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

Do It Anyway ~ July 2011

Do It Anyway

Have you ever felt unworthy of feeling good? Like whatever it is you did in your past or whatever happens to be going on right now means you are not worthy of feeling good or receiving good in your life. I'm sure we all have at one time or another. Maybe it's a conditioned thing from our parents or society and, perhaps, many religious beliefs being instilled in us.

But I'm here to tell you that you ARE worthy and you ARE supposed to feel good. Now. Not later. You are worthy of receiving Love. You are deserving of all the good you have in your life and can even share how great you feel with others guilt-free! It's up to you. It's your choice how you feel in every moment! Not only that it's your divine purpose to feel good and find that divine connection within! It's not time to wait on feeling that special connection, it's time to go for it and enjoy it! Have faith and dive in, in spite of what's going on around you.

A few months ago my Husband's Grandfather passed away. He was feeling down on himself and wasn't feeling deserving of feeling good about things going on in his life. It can be tough to see a loved one hurting or leave this plane. But we can tap into our knowing and our faith that life does go on even when our physical bodies die. We ascend to an elevated life closer to the Divine. It is my belief and faith and even if you don't have that particular belief, it might be close to that or something like this...maybe. :) Yes, we will grieve in the time that is right for us but when it's time to move forward and embrace all that life has to give us, we need to be open to it. So we grieve....and we move on. Your heart will guide you.

So I invite you, that no matter what you are feeling today, even if it's not attached to anything but you might be feeling low for whatever reason, to: Push through those old patterns of energy. Feel good ANYWAY. Do it ANYWAY.

Know that your loved ones are right where they need to be right now. And your challenges, relationship or job will work itself out as you have faith and believe and KEEP DOING IT ANYWAY. Enjoy it while you do it. THAT is the way to make more good things come your way. Tomorrow's a new day. Take the rest of today to rejuvenate, reflect and feel good (even if you're doing odds and ends of work stuff). You have permission to feel good! Even when you're having a not-so-great day at work or with others.

You have permission to be divine. You ARE deserving of embracing and feeling and being that Divine being that you are! Just because you may have lost your temper with your child or lost your cool at work with a co-worker or farted in front of someone, you are STILL a Divine Loving LIGHT being or even BECAUSE you've done all of those things. We are humans right now and living and learning through the human experience. But underneath it all we ARE divine. We can be happy even if someone else is feeling low or even if someone we loved has passed away. We can feel happy because they can too. Those who are feeling low can lift themselves up. Those who've passed away truly already ARE feeling good and it's only us who are missing them right now.

Yesterday, I was feeling like I needed a pick-me-up so when I randomly went into the grocery store to kill some time waiting for my son's father to drop my son at our meeting place, I passed by some flowers. Beautiful colors of yellow, pink and green with a large sunflower nestled inside. I grabbed them right up and placed them on my kitchen table at home. Flowers are high in vibration and naturally pick me up and may have that same beautiful affect on you too! Do something kind for yourself today, you deserve it! We all deserve the best life has to give us.

I wish you abundant blessings and happiness and may you know the peace that dwells within.

Blessings to you on your path,
~Spiritual Cheerleader
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

Ignite the Fire ~ June 2011

Ignite the Fire

Ignite the fire within. It's never too late to feel the passion we are so naturally given in life. We can be drawn into melancholy as a goal to find inner peace and stillness. But there is a difference. Inner peace can be misconstrued and turn into melancholy. There are ebbs and flows in life. And we ride that wave. However, if we begin to grow lazy or complacent in one area, thinking that is how we are meant to be in order to steer clear of ups and downs we never enjoy the fire innate within us.

No matter what age we are, we have a purpose and we are constantly changing and evolving. The fire within us can always be ignited for a purpose, a goal to live life happily in joy rather than something that the same old same old.

In my "prior life" I was overweight and very lazy with not much by way of pursuing my passion. I didn't know what that meant. I didn't think life was more than working as an administrative assistant, food and the occasional personal connection. But there was something deep inside me and it was stirring. It finally burst when I was pushed even more into situations and relationships that were unhealthy and emotionally abusive. I just knew that there was something more for me. And I craved it!

And that's when I finally decided on a lifestyle change. I began eating better and exercising - finally! I chased after what drove me to my happy place and became an even more spiritually connected person. This spiritual connection was missing from my life and for most of the beginning stages of my life. But once I found this, I felt complete for the first time in my life and I wasn't about to lose that connection ever again.

Those around me still resonating at that destructive frequency were not happy with my uplifting change that stirred inside me. Eventually, these people got out of my life, either by my choice or there's. It was time. I changed.

