The word chakra translates to wheel or vortex. Chakras are also known as energy centers and it's believed there are seven major chakras in the subtle body. They're not physical, however, they interact with the physical body through two major vehicles, the endocrine system and the nervous system. Each chakra is associated with one of the seven endocrine glands and also with a group of nerves called a plexus. Thus, each chakra can be associated with particular parts of the body and particular functions within the body controlled by the associated plexus or endocrine gland.
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about the first chakra, the root chakra or Muladhara in Sanskrit. It's located at the base of the spine at the tailbone in back and the pubic bone in front. Its associated glands are the adrenal glands. These glands are responsible for manufacturing the “fight or flight” hormone, adrenaline, which is stimulated by extreme emotions such as fear, anger or panic. The root chakra holds the basic needs for survival, security, and safety. It's also our connection to the earth, to feeling grounded in our lives. Each of the chakras has an associated color and the root chakra's is red.
When the root chakra is balanced you feel grounded, centered, and you're able to live in the moment. You feel connected to yourself and to those around you. For the most part, things are working out in your life, but even if there are areas that need work, you have the confidence that everything will work out. You're also more likely to want to take care of yourself - physically, mentally, and spiritually.
When the root chakra is out of balance you don't feel grounded or safe. You might feel disconnected, without roots, and alienated from others. A lot of times it's hard to muster the energy to do what needs to be done to take care of yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually. In our particular climate, there are a lot of events that can throw the root chakra out of balance - financial difficulties, job loss, and moving - just to name a few.
I think I've been thinking about the root chakra as of late because it's that time again - moving time. Not only is the root chakra associated with survival, security, and safety, but it's also associated with feeling as though we have a place to call home. And though I know I'm always welcome at my parents' home, I haven't really had a chance to create a home that's lasted more than a year on my own. I've moved every year since I graduated from high school and I'm really not looking forward to this move. I've noticed tightness in my low back and it's been harder than usual to motivate myself to get moving.
But, I've decided to make the choice to be open to this move instead of frustrated and depressed. As much as I love where I am, I know I'll be able to make a great home out of my new place. It's a time to clean out the closets, the drawers, and the cabinets and get rid of those things I no longer need. It's an opportunity to get to know a new neighborhood and see if there's any other way to set up my furniture :). And, most importantly, there will be screens on all my windows which will be heaven for Sophie and Henry, my cats!
On days when I wake up and just can't stomach the thought of moving again, I remember these positive things and it makes it less daunting of a task. Now that I've been able to look at my impending move with a more open mind, I've had more energy and find I'm taking better care of myself. I think I'm moving closer to being more in balance and more grounded.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Need Yoga?
If you're in the Midwest you know this week has been a gloomy one. Every once in awhile I like a gloomy day - perfect for curling up on the couch with a good book or movie - but I was not feeling the weather this week. I lacked all motivation. I'd have a yoga class scheduled on my calendar but then it would get close to the time when I'd need to leave and I'd come up with some excuse to stay on my couch. Each time, there was a voice inside my head that said, 'go! you'll feel better if you do', but the 'it's dreary, stay on the couch!' voice won out until today.
All week I've been tired and a bit depressed. I'm sure the weather had something to do with it, but I'm sure it had more to do with the fact that I was neglecting my yoga practice. And so, today, I got off the couch and got onto my mat.
The teacher I had today always does a great job of interweaving readings and philosophy into her class and I swear she picked her readings just for me today. The thing that stuck with me was the idea that when we find ourselves depressed or suffering it's most likely because we're either dwelling in the past or anxious about the future. And she couldn't have been more right (at least when it came to what had been going through my mind this week). If we can focus on the present moment, we can eliminate some, if not all, of our suffering.
So, I spent the entire 90 minutes selfishly focusing on the present moment. I left all my worries at the door and it was glorious. And it was exactly what I needed. I wish I could bottle up the post-yoga feeling, but I think what I really need to do is listen to the 'go! you'll feel better if you do' voice because it does know what it's talking about.
All week I've been tired and a bit depressed. I'm sure the weather had something to do with it, but I'm sure it had more to do with the fact that I was neglecting my yoga practice. And so, today, I got off the couch and got onto my mat.
