I guess we have all been there where all the advise you would give to other people fails and the all the things that you know that will help don’t work. There is simply one thing left to do: Taking one breath at the time, finding beauty around you and let it sink in with a sense of gratitude and taking it day by day. Continuing this way till you feel inspired to go new ways and have the strength try different things to move on to an other chapter of your life. In those moments yoga and great (yoga) community can be very helpful. In the comfort and safety of kind and like minded people your body and mind can relax to find and be open to new transitions or ways to get to different asanas. Becoming completely aware of a transition with all it requires will set the tone for how you are entering into the next asana. No need to explain how that transfers to life’s challenges and changes.
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I grew up with a song from church I really liked. It came back to my mind and even though I am not belonging to any religion anymore, I still love this song. It has become a little morning ritual for me to sing or read it to myself. I think it is easy to modify to suit everyones believe.
“Thanks for this good morning, Thank you for every new day. Thank you for letting me cast all my worries on you.
Thanks for all good friends Thank you, oh Lord, for everyone. Thank you, even if I can forgive my greatest enemy.
Thank you for my job Thank you for every little happiness. Thank you for everything beautiful, bright and for the music.
Thank you for some sadness Thanks for every good word. Thank you that your hand wants to guide me in every place.
Thank you, your salvation knows no limits, Thanks, I’ll stick to that. Thank you, oh Lord, I want to thank you that I can thank you.”
There is an east german “Rock Song” from 1978 that came back to me these days and hit home. I would like to share the lyrics with you, but the translation doesn’t do the original really justice.
“Sometimes I walk my street without a gaze Sometimes I wish I had my rocking horse back Sometimes I’m without rest and peace Sometimes I lock all the doors behind me
Sometimes I’m cold and sometimes I’m hot Sometimes I don’t know what I know anymore Sometimes I’m already tired in the morning And then I seek comfort in a song
Over seven bridges you have to pass Seven dark years to survive Seven times you will be the ashes But once also the bright light
Sometimes the clock of life seems to stand still Sometimes you just seem to go in circles Sometimes you get the painful urge of wanderlust Sometimes you just sit still on a bench
Sometimes you reach for the whole world Sometimes you think your lucky star is falling Sometimes you take where you prefer to give Sometimes you hate what you love
Over seven bridges you have to pass Seven dark years to survive Seven times you will be the ashes But once also the bright light” ~ Karat (Peter Maffay)
Sometimes when you can’t find the words to express yourself, songs can do a better job for you.
This week we will explore different ways to get into our familiar asanas to open new doors and get new insight of the asanas, our body and ourselves.
Monday 27.02. Off the beaten path Slow Flow
Wednesday 01.03. Off the beaten path Flow
Thursday 03.03. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 05.03. Off the beaten path Flow
Let’s explore and flow with an open mind to discover new opportunities!
My fascination with the heart you all could already experience and hear about in my classes over the last years. Trying to look at it through different eyes and approaches from BMC (Body-Mind Centering®), Gregg Braden to Dr. Joe Dispenza to improve ones health and life. You may have heard of the HeartMath® Institute that has done its research for the last 25 years. I would like to share some of the insights with you and hope you find them helpful as well.
“Dare to connect with your heart. You will be lifting not only yourself and those you love and care about, but also the world in which you live.” ~ Doc Childre, HeartMath Founder
THE INTELLIGENT HEART For thousands of years, ancient cultures around the world (Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Babylonians, Chinese, Greeks and many others) regarded the heart as the source of intelligence and inner guidance – today this is also confirmed by modern science. New scientific findings support the thesis that the heart is a source of intelligence. Today we know that the heart is an information processing center in the body that sends important signals to the brain and the rest of the body. It has a complex nervous system called the heart brain and that communicates with the head brain. It creates a strong electromagnetic field shaped by your own emotions. The intelligence of the heart encompasses some of the highest core values that we have as human beings. Many of the highest quality feelings we experience are connected to the heart. These include feelings such as appreciation, caring, love, kindness, patience, and compassion. In addition, the heart is in contact with a deeper source of wisdom, with an intuitive knowing that is different from the normal logical and linear thought pattern.
“When we harness the heart’s true power and intelligence, it transforms the way we think and feel, the way we see the world – and our relationships, too.” ~ Howard Martin,HeartMath author and CEO
THE SCIENCE OF THE HEART In recent years, neuroscientists have discovered something exciting. They discovered that the heart has its own independent nervous system. The heart sends signals to the brain, the amygdala, the emotional processing center, and the thalamus, which synchronizes our cortical functions, thereby stimulating the higher brain functions. Brain function is directly dependent on this information. The heart is an electrical organ that is by far the most potent source of rhythmic bioelectricity. This energy flows into every cell in the body. The heart produces enough electrical energy to create an electromagnetic field that encircles one’s body 360°, extending from the surface of the skin about a meter into space.
“Just as electricity has changed the outer world, one can learn to harness the power and intelligence of the heart to transform our inner world.” ~ Howard Martin, HeartMath author and CEO
HEART – BRAIN COHERENCE Coherence refers to the cooperative alignment between heart, mind and emotions. It is associated with better emotional balance, stability, better access to intuition and improved mental functions such as the ability to concentrate, mental clarity, holistic thinking, memory, improved reaction times, coordination and much more. Coherence can be measured using technology that senses the changes between heartbeats within the heartbeat pattern. This is defined as heart rate variability analysis. This is a measure of the natural changes in heart rhythm. Stressful emotions create a chaotic pattern of heart rate variability: lower coherence. Persistent regenerative emotions create an even and orderly pattern that indicates higher coherence. A coherent heart rhythm sends signals to the brain that activate our higher brain functions. We’re getting smarter. Practicing heart coherence, even for just a few minutes, raises our vibration and allows the heart’s intuition to connect with our own behaviors, judgment and possibilities.
“We can not only measure the radiation of the magnetic field of our heart, but also that our nervous system is connected to it and exchanges information. This means that there is a real energetic communication that is always taking place between people.” ~ Rollin McCraty, Research Director, HearMath Institute
Monday 20.02. Freeing stuck emotions Happy Hip Flow
Wednesday 22.02. Aligning from inside out Slow Flow
Thursday 23.02. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 24.02. Moving from the pelvis Flow
Let’s keep on sending kindness and love to humanity and this world!
Your heart and the law of love The people we fully engage with become the Bodhi tree of our awakening. Our actions may be like tiny pebbles drowning in a vast sea. Each one of you unleashes a small wave of effects that affect the entire ocean of life. A person whom we listen to today, whom we value, blossoms. We all have no idea how important we really are to the whole thing. most of us have not even remotely realized our interpersonal potential. There is so much more to all of us – so much depth, so much compassion. And so much love.
Why you hear better with your heart If you want to meet someone from the heart, tune into them – look at them, listen. Ask him how he/she is doing. And then listen to him/her with your heart, that’s the key. Your heart is constantly tuning in to other people’s feelings, perceiving them. When we open our hearts to another person, we gain their trust. We’re all afraid of showing our feelings because we think we’ll look weak or face rejection. But when we allow ourselves to just be with someone, quietly and with an open heart, trust comes naturally. Think of a person who gives you the space to be yourself. Such people are infinitely precious. Find someone who can listen to you and who accepts what you are feeling. When