energy up from your feet, through your legs, your torso, all the way up your spine and through your arms. Inhale, exhale and lower down a little more. Find your edge in this pose.

If you'd like, and if you are familiar with Warrior I, you may take a gentle arch in your spine for a gentle back bend. Look up towards your hands and if you'd like, take a temple mudra here with your hands. Clasping your hands together, with index fingers straight up and pressing together. Breathe deeply. Five deep breaths here.

To come out: Lower arms down to the mat, press both legs back into a plank pose. Both feet out behind you, hips not too high, then press into your hands and through your tailbone into Down Dog. Stretch and breathe here. Keep shoulders back and away from the ears, open up your heart and press your hands into the mat. Elongate the spine. Do the other side!!!

When not to do this pose or to modify/Contraindications:
High blood pressure, Heart problems, those with shoulder problems should keep their raised arms parallel (or slightly wider than parallel) to each other and those with neck problems should keep their head in a neutral position and not look up at the hands.

~ Maggie
www.SpiritualCompassConnection.com

Do You Know What Your Destiny Is? ~ September 2011

Do You Know What Your Destiny Is?

You are destined for Greatness. Yep. That's right. Each and every one of you are destined for something beautiful and wonderful and totally unique to you. There may be simiarities to another's path, but it is a totally different expression that is coming from you. It's your experience and your expression.

It's time to find the Warrior within. No more procrastination. Because it IS there. Within us all. Always has been. And we can dig down deep and bring it to the surface. If you've ever had to hold a pose, such as Warrior I in Yoga (above description under this month's yoga pose and check me out on the right in Warrior I :)), or been working out with weights or pushing through a cardio routine and you've just about had it. You'll know what I mean. Because there comes a point, maybe it's something the instructor said or maybe you finally realize it's inside of you, but there comes a point where you suddenly get your second-wind, you feel a renewed sense of energy, your focus is intensified and you feel a fire deep inside of you that keeps you holding that pose, repeating those last few reps or pushing through the last of your cardio routine. There's usually a look in your eyes when you feel this. It's an intense focus like nothing you have ever felt before but during these pure moments of potent energy. You've found the warrior within you and nothing can get in your way. When you've finished, there is a euphoria you can't explain and the endorphins are a wonderful rush to boot!

It's this pure intense fire that is within us all. Whatever it is we are meant to do, push through or endure we can find this place inside of us to help us to keep going and feel more utterly connected to Source (God) like never before. It's this intense focus I tap into during energy session, meditations, yoga, and my workouts for sure! It's also an intense focus that comes up when I am doing design work and even writing these newsletters. It's my Source connection coming further to the surface to bring out more of the "Me" that "I" am.

We each have something we are meant to do and Be. It is something that has been within us forever. It is something that comes very naturally to us. Whatever that may be it is within you and you know to your core. It keeps coming and coming to you; it is constant. It is you. It is your divine expression.

And if we can get off the couch, stop listening to those insane excuses our mind repetitively give us and push through knowing an uplifting outcome for all is awaiting us, we will be more ALIVE, more AWAKE and more consciously surviving and THRIVING in life. It's what's inside of us that we are meant to bring out and show to the world. Not what others think we should do or be, not what your ego mind said do it out of fear, but what is our blissful passion, what makes us happy and joyous to live every day. That may not be your full time job, but it has to be something you tap into at least a few minutes every day, whatever that is.

Take a challenge and meditate a few minutes away. Or sit quiet. Imagine that you are doing something you so much love! And if you don't know what that is, imagine the feeling of doing something you love. Just feel the joy, happiness and fulfillment that comes. Be peaceful. Breathe into this. See it, feel it and be it as INTENSELY as you can. You'll start to see signs and synchronicities coming your way to answer your daily moments of clarity. Perhaps your destiny is to spread peace and be that peaceful center. So maybe you are not "doing" something but in fact by BEing peaceful, you are assisting the world with your vibration. We are all assisting the world with our vibration as we reach our potential for greatness and our deep inner Source connection.

And when you do your Warrior I pose in Yoga or get to those moments in your workout where you think you just can't go one more second, or even those moments in life that make you want to just give up, breathe deeply, know you can do it, know it's ALWAYS mental and spiritual as well as physical, and you can decide to find that FIRE within you and let it out! Get your second-wind for life! Find that fire within and use this intense clarity of focus to reach YOUR Greatness. It's your destiny.

Enjoy, live, laugh, love always!

Blessings to you on your path,
~ Spiritual Cheerleader
www.SpiritualCompassConnection.com

Stronger ~ August 2011

Stronger

There's been a theme that keeps repeating itself to me this week so it must be shared. When life presents challenges to us it's so easy to fall into pity-mode and viewing ourselves as the victim. As is probably a pattern for many and something I fought hard against and feel that I am so close to having surpassed that hurdle. It occasionally still pops up. Sometimes I succeed in realizing I am no longer a victim and will not wallow. Other times my self-empowerment is low and I bring it down even lower when I allow myself a little victim party. So I say enough's enough! We are stronger than we think we are! It's all about how we speak to ourselves and what we believe! Truly!

