Several weeks ago I came across something regarding chakral imbalances and physical stressors. I’d always slightly known about them and learned a little in my yoga training but never really looked much into it. Anyway, I decided I would start a cleansing process. I thought I would spend like a week on each chakra and then, wah-lah, I’d be better than ever after seven weeks (because there are seven chakras). I started with the root chakra which deals with a sense of home, support and love. I’ve felt super lost for years and an imbalance in the root chakra can lead to actual physical abdominal pain and digestive issues so I was like “omg this is what I need to focus on.” I spent everyday for a week guiding myself through root chakra meditations, used essential oils associated with it and had pictures printed off and hung around my apartment of different visuals also associated with the chakra. Turns out…I needed five weeks of this to finally feel like it became balanced. And you know when that was??? The fifth week was the week of my crazy, intensive CycleBar training. I finally felt like I had a home, a family and people who cared. As silly as it sounds, I pretty much burst into tears one day during lunch as I ran back into the studio theater to grab my chapstick as I overheard someone from outside the doors ask the group, "Guys, where's Liv?" I was only gone for a matter of minutes and my absence was not only noted, but it was missed. After the training, our bond only grew stronger. Our group text never seems to stop dinging. Again, going back to being cheesy but something as simple as our group text gives me a sense of connection and love that I've never experienced. I never feel alone. I feel like I have seven best friends who are always ready to listen and joke and support. Then, things became super busy with more training, teaching and scheduling; I didn’t make time to move on to the next chakra, the sacral chakra. The sacral chakra’s affirmation is “I enjoy life fully” and deals with loving yourself completely without judgment, bringing true joy and pleasure into your life (way beyond the superficial) and self-esteem. This is the most self-conscious I’ve been in a while so again, its like a no-brainer….sacral chakra needs to be addressed. Guess what some of the physical pains associated with an imbalanced sacral chakra are?? Abdominal cramps, over-emotional state of being, increased anxiety. So honestly, I think that this whole tummy thing is a lot more than just food intolerances. One of the “setbacks” (and it only seems like a setback because I have a lot of work to do. This is a beneficial "setback" and not a setback at all) of adopting a super mindful lifestyle is that you open yourself up and expose all your weaknesses and pains to the ultimate state of vulnerability, causing more sensitivities and seemingly unexplainable reactions than what would seem “normal.” Last night, I reached out to someone who is legitimately growing more and more dear to my heart by the minute... she listened and offered so much love and support that again, I was brought to tears. The most grabbing thing she said? “You are truly radiant.” And you know what? I am. I am truly radiant and so are you. We always have been and always will be. Sometimes, we allow this early life and body to blind us from our true selves...our radiant selves. Want to know a little secret? Our radiance never goes away. That inner light is always there. We are always shining and powerful and full of love we just have to remember that. That's why I love yoga. Its not just something you DO. Its a legit lifestyle and leads to so much soul searching and peace and joy…. its not easy though. However, stay strong lovely beings. Let's support each other. I'm here for you.
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You can change your mindset. Our emotional body responds to our physical body, and vice versa. Amy Cuddy takes the "fake it 'til you make it" mentality and elaborates...she goes into the HOW and WHY this works. We CAN create our realities, guys. Put good vibes into the universe and into yourself. You are what you believe you are--what you TRULY believe you are. So maybe start small with some affirmations in the morning... wanna know what I do almost every morning when I wake up? Well, before even getting out of bed, I literally say "I am grateful," as I'm staring at my ceiling. Before I left myself step out of bed, I think about 3-5 things (people, opportunities, memories, etc) that actually fill me with gratitude. Then, off to the coffee maker... 😉☕️ While the coffee is brewing, I sit in virasana and practice mindful breathing and affirmation statements. "I am Bold. I am Strong. I am Healthy. I am Grateful. I am Compassionate. I am Light." I inhale with each affirmation and exhale as I envision it. Inhale with the next affirmation, exhale as I envision it. And so on... I've found that on morning where I "don't have time" to do this, my mental state is all out of whack. Guess what, we can do this at any point of the day, as many times as you need. Not going to lie, I've already done this three times since I woke up. Wanna know something? I feel like superwoman. 😏😋 Back to the emotional body responding to the physical body....take a look at this video. Well worth the 20ish minutes. Trust me. If the video doesn't load, click HERE
First picture taken about thirty minutes after I demolished a mountain of rice, who-knows-how-much almond butter, yummy blueberries and @amazinggrassgreens all mixed together (I do a form of intermittent fasting).
Immediately, I felt super full, guilty and "huge." So I decided to take a picture. I knew I was being silly but couldn't ignore my feelings. I then forced myself to smile and then guess what, my attitude changed. I told myself I was NOT what I felt. I snapped out of it and reassured my belief that if we put nourishing, whole foods into our bodies AND regularly use our muscles/brain power plus heart-fulls of compassion, then we can only grow. The third picture is after I spent a couple hours teaching yoga, surrounded by good vibes and beautiful energies. I spent a couple hours doing what gives me PURPOSE...what literally keeps me going each day and has me excited to wake up in the morning...and my body responded. It USED the food I put into it and cooperated with the energies I surround myself with and cultivate...and BAM...healthy Liv. This is a process. It's taken a LONG time for me to be okay in my body and even now, body dysmorphia causes me to see something entirely different and I get down on myself. What's important though is to love your body no matter what it looks like. Change your mindset. "Fitness" is not as important as overall health. You can look fantastic but not be healthy. You can look fantastic and feel miserable. So do a little self-check today-MENTALLY-and see where you are. Body stuff comes later. Let's heal our minds first. E-mail [email protected] for more information or if you have any questions. You can also see the Contact page for a larger image of these descriptions and links to social media accounts.
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AuthorNature-loving, adventure-seeking, holistic and wellness advocate: Yoginiliv. Archives
May 2017
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