I discovered Reiki about 15 years ago, when I was at one of the lowest points in my life. I had just about recovered from a surgery when I fell and chipped my shoulder blade, and a couple of months later met with a minor accident, which left me with severe pain in my right […]
I have dabbled with yoga for many years but it’s only since I started my AF journey at the end of 2017 that it’s been in my life more consistently. When I came back from the retreat recently, recognising that I had neglected yoga for a few months I set myself a 40 day challenge to do yoga or meditate every day in an attempt to embed the habit. Ive missed 2 days so far out of 30. Some days it has been really difficult to get myself onto the mat and I’ve literally only been there for 5 minutes. More recently I’ve found myself prioritising it and looking forward to that time.
In his wonderful book, The body holds the score, Bessel van de Kolk talks about how trauma is held in our bodies and nervous systems, and people need more than talking therapy to help with that. It’s like the body’s smoke alarm is set to be triggered at any hint of danger, leading to over reactions, stress and catastrophising all over the place. Their research has confirmed what the yogis already knew; yoga calms it all down; encouraging balance between the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) rather than the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight). It is also said in yoga circles that we hold emotional pain in our hips in particular; a result of those muscles contracting whenever our stress response is triggered. Sitting at desks and in cars for long periods doesn’t help either.
I’ve had tight hips as long as I’ve been aware of such things; particularly on the left. Years of running and riding and not stretching – the folly of youth! Yoga has helped ease it but I often have pain in that area, particularly as I fall asleep. I’ve been doing a lot of hip stretches in my yoga routine these last few weeks. When I wrote my last post about getting in touch with the origins of my depression; I didn’t say that whilst the memories flooded me as I was going to sleep my hip was throbbing intensely – not super painful but intense. I wrote the blog and the next night I dreamt that my mum died. It was now, not the past, and all I did in the dream was cry buckets of tears. Since that night I have not felt depressed in the same heavy, unmotivated way; and my hip is looser and the pain has gone pretty much. I’ve felt extremely grateful to my unconscious that it took care of the weeping so I didn’t have to in the day!
Reiki is the Japanese word for Universal Life Force Energy. When the ‘Rei’ and ‘Ki’ are broken down into their two component parts, the Kanji (Japanese alphabet) definition for Rei is universal, transcendental spirit, mysterious power, essence. Ki is described as the vital life force energy, very similar to the Chi of Chinese acupuncture, Light to Christians, and Bioplasmic Energy to Russian researchers.
We all have Reiki energy (Universal Life Force Energy), for it is our birth right. What makes Reiki different from other healing methods, is the attunement (Also known as the initiation) process which the student experiences in the various levels of Reiki classes. Anyone can lay their hands on another person and help accelerate the healing process by transferring magnetic energy. A person who has been through the process of Reiki attunements however has experienced a very ancient technology for fine tuning the physical and etheric bodies to a higher vibratory level. In addition, certain of the energy centres, also known as chakras, are opened to enable the person to channel (And vibrate) higher amounts of Universal Life Force Energy.Reiki is never sent, it is drawn through the channel. For example, If I lay my hands on you to do a treatment, you will draw appropriate amounts of energy to which ever areas of your body need it. I am never drained in the process, as I too am treated as I “Give” a treatment. The energy enters at my crown chakra and passes through the upper energy centres to my heart and solar plexus. The rest then passes through my arms and hands to your body. I am thus never drained in the process, as a certain
I first tried yoga a few years ago. It didn’t end well. Despite the class being for beginnings, they didn’t cater to new starters. I told the instructor about problems I had – which was ignored, no alternatives given and I stopped when I was making thing worse.
I was too scared to try it again.
But I kept seeing it mentioned. Being an avid follower of Jenny in Neverland meant I couldn’t escape the positivity surrounding yoga.
When a flyer arrived introducing a new class to my local area, I figured it was time to try again. I started last September. I haven’t looked back since.
Stretching
After a week spent sitting at a desk, literally my favourite thing is being able to properly stretch muscles and limbs while focusing on alignment. I feel my joints working for the first time in a week and my muscles get that really pleasant ache when you’ve worked them. It would be worth it just for the warm-up’s and cool down’s.
Physical activity
The type of yoga I do is far gentler than my gym sessions. But, as mentioned, you ache – you’re working your body in a softer way than pounding out 5k on the treadmill, challenging the muscles to loosen and stretch rather than making your heart race. It’s not about speed or strength, it’s about checking in with how you are feeling that day and how far you want to push yourself each week.
Pushing yourself
I am not flexible. My balance isn’t great. I have limited core strength (I’m working on it, people!). But by adding to the routine each week, I can see if yes, I do want to drop my
via 5 benefits of starting yoga — A Rambling Reviewer
“Undisturbed calmness of mind is attained by cultivating friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous.
― Patanjali, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
“There’s no use looking back at yesterday. Every morning when the sun rises, I am a changed person. Don’t let yesterday steal today’s joy.. Every time the sun rises, it’s a new opportunity to make your life the best of your life. Enjoy every moment.” Namaste enjoy your day” Buddha
This is a saying from the Pali canon, upadhi dukkhassa mūlanti, which means “Attachment is the root of suffering.” So this is a genuine canonical quote.
You’ll find it in this sutta, but translated by Thanissaro as “Acquisition is the root of stress.” His translations are rather idiosyncratic.
In this translation of the same sutta it’s “acquisition is the root of suffering.”
Bhikkhu Bodhi’s translation (not available online, but in The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, page 868) has “attachment is the root of suffering,” although he sometimes has “acquisition” in place of “attachment,” in various repetitions of the phrase.
“There’s no use looking back at yesterday. Every morning when the sun rises, I am a changed person. Don’t let yesterday steal todays joy.. Every time the sun rises, it’s a new opportunity to make your life the best of your life. Enjoy every moment.” Namaste enjoy your day” Buddha
“Undisturbed calmness of mind is attained by cultivating friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous.
― Patanjali, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Inspired Life 