We are not victim's of our circumstances. In fact, we created them. Each and every one of them. 100%! And more than half of that creation is a co-creation with many others in our lives from those in our lives at present and those who planted seeds throughout our life (from parents, teachers, friends, our culture and society as a whole). So we must take ownership of what is happening to us. We cannot possibly know every minute detail of they "Why's" and the "How's" of what is happening in our life. Sometimes we get the message and other times we are not meant to know, and yet again other times it is simply an experience to assist us to continue to grow stronger and more evolved. Better able to face our challenges and move through live with more ease in our center.

When a challenge comes up we can remain optimistic. We must see the reality for what it is and then begin to tap into the mysterious magical creative beings we are. We could wallow, but enough of that. That's boring. Been there. Done that. Instead it's even been proven scientifically that if you are an optimistic person even in the face of adversity you will make it through the challenge smoother, faster and more uplifted on the other side. Instead if you wallow and stay in that lower vibration muddling through the experience with a negative outlook it will be that much harder to get through the challenging experience and you will FEEL bad. Not only that, you will also be attracting more negativity into your life so you can continue to feel this low. Now who wants that!?

Use the Law of Attraction in your favor and be, see and feel the positive outcome. Solutions present themselves more easily to you when you have an open mind. If you are closed off due to negative monkey mind thinking you won't hear the solution. If you are free, open and clear it will just come to you naturally.

Challenges are a blessing in disguise. Sometimes something not-so-great happens and you realize in the end that it was truly exactly what you needed. It might have been a change in circumstance, that at first seemed awful but instead presented a huge opportunity for growth, maybe a move to a better more uplifting place or job, and maybe a new friend or relationship comes of the experience. You will get through it. We always do. Just know that you are always supported, loved and this too shall pass. So why worry. You will only manifest more experiences that will bring more worry to you. Instead get back to your center and know that whatever is happening: It's not good. It's not bad. It just is.

"Thinking isolates a situation or event and calls it good or bad, as if it had a separate existence. Through excessive reliance on thinking, reality becomes fragmented. This fragmentation is an illusion, but seems very real while you are trapped in it." ~ Eckhart Tolle

There are ways we can get into our center that will truly help us in the long run to rise up through the ashes of challenging experiences and remain in our balanced center. Below are seven beautiful and valuable tools to do just that and more:

1. Meditation is huge!: Just by taking a mere 15-20 minutes a day of quiet time you not only gain better balance and center, you also make it more possible to be more productive throughout the day. Your brain works at a more efficient rate and things get done. You are more in tune with your intuition and working in conjunction with your Soul!

2. Yoga: Need I say more. In yoga, you are also meditating as well as moving the body. Our bodies were made to move. Through yoga you are able to work with your mind, body and soul together, integrating these for a healthy and whole being. The health benefits to yoga are insurmountable and magical. I hear stories every day of folks being cured of asthma, arthritis, spinal and bone injuries and more! Just because they began a dedicated yoga practice a few times a week. You will feel better and more uplifted too!

3. Music: A magical cure for your moods. Music can bring you down or lift you up. So choose wisely the music that makes YOU feel GOOD, uplifted and even singing along. Music resonates at frequencies that can get in deep to our core and move blockages at a faster rate. Music can refresh you and leave you better able to make it through the tougher days.

4. Breathe: The power of our breath is key to everything. If you are getting stressed out, take a breather literally. Stop what you are doing and breathe in deeply, exhale slowly. Do this through your nose a few times. Close your eyes and imagine your breath going into every cell of your body, even as white light. Our breath is our prana life force energy, as we breathe we fuel our mind, bodies and soul's.

5. Use a mantra such as: Ommmm. Another good one is: It's not good. It's not bad. It just is. And breathe deeply!

6. Be the Witness: Try not to get caught up in a challenging experience. Take a step back and just observe what is happening around you. Come at it from a neutral state of mind and let the experience be. Then things will almost magically take care of themselves. Solutions will come, actions will be taken and peace can be felt even amidst the chaos.

7. Visualize: Our imagination is our tool of creativity. Since we are creating everything from our thoughts and emotions, it helps to visualize a positive outcome or at least to conjure a feeling of peace or bliss as the outcome to something that may be challenging in the very moment. Olympians and other athletes utilize this tool often as a way to gain momentum in training and ultimately winning the gold (or whatever the end result goal is in mind). I used this technique to shed over 90 pounds! Our brains do not know when we are actually experiencing something or just reliving it in our minds or, in this case, visualizing something new. Creating a new outcome of wonderful resolution with new solutions abound. The brain will still react and act as if it's happening right now and you will feel the same feelings again and by the Law of Attraction attract that which you are remembering or newly envisioning. Tap into this valuable tool for a more peaceful, enriching and happily loving life!

