...is the way you've always done things still serving your best life?

I've enjoyed intense, 'typical' exercise most of my adult life. It's been a stress reliever and contributed to my overall happiness. Genetically, resistance training with a bit of cardio is what is 'right' for me (proven with a genetic test). I'm much more drawn to a weight room than a marathon.

For many more months than I wish to admit I have been in pain that is progressing and limiting me in both stationary positions and when moving. Being an active person, this isn't cool. It's affecting my sense of health and well-being because it is limiting my yoga practice, workouts and ability to sit comfortably. 

Being holistically minded in my health approach, I have been trying body-based approaches to healing - massage, chiropractic, fascial release, physical therapy, and also consideration of my nutritional choices. Of late I have come to suspect a connective tissue disorder of some type so I've been marginally exploring other methodologies.

In another aspect of my life I have recently become interested in non-linear movement patterns - too much to get into, but as it relates to my pain... I believe that linear, repetitive positions and movements are hurting me. Status quo when it comes to yoga, 'exercise', etc... isn't enough for me anymore. It's limiting the overall benefit that movement can bring to my life - one that goes beyond a lean, strong body but also enhances an open heart and settled mind. In short, I want feel good.

This morning I spent more than an hour exploring a particular type of somatic movement - I feel so much better than I did when I went to bed last night and woke up this morning. So much so that I sent a message to one of the practitioners to say 'thank you'...and looked into training in this particular modality. I plan to commit to one particular session regularly for 2 weeks and see what happens to this long standing, progressive pain. 

I want and intend to feel good in my life - physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually and as I've alluded above...these aspects aren't mutually exclusive. They are connected, which is why it is important to me to feel healthy and balanced in my physical body. The recognition of linear movement has me wondering about linear thinking...I'm curious if I have blinders on and if that's limiting my self-awareness and personal growth in some way.

All of this to pose the question for you...is the way you've always done things still serving your best life? What would it be like to explore another way of doing, thinking, heck....maybe even believing? An exploration of new ideas, ways of being, movement patterns, nutritional choices, communicating - the opportunities are endless!

Pick one and give it a try...
Let me know how it goes.

~Y

Life Change - Do you lean-in or turn-away?

I find myself in an edgy position as the year closes. My CVS position is dissolving. While I could 'blame' this on the industry I am fully aware of the energy that I've been emitting regarding my dissatisfaction with this aspect of my life...so, self-fulfilling prophecy? Maybe. Pharmacy has been a 'safe' livelihood for 23 years. I was able to maintain a comfortable lifestyle while raising two children as a single parent, to explore ownership as an independent pharmacist and to rely upon a steady income while I've explored my heart's desire of health and wellness. So I'm asking myself now...look for another pharmacy job? Jump into Wellness Pursuits full-time and trust that my knowledge, experience and passion will fuel the income needed to let go of pharmacy work? Go back to school?

I don't have the answer yet and I'm sure there will be a multitude of emotions to delve into and a few sleepless nights as I move through the experience. I share a bit of my story to ask YOU, when faced with a life change that scares the hell out of you and recognizing the choice to stay in your comfort zone or push into the edge of and sit in the midst of the unknown...what do you choose? How has it turned out? Do you have regrets? What did you learn in the process? I'm not looking for advice, just nuggets of experience that might inspire my process. 

Cheers to leaning into the edge with courage and faith~
Yvette

Sitting with MySelf

In August I return to Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy (PRYT) school in Bristol, Vermont for the onsite portion of Group Facilitator Training (GFT). Here I will be supported in applying and refining relevant skills to support a focus group through an 8-week program of group yoga therapy this fall and beyond. GFT is a career building step.

This past week the training members of GFT embarked on an 8-week program to prepare us for our onsite training. The same program that we will be leading for others, we must participate in and complete before arriving in Vermont. The program is based upon themes and includes daily physical movement, mindfulness exercises and journaling. Having been engaged with PRYT since January 2015, I know that this daily practice is a potential field of gold for learning more about my Self and the Way, the connections available to me and the glorious life that is here awaiting my participation.

I don't enter my daily practices with great expectation. In truth, the magic is in the subtleties, the often unseen, overlooked, numbed out nuances of day to day living that hold SO much treasure!  Some days I show up willing, others resistant. This is truth in daily living and I want to be authentic in my practice just as I intend to be authentic in my life. It reminds me of seeing a counselor for support. If you aren't willing to be honest, you won't get accurate guidance. So even when I don't want to and my attitude is shitty, I come.