The teacher I had today always does a great job of interweaving readings and philosophy into her class and I swear she picked her readings just for me today. The thing that stuck with me was the idea that when we find ourselves depressed or suffering it's most likely because we're either dwelling in the past or anxious about the future. And she couldn't have been more right (at least when it came to what had been going through my mind this week). If we can focus on the present moment, we can eliminate some, if not all, of our suffering.
So, I spent the entire 90 minutes selfishly focusing on the present moment. I left all my worries at the door and it was glorious. And it was exactly what I needed. I wish I could bottle up the post-yoga feeling, but I think what I really need to do is listen to the 'go! you'll feel better if you do' voice because it does know what it's talking about.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Different Expressions of Emotion
During my video review one of my friends was right in front of the camera and while we were reviewing the video my teacher stopped the video in the middle of a seated forward fold and asked me if she had just lost someone close to her. Initially, it caught me off guard, but as I thought about it, I realized she had just lost her cat, Buddy. He went on to say he could tell because she was collapsed in her chest and that we tend to carry grief in that area. His statement piqued my interest in this idea as well as looking at other areas where we carry our emotions within our bodies and how yoga can help.
This friend of mine he picked out on the video actually has really good standing posture, however, whenever she goes into a forward fold her shoulders slump up towards her ears and it's almost as if the rest of her body is contracting around her heart center to protect it.
I ended up telling her what my teacher said and I asked if she remembered what, if anything, was going through her mind at that moment. What's interesting (and what actually makes sense) is that she wasn't actually thinking about her loss at that point in the forward fold, but she did say he came to mind in several of the heart-opening poses we did - a restorative pose at the beginning and legs up the wall with arms in goal-post at the end. It was in these poses that her heart was most open and she was relieving the tension and emotion she'd somewhat unknowingly stored in that area.
According to Sally Kempton, "the most effective way of working with deep emotional tendencies is through sensations in the body...because the triggers that really get you reach far deeper than the discursive mind. So bringing consciousness to shadow feelings isn't just a question of insight. You begin to truly free yourself from these patterns only when you learn how to feel and release them in the body. And this is done with the tool of awareness, of consciousness itself."
In addition to our chests, we, especially women, tend to carry intense emotions - depression, anger, anxiety, and fear - in our hips. Hip opening poses have a reputation of bringing these emotions to the surface. If you think about the anatomy of that area, it makes sense. Our hips are large, mobile joints that provide stability, are surrounded by muscles, and are attached to the back, abdomen, hamstrings, quadriceps, abductors and adductors, and gluteal muscles.
When we're in a yoga class that focuses on or at least includes a lot of hip openers like Eka Pada Rajakapotasana, Anjaneyasana, or Mandukasana, we are bound to release tension - not only muscle tension, but also emotional tension - from our hips. It's completely normal for these emotions to surface during the pose, especially if you're holding it for a long period of time, or even the next day.
I remember a yin yoga class I took while I was still in Madison. Yin yoga targets connective tissue and involves holding passive poses for several minutes. This specific class also happened to focus on hip openers. I think we spent 12-15 minutes in Eka Pada Rajakapotasana. At this point, I hadn't been introduced to the idea of storing emotions in our hips, so when I felt myself on the verge of tears, I had no idea what was going on. I think my first thought was, did I hurt myself? But then I realized they weren't tears of physical pain, they were coming from a much deeper place.
It happened I wasn't the only one who experienced a release of emotion during class, a group of us lingered after and spoke with our teacher about what had happened and that's when I learned that what we all experienced was a sign that yoga was working for us. The asanas or poses do not actually create emotions; rather they help to evoke the emotions we've pushed aside and stored away.
It was that class that made me realize I had been tucking all of my emotions away and, in this case, into my hips. It also made me realize that I was ready to recognize and accept the emotions I was feeling, and I was ready to start talking to someone about them. It wasn't until this point that I was really ready and able to deal with them.
Diane Roberts, the owner of Foundation Yoga, puts it really well, '[y]oga allows you to probe your grief - to go into the pain, not run from it, and emerge somehow more whole and free - by focusing on your immediate physical as well as emotional experience. The way I tell students is that rather than trying to 'get over it' or 'work through it,' try to integrate your grief into who you are, and into your body as well. Then class becomes an exercise in self-compassion. Yoga helps you live in your body with your emotions."
Or as Lyn Prashant says, "the mind can lie, but the body can't."
This friend of mine he picked out on the video actually has really good standing posture, however, whenever she goes into a forward fold her shoulders slump up towards her ears and it's almost as if the rest of her body is contracting around her heart center to protect it.