This particular change began seven years ago! And now I am passionate about awakening that fire within others! To empower others to find that within themselves! Because it's there; always. Even today I will get complacent. So I have to be mindful and totally conscious to ask myself if this is a "rest" period in my life or ask myself: Am I going back into "unconsciousness land" and moving away from being truly totally ALIVE! Because there are rest periods, as we need balance in our lives.

However, we must watch these rest periods and not wallow too long because that can turn into a static state of being and become an unhealthy pattern. We might miss a window of opportunity because we fell into the pattern of rest rather than flowing with life like ocean waves! So yes, rest; maintain balance; recharge your system; and then flow, live, empower yourself to strive for a new version of yourself always.

Ask yourself today: What Sparks you today!? Then find a way to make it happen and be in that uplifting energy! The energy this month and this entire year is especially strong for our desires and manifesting those results! So take advantage!

May you know the peace that dwells within.

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

Focus ~ May 2011

Focus
by Maggie Anderson
www.SpiritualCompassConnection.com

I find it truly symbolic for me that just last year I purchased a new vehicle, a Ford Focus. The names of our vehicles usually give us a vibrational match to what we are needing to learn or continue working with. So I have been seeing "Focus" as a message for me to truly zero in on my goals and intentions and add *my* energy to these endeavors. To me, the idea of focus brings with it the idea of living totally awake and truly honing in on the most potent of energies for a desired result. It makes me want to beam light powerfully at my goals. (Which I do on occasion, don't you?) :)

We affect the energy around us all the time. Just by our focus. We focus and light builds on the area of focus. This can be a body part or an intention of an experience. We can assist the experience with our focus; our energy; our light! Or not. It's our free will choice.

Yes, we do answer to a higher power. The ultimate Source of All That Is. It is there that things occur or not occur and at what level. It is the wise highest energy that knows all and knows what path we are to take to lead to our individual destiny. Our individual plan we set up prior to coming here.

But it is our own desires and what brings us the most joy and happiness that is where we are meant to *focus* our energies. When we do this with our energetic effort we add so much more to the project or intention than if we just went through the motions and took a lazy complacent stance about it happening or not happening. We must put our own energy totally INTO IT. There is an element of allowing "what will be to be", as a mode of surrender to the Divine. But there is our light that manifests the goal or intention. So let go of the end result happening, but allow it to grow and blossom before you by sending it love and light and beautiful joy-filled energy. The more you love it the better it will manifest and the more potent and powerful the experience will be!

It is helpful to not split our focus either. This splits our energy. When we have so many things we want to accomplish and have sent energy in too many directions, we are scattered and spreading our energies too thin. So take some time to focus only on one goal at a time.

Focus like a laser beam on your goal or intention! For example, if you have an ache or pain (or even if you don't) focus your beam of light (your attention) on that body part. Fill it with beautiful light. Imagine it. Our imagination is where our creative lies and where our connection to our highest potential can flow in. So send light. Focus on that body part feeling better and/or looking better. You can do this for weight loss as well. That's what I did to shed over 90 pounds. (This along with eating less and listening to my body by exercising.) You may feel tingles, cold spots or most common is feeling heat energy. You are a natural born healer. :) You can do this to an experience or relationship that you would like to have a positive outcome for the highest and best good of all, too. Think light, think light, think light. Think love. Focus love and light. :)

You can also choose to aim your focus negatively. We do it all the time. Someone makes us mad at work or at home or cuts us off while we are driving, etc. The list goes on. We aim our beam of "madness" at the person, as if that's going to make it all better! Instead we can fume, let it out positively and aim laser beams of light at whomever it was that upset us. We can choose to be in a place of forgiveness, not necessarily for them to begin with, but mostly for US. For our well-being. And once in this new place of forgiveness we can move from here. Our laser beam focus can be used for good once again! :) We already know that what we send out comes back to us three-fold, so why not make it uplifting and loving as much as possible. We can let out our tension in positive ways, like exercise, running, walking and even screaming at the top of our lungs in our car (when no one is around) and even breathing nice and deep. Whatever works right! :)

So remember, it is still our free will choice to get there and we must take action and be in the "game" of living LIGHTLY. Focus light. Share light where we can. And harm none. Love, Live, Laugh always.

May your Journey into Self always be blessed.

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

Yoga Pose for May 2011: Chair Pose

Chair Pose
Sanskrit: Utkatasana
Photo courtesy of abc-of-yoga.com

Chair is a fantastic post to heat up our internal fire. It works wonders on our rear end and thighs, legs and arms. It also stimulates the digestive system and heart. In its full version the arms are by the ears. I do also love to do the Revolve twisting variation of Chairs and loving the hip opener variation too, where one leg crosses over like in recline pigeon. But I'm getting ahead of myself. :) Let me explain how to come into this pose while you view the visual to the right.

Directions on how to come into the pose:

Standing in Tadasana/Mountain pose, feet can be hip distance apart or close together. Better balance may be felt with feel hip distance apart. Inhale arms all the way up by your ears. Be mindful of good posture throughout.

Elongate the spine as you inhale. Exhale and begin to bend your knees pulling your tooshy behind you as if you are about to sit in a chair. Allowing your body to come into a 45 degree angle. Be sure that you can still see your toes. Never dump the weight in the low back. If you feel a tug in the low back, straighten your back as you tuck your pelvic under to alleviate any pressure. From here, your arms can be straight out in front of you or straight up beside your ears. Fingers can be close or wide stretching out strong.

Feel the opening in the heart and the lungs. Here be sure the weight is in the heels not the ball of the feet. This way you aren't falling forward. Here we can lift our toes up off the mat to really feel the weight where it should be.

Hold for 30 seconds to a minute. To come out, inhale as you straighten your knees. Exhale releasing your arms to your sides back into Mountain pose.

When not to do this pose or to modify/Contraindications: If you have a headache, low blood pressure or insomnia. Also, listen to your body. If your knees are hurting due to injury modify here and don't come as deep into the pose or at all if it's too much. Your body is wise and is always speaking to you. Honor the wisdom of your body.

Blessings,
Maggie
www.SpiritualCompassConnection.com

Stop Listening! ~ April 2011

Stop Listening!

Stop listening to the negative voices around you. Stop listening to the embedded negative voice within you. Stop listening to those around you that say there are no jobs, you can't have that, you can't do this, etc. Stop listening to the negative voices around you! Make that change. Shift your internal voice and listen to the positive uplifting divine self within! Remove yourself from negative people, situations and places whenever and wherever possible. Shut your ears off to negativity. Open your heart to possibility, positivity and options galore!

I implore you to take a challenge with me! Take a 21-day negativity fast with me! That's right. This fast isn't about food. It's about removing yourself from negativity for 21 beautiful days! Whenever something negative comes up or is said to you by someone else or especially by yourself to yourself, shift your thinking to that of a positive outcome or simply to the Light of the Divine within you. Shift your thinking for 21 days! You will start to notice a beautiful new vibrancy within you. As you think more uplifted and positive, your energy gets uplifted. You raise your vibrations to a new level! It takes the brain 21 days to change a habit. So take this challenge. Change the negative mind thoughts to positive ways of thinking and being. This is the beginning of removing your mind thoughts to connect more deeply to the Soul within you. Make that shift today.

Yes, challenging things will happen. Obstacles will occur but it's how we react to them that counts. It's how we think and move through these challenges. You will begin to embrace challenges as a way to show how much you have grown and are continuing to evolve! We can choose to get down and listen to negative thoughts and get in a downward spiral for more negativity and therefore, by the law of attraction, receive more negative experiences in our life to continue to feel that negative way. Or we can shift our thinking and way of feeling and being. We can become uplifted and move with life. Go with the flow of life and find the stillness within; that peaceful divine place that is always untouched. And move through life from here. As we move through life in this new divinely connected space we have raised our vibrations, we are uplifted, we are connected, and life is easier. Challenges are moved through faster and simpler. You grow at a faster divine rate and connect more deeply to everything, everyone and to the All That Is. Amazing!

Now there are two voices within us. It's helpful to discern between that negative voice, the ego, and from the Divine intuition that speaks to us often. The ego voice is usually negative, abrupt, fearful and worrisome. Always thinking about the past or the future and feels fearfully rushed. On the flip side, our Divine voice that sends us messages constantly is gentle, soothing, uplifting and filled with guidance. Never pushing us into anything, only suggested and giving sometimes subtle and other times loud guidance. Always a Divine connection is felt. Take a moment and hear your emotions and feel those feelings. These are messages being sent to you to listen to. Discern between the two voices and listen to the stillness within. Move from here.

It's time to stop listening to negativity and listen to our deepest Soul while working with the Universal Law of Attraction to make things work for us in an uplifting and Divinely connected way. We are all here for a purpose and our primary purpose is to find the connection that's always within us to God/Divine/Spirit. Our secondary purpose is to express the Divine through us in a way that we are Divine Inspired to do so. It's what you are driven to do and be. This is one way to keep us on our journey at an accelerated rate. :) Will you take the 21 day challenge with me?

May your Journey into Self always be blessed.

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