This morning my practice and mindful inquiry revealed that while I do a pretty good job of listening and honoring my physical body, I am not so tuned in to the truth of my emotional body. I hear it and feel it, but, habitually, I buy into it and get so caught up and carried away in the e-motion, that the story-telling begins and the next thing I know, I'm on a train to nowhere, having consented to an unintended journey. By turning away from the truth behind the feeling and towards the feeling itself I latch on like a scared little girl who lacks direction and off I go - holding on to fear, anger and frustration. Then come out the shields and swords, for I'm ready for war - one that I have conjured and imagined. One that creates more separation than union. One that isn't real.

What if instead, I stayed? What if I acknowledged the feeling, considered the source, stayed calm, chose inaction (for the moment) and got to know more about why and how this feeling showed up? Would it be like a lamp on a dark path, illuminating the way and the choices that are available to me to navigate my way out of an unfamiliar, dark place to a comfortable, spacious one? Here in this place, I am whole. I am home. I am safe, loved and disarmed.

Today I will notice my feelings, the emotions behind them. I'll stay, set up a table for two, engage in lite but intentional conversation and listen for truth. Maybe I'll act upon truth. Maybe knowing is enough.

Where is your body's voice?

For me, my heart might be teacher but my gut is where the barometer lives.

For at least 30 years I have been trying to merge my means of earning a living with the passion that I feel for health and wellness. At times it has been a frightening and painful journey, at others easy and true.

Being a pharmacist in the traditional sense doesn't 'ring my bell' in terms of satisfaction or service to others. In fact, it makes me feel more disconnected. But it allowed me to raise two children as a single parent and to be financially independent. It also highlighted for me the fact that conventional health care isn't really hitting the mark in terms of longevity and true, health and wellness of mind, body & spirit. Thus confirming the tug of war that I've always felt inside.

And this is how it goes...our body is a barometer. It communicates with us all the time about what is true and what is not, about what jives in terms of life satisfaction and how we are actually living day to day.

I can tell you that when you start to listen, life starts to change. The body-voice gets louder and living begins to feel more powerful and doable - if authenticity has a feeling...I think this is it.

How about you? Do you have a sense of where truth resides in YOUR body? Do you need to practice listening? (It's like a muscle, the more you do it, the stronger it gets.) I'd love to support you by offering an approach to listening that has served numerous others in taking action to honor personal truth and find comfort and ease in living.

Self-improvement - All you need to know is right here

August 9, 2015 - What I discovered in Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy

“If light is in your heart, you will find your way home.” ~Rumi

Ever feel like life is just one long self-improvement project?

I've been feeling this lately as I approach my fitness, nutrition, relationships, business, attitude - pretty much all aspects of my life. While I think there is value to noticing how improving our selves can ripple out to improve the world at large, I also think there is value in stopping in our momentum to somewhere else to observe THIS moment. To take in what is happening through the 5 senses, really, slow down and notice sight, sound, taste, smell and touch. To turn inward and get in touch with what I know to be true for me, without the interference of outside expectations, should's and have-to's. When I take the pause I realize that all is well. 


Am I enough? It depends on what enough is for ME. An example - I was perusing Amazon this morning giving consideration to a self-help book. In evaluating my investment I was led to at least 4 other books, of which I also evaluated. In the end, I didn't purchase anything because I realized there is likely nothing in those books that I don't already have an understanding about based on my life experiences up to this point (or in the multitudes of books that are already on my shelf!) 




Do I have the answers? Yes. I believe I do. They are in me. I can feel them. The books, classes, people and experiences that I seek for guidance typically only validate what I already know. In essence they 'give me permission' to trust my inner-knowing. This was my 'aha!' this morning...why am I looking for validation or permission (from an outside source) to trust what I already know?
Will I stop my quest for health and wellness, quality relationships, meaningful work and a healthy attitude? Nope, because those things are my truth and my deepest intention in pursuing them isn't to beat myself up for not being enough, but to connect more deeply to myself and to others. There's always more to learn, discoveries are made every day that have the potential to shift my perception. I'm open to that and will read a book or seek an experience to better understand after I've taken the pause to check into what I already know to be true. ~YL

My Yoga story

June 4, 2015 - My Yoga story - inspired by the 7 part series: The Neuroscience of How Yoga Helps Your Mental Health

'...yoga makes you stronger, healthier, more relaxed, able to self-actualize'

When I began yoga (2001-ish) it was another tool to use in my ever-seeking habit of being healthy but it wasn't my preferred method of 'working out' because it wasn't intense enough, didn't burn enough calories or challenge my body. (I since say 'Pishaw!' I don't approach yoga as a workout anymore but it CAN kick your booty and reach into places in your body you'd forgotten about!) 