I ended up telling her what my teacher said and I asked if she remembered what, if anything, was going through her mind at that moment. What's interesting (and what actually makes sense) is that she wasn't actually thinking about her loss at that point in the forward fold, but she did say he came to mind in several of the heart-opening poses we did - a restorative pose at the beginning and legs up the wall with arms in goal-post at the end. It was in these poses that her heart was most open and she was relieving the tension and emotion she'd somewhat unknowingly stored in that area.
According to Sally Kempton, "the most effective way of working with deep emotional tendencies is through sensations in the body...because the triggers that really get you reach far deeper than the discursive mind. So bringing consciousness to shadow feelings isn't just a question of insight. You begin to truly free yourself from these patterns only when you learn how to feel and release them in the body. And this is done with the tool of awareness, of consciousness itself."
In addition to our chests, we, especially women, tend to carry intense emotions - depression, anger, anxiety, and fear - in our hips. Hip opening poses have a reputation of bringing these emotions to the surface. If you think about the anatomy of that area, it makes sense. Our hips are large, mobile joints that provide stability, are surrounded by muscles, and are attached to the back, abdomen, hamstrings, quadriceps, abductors and adductors, and gluteal muscles.
When we're in a yoga class that focuses on or at least includes a lot of hip openers like Eka Pada Rajakapotasana, Anjaneyasana, or Mandukasana, we are bound to release tension - not only muscle tension, but also emotional tension - from our hips. It's completely normal for these emotions to surface during the pose, especially if you're holding it for a long period of time, or even the next day.
I remember a yin yoga class I took while I was still in Madison. Yin yoga targets connective tissue and involves holding passive poses for several minutes. This specific class also happened to focus on hip openers. I think we spent 12-15 minutes in Eka Pada Rajakapotasana. At this point, I hadn't been introduced to the idea of storing emotions in our hips, so when I felt myself on the verge of tears, I had no idea what was going on. I think my first thought was, did I hurt myself? But then I realized they weren't tears of physical pain, they were coming from a much deeper place.
It happened I wasn't the only one who experienced a release of emotion during class, a group of us lingered after and spoke with our teacher about what had happened and that's when I learned that what we all experienced was a sign that yoga was working for us. The asanas or poses do not actually create emotions; rather they help to evoke the emotions we've pushed aside and stored away.
It was that class that made me realize I had been tucking all of my emotions away and, in this case, into my hips. It also made me realize that I was ready to recognize and accept the emotions I was feeling, and I was ready to start talking to someone about them. It wasn't until this point that I was really ready and able to deal with them.
Diane Roberts, the owner of Foundation Yoga, puts it really well, '[y]oga allows you to probe your grief - to go into the pain, not run from it, and emerge somehow more whole and free - by focusing on your immediate physical as well as emotional experience. The way I tell students is that rather than trying to 'get over it' or 'work through it,' try to integrate your grief into who you are, and into your body as well. Then class becomes an exercise in self-compassion. Yoga helps you live in your body with your emotions."
Or as Lyn Prashant says, "the mind can lie, but the body can't."
Monday, May 10, 2010
Finding Stillness in Change
This weekend I completed my video review for my yoga teacher training program. It's such a relief to have that behind me! Though, if I'm honest with myself, I really enjoyed preparing for the class and teaching it. I love the opportunity to share my love and passion for yoga and this was a great one.
As I'd mentioned in an earlier post, the video review was a 90 minute class pieced together by me and two of my friends. One of them did the first 30 minutes and she came up with this beautiful idea that yoga is a balance between change and stillness. At first, I had a hard time wrapping my head around that but, as I thought about it some more, I realized that idea is a large part of why I'm so drawn to yoga. It was just a new way to think about it (which I love!).
In yoga class, not only your body, but also your mind are undergoing constant change. You move from asana to asana - some of which are more challenging than others - all the while trying to find stillness and peace within each pose. For me, there are several poses in which I have a really hard time finding stillness in both my mind and my body. Whenever I think about this idea, the first pose to come to mind is Eka Pada Rajakapotasana or One-Legged King Pigeon pose. My outer hips are really tight and in this pose it's a constant battle between body and mind to find stillness. However, I find if I concentrate on my breathing - sending my inhales to the tight spots and visualizing the tension leaving my body on the exhales - I can let go of my frustration with this pose and find the stillness. Once I'm able to do that, I find I'm more receptive to the changes happening in my body and mind and can actually appreciate where I am in the moment. And when I'm able to get to this point, I usually find I'm able to physically release deeper into the pose.
Off the mat, change is a constant factor in our daily lives - especially in the world in which we live - whether we like it or not. Welcome change is easy to accept and probably easier still to enjoy. It's the unexpected change or changes or those changes over which we have no control that are harder to receive and even more difficult with which to come to terms. But it's these moments where we need to find the stillness, the peace within so that we can be more receptive to them.
I believe if we take the time to find stillness in each moment, then the change isn't as daunting. It's clearer and you can look upon it and accept it with an open mind. And who knows, maybe you'll even find that you're enjoying the moment, enjoying the change, seeing it not as an obstacle but as a chance to grow.
As I'd mentioned in an earlier post, the video review was a 90 minute class pieced together by me and two of my friends. One of them did the first 30 minutes and she came up with this beautiful idea that yoga is a balance between change and stillness. At first, I had a hard time wrapping my head around that but, as I thought about it some more, I realized that idea is a large part of why I'm so drawn to yoga. It was just a new way to think about it (which I love!).
In yoga class, not only your body, but also your mind are undergoing constant change. You move from asana to asana - some of which are more challenging than others - all the while trying to find stillness and peace within each pose. For me, there are several poses in which I have a really hard time finding stillness in both my mind and my body. Whenever I think about this idea, the first pose to come to mind is Eka Pada Rajakapotasana or One-Legged King Pigeon pose. My outer hips are really tight and in this pose it's a constant battle between body and mind to find stillness. However, I find if I concentrate on my breathing - sending my inhales to the tight spots and visualizing the tension leaving my body on the exhales - I can let go of my frustration with this pose and find the stillness. Once I'm able to do that, I find I'm more receptive to the changes happening in my body and mind and can actually appreciate where I am in the moment. And when I'm able to get to this point, I usually find I'm able to physically release deeper into the pose.
Off the mat, change is a constant factor in our daily lives - especially in the world in which we live - whether we like it or not. Welcome change is easy to accept and probably easier still to enjoy. It's the unexpected change or changes or those changes over which we have no control that are harder to receive and even more difficult with which to come to terms. But it's these moments where we need to find the stillness, the peace within so that we can be more receptive to them.
I believe if we take the time to find stillness in each moment, then the change isn't as daunting. It's clearer and you can look upon it and accept it with an open mind. And who knows, maybe you'll even find that you're enjoying the moment, enjoying the change, seeing it not as an obstacle but as a chance to grow.
Friday, May 7, 2010
A Bundle of Nerves
Tomorrow I, along with two of my friends, will be doing our video review for our yoga teacher training program. It's pretty much the culmination of our training. We each teach a 30 minute segment to create a 90 minute class.
I'm teaching the last section - so mainly seated and supine poses. I'm also responsible for creating a relaxing savasana and a fulfilling closing. I've been practicing my sequence for quite some time now - my poor students in the suburbs have done enough janu sirsasana for a lifetime - but, despite my practicing, I'm still feeling a bit nervous.
When I stop to think about why I'm feeling nervous I think back to when I'd be getting ready to take the stage for a ballet performance - specifically when I was the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. It was my first solo role and though I had practiced for months on end and could do the piece in my sleep, I still found myself with a racing heart as the time for me to take the stage drew near. At that point, it wouldn't have done me any good to physically practice the steps, but what I remember doing was taking a moment to close my eyes, breathe deeply, and visualize the performance I wanted to share with the audience.
And, though, I was still nervous when I took the stage, I felt confident in what I was about to deliver. I'm sure there were things I could have done better (aren't there always?), but the performance I gave came from the heart, and I think that's all that really matters.
So, I think I'm going to apply that lesson to my class tomorrow and to any situation in which I find myself a bundle of nerves - to take a minute to close my eyes, to breathe deeply, to remember why I started all of this in the first place, and to visualize a class where the students leave feeling refreshed and open to the idea of yoga. Oftentimes, I think being nervous gets a bad rap, but when you've practiced your piece and feel confident with what you're doing, some nerves are a good thing. They remind us to put our best foot forward and to give from the heart.
I'm teaching the last section - so mainly seated and supine poses. I'm also responsible for creating a relaxing savasana and a fulfilling closing. I've been practicing my sequence for quite some time now - my poor students in the suburbs have done enough janu sirsasana for a lifetime - but, despite my practicing, I'm still feeling a bit nervous.
When I stop to think about why I'm feeling nervous I think back to when I'd be getting ready to take the stage for a ballet performance - specifically when I was the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. It was my first solo role and though I had practiced for months on end and could do the piece in my sleep, I still found myself with a racing heart as the time for me to take the stage drew near. At that point, it wouldn't have done me any good to physically practice the steps, but what I remember doing was taking a moment to close my eyes, breathe deeply, and visualize the performance I wanted to share with the audience.
And, though, I was still nervous when I took the stage, I felt confident in what I was about to deliver. I'm sure there were things I could have done better (aren't there always?), but the performance I gave came from the heart, and I think that's all that really matters.
So, I think I'm going to apply that lesson to my class tomorrow and to any situation in which I find myself a bundle of nerves - to take a minute to close my eyes, to breathe deeply, to remember why I started all of this in the first place, and to visualize a class where the students leave feeling refreshed and open to the idea of yoga. Oftentimes, I think being nervous gets a bad rap, but when you've practiced your piece and feel confident with what you're doing, some nerves are a good thing. They remind us to put our best foot forward and to give from the heart.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Livin' the Moment
I just finished David Romanelli's book, Yeah Dave's Guide to Livin' the Moment: Getting to Ecstasy Through Wine, Chocolate, and your iPod Playlist and the quote to open chapter 22 resonated with me and reminded me of my post from yesterday so I thought I'd share...
'Healing may not be so much about getting better, as about letting go of everything that isn't you - all of the expectations, all of the beliefs - and becoming who you are.'
- Rachel Remen
'Healing may not be so much about getting better, as about letting go of everything that isn't you - all of the expectations, all of the beliefs - and becoming who you are.'
- Rachel Remen
Monday, May 3, 2010
Breaking out of the Mold
I was out to dinner the other weekend with some old friends and it was complete deja vu. One of my girlfriends was voicing the same fears and anxieties I once struggled with as a young, intelligent woman post-graduation from college.
She, like me, is a single woman living in a large city. She has a job, pays her rent, and has a strong circle of friends. You may be wondering what more could she want?
Despite living in the 21st century, there were so many things I used to feel were required of me by a certain age. I should be married, get a Master's, and have kids all before I turn 30. Don't get me wrong, I want all of these things, but when did I decide I needed to do everything before I'm 30? I think a lot of why I felt this way had to do with society's conditioning. Though we pride ourselves on the freedom women have in this country, I don't think we've completely broken free of the idea of gender roles.
So much of what we believe can be attributed to conditioning - by our parents, family, friends, and society. And, though, some conditioning is good, it's not okay to let it make us feel as though we should all fit into cookie cutter lives. It broke my heart to see my friend so stressed about what's not happening in her life. I know when I was struggling with these ideas (and I still do from time to time), I was missing out on all the great things going on around me.
I guess it all comes down to asking yourself if whatever it is you want is really what you want or do you just want it because everyone else has it or it seems to be what society wants. If it's truly the former, then go for it. If it's the latter, don't rush things, definitely don't settle, and have faith that life will pan out as intended.
She, like me, is a single woman living in a large city. She has a job, pays her rent, and has a strong circle of friends. You may be wondering what more could she want?
Despite living in the 21st century, there were so many things I used to feel were required of me by a certain age. I should be married, get a Master's, and have kids all before I turn 30. Don't get me wrong, I want all of these things, but when did I decide I needed to do everything before I'm 30? I think a lot of why I felt this way had to do with society's conditioning. Though we pride ourselves on the freedom women have in this country, I don't think we've completely broken free of the idea of gender roles.
So much of what we believe can be attributed to conditioning - by our parents, family, friends, and society. And, though, some conditioning is good, it's not okay to let it make us feel as though we should all fit into cookie cutter lives. It broke my heart to see my friend so stressed about what's not happening in her life. I know when I was struggling with these ideas (and I still do from time to time), I was missing out on all the great things going on around me.
I guess it all comes down to asking yourself if whatever it is you want is really what you want or do you just want it because everyone else has it or it seems to be what society wants. If it's truly the former, then go for it. If it's the latter, don't rush things, definitely don't settle, and have faith that life will pan out as intended.
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