I do hope you all enjoy the last few weeks of summer!

Blessings to you on your path,
~Spiritual Cheerleader
www.SpiritualCompassConnection.com

July Yoga Pose of the Month: Frog Pose

Frog Pose
Sanskrit: Mandukasana or Bhekasana
First Photo courtesy of venusrisingmagazine.com

You are literally looking like a frog in this pose. One of my favorites because it opens the hips and works your thighs, throat, chest, abdomen, groin and quads as well! Helpful for rejuvenating knee joints while providing a deep stretch to the quadriceps and psoas muscles. Not only that, but it also strengthens the muscles of the back and improves posture, improves digestion and (my favorite) helps reduce excess fat in the body especially in the thigh, hip and abdominal region. It also assists in the cure of pain in the knees, ankles, and back. I just love yoga. Each pose comes with it so many benefits. This pose is also relaxing for me. I can go inward for a bit. Love it!

Directions on how to come into the pose:
There are many ways to come at this pose. First it's helpful to warm up a bit with a few sun salutations and other yoga vinyasas to be sure your body is ready to get deep into this pose (as deep as it will go for your body that is; our anatomy is unique for each of us). You can start from your belly or from a seated position. I like to begin in a wide standing down dog pose. So just like downdog but legs are very wide. Then walk your hands forward while pointing your feet out and bending your knees. Dropping the knees to the mat. Take your knees as wide as they will go. We can have our hands either under our legs with wrists under shoulders or I like to come down onto my forearms and rest here while I play with how wide I can take my knees. The most challenging is to have feet out. To make it easier while still getting an excellent stretch, have feet come in towards the center and each other. Lower the head if that feels good or gaze forward.

Hold till you feel like your reached your edge in time. To come out press your hands into the mat or floor and bring your knees in slowly and gently. Come into child's pose and rest for a few minutes.

When not to do this pose or to modify/Contraindications:
High or low blood pressure; insomnia; migraine; knee, neck, should or lower back injuries.

~ Maggie
www.SpiritualCompassConnection.com

June Yoga Pose of the Month: DownDog

Downward-Facing Dog (aka Down Dog)
Sanskrit: Adho Mukha Svanasana
Photo courtesy of my Husband:
Me at WWI Park in Plainville, MA next to a bridge over a teeny river :)

Okay, so usually you are on a flat surface, not working your way over a little river. :) But I loved doing it and the pose is so awesome! What nice it this still illustrates the perfect pose for Down Dog. You'll find this pose in most yoga classes and always in Sun Salutations and vinyasa sequences.

This is an amazing pose that over time works out to be your resting pose. You will enjoy more challenging postures and then come into this pose and stretch your *whole* body in the process. Not only that, but Down Dog calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression; it helps relieve the symptoms of menopause; it relieves menstrual discomfort when done with the head supported; it helps prevent osteoporosis; it improves digestion; it relieves headaches, insomnia, back pain, and fatigue; and it is therapeutic for high blood pressure, asthma, flat feet, sciatica, and sinusitis. It's just all-around excellent for your health. Why would you *not* do this pose during your yoga practice. :) Enjoy!!!

Directions on how to come into the pose:
Begin in Tadasana/Mountain pose, feet can be hip distance apart or close together.From here inhale arms all the way up, and hinging at the hips with a straight back, swan dive arms down towards the mat for a forward fold. Place your hands on the mat and step both feet back into a plank position. Body is straight, good straight line of energy from your head all the way down to your heels (no hips up to the sky in plank pose), then push your hands into the mat as you life your hips up high, press your body back into an inverted V position. Push up up up through the tailbone. Press your chest down as it reaching towards the mat or floor. Shoulders are wide and back and away from the ears. No air bubbles in those hands and your heels are reaching towards the mat. They don't need to touch just have the action of reaching. Elongate the spine here. Allow your head to hang loose and drink your breath.

Hold for five deep breaths. To come out, perhaps you can drop your knees down onto the mat from Down Dog and slide your hips back to your heels, coming into Child's pose. Rest here. This is a pose you can do when Down-Dog becomes a bit much. But as you strengthen your body, you will be able to hold Down-Dog longer and enjoy it more fully and deeply. Slide your hands up to your knees sitting up and roll out your wrists. Down Dog works a lot in the wrists, so it's helpful to loosing them up.

When not to do this pose or to modify/Contraindications:
Carpal tunnel syndrome; Diarrhea; it's not recommended to practice this pose during the last term of Pregnancy; High blood pressure or headache: Support your head on a bolster or block, ears level between the arms.

~ Maggie
www.SpiritualCompassConnection.com