Fast-forward 2008:
I was under severe stress in my work-life and my chosen intense workouts were making me feel WORSE instead of being the healthy, stress relief that I was seeking. This is because the body cannot discriminate between good stress (exercise) or bad stress (failing business) and all of that accumulating stress was taking it's toll. Knowing this, I wanted to find a way to support myself through a difficult period in my life in a way that wouldn't hurt me more (physically and psychologically).  I decided to start fresh in a beginner's yoga program and to set intense exercise aside. After the very first session I drove home feeling better - more relaxed and in-tune - than I had in months - and mostly, we just breathed. I started yoga teacher training within weeks of this beginner's program because - as most yoga teachers will tell you - I was onto something that was changing my life for the better and I wanted to share it.

It can sometimes be difficult to put into words what yoga has helped me discover about myself and those discoveries - the peeling back of years and years of life experiences - continue to happen - most especially now as I study and practice Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy.

 
An evolution is taking place. I am getting to know the truth about the ME that has been here all along - the One who is meant to be here shining her shiny light of love and health and wellness (and who knows what else is emanating! - maybe YOU can tell me!)

Yoga will be a lifelong study for me...and I'm not even sure it will end there. ~YL

Ahimsa

Sunday, February 1, 2015 - Ahimsa

Ahimsa is typically translated as non-violence in thoughts, words and actions. I first consulted the book “The Secret Power of Yoga” by Nischala Joy Devi to explore this sutra in the light of my life. Nischala’s interpretations of the sutras are from a woman’s perspective and written for women, though she invites men to explore this interpretation as well. I find them a nice complement to other versions. She interprets ahimsa as “love for all” and the sutra II.35 specifically: “Embracing reverence and love for all we experience oneness.” She goes on to remind us that ahimsa starts with ourselves and of the importance of treating our whole self, body, emotions and mind with reverence and love so as to prevent dis-ease. In doing so, we are better able to serve others. We not only set an example for them but we are more fit in all ways to provide for the good of all.

In B.K.S. Iyengar’s “Light on Yoga” he reminds us that we are all children of the same creator and that loving others pleases God. He also tells us that faith (abhaya) and gentleness of mind (akrodha) go along with ahimsa. “The yogi knows and teaches others how to live. Always striving to perfect himself, he show them by his love and compassion how to improve themselves.”

Ahimsa. As it applies to me, I think it is important to be accepting of how I feel even when it’s un-becoming. Yet, it is also important not to get caught up or to become (via my words or actions) those feelings. Instead, I witness them, understand their origin and let them be while also remembering that I am OK – a child of God who is loved and cared for without question.

"All life, all history happens in the body."

Monday, January 19, 2015

"All life, all history happens in the body."

​ Sidalee Walker in Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells

Today is a day off from training in Phoenix Rising Yoga therapy. I have been encouraged to 'do nothing Phoenix Rising', to take a short break from the intensity of the work, physically, emotionally and mentally. As I sat this morning reading the 'Ya-Ya' book, I took the quote above as affirmation of the healing potential in this method of therapy.

Michael Lee is the founder of the Phoenix Rising program. In his book A Bridge from Body to Soul he states that 'our therapies must teach us to know and trust ourselves.' He also tells us that 'freeing blocked energy and allowing its expression creates a deep connection to the soul.'

Our bodies offer wisdom and getting in touch with that wisdom provides us opportunity to grow, to rise up and meet life as it is, where it is. We can use our experiences in life -pain, joy, longing- to connect to our divinity - our highest, most precious and true selves. We can do this by feeling, noticing, exploring and being inquisitive about our breath, body and mind.

As a Yoga Therapist, my service is to offer unbiased presence to your experience. With movement and dialogue you are invited to be with what is, just as you are, whole in body, mind and Spirit.

In the Ya-Ya book, Vivi, Sidalee's mother says "Don't hide your light under a bushel." In other words, YOU are a light that inspires and illuminates the life and lives around you. Fan the ember, choose how you want to be. Make a choice to live consciously.

In the spirit of Being Well~

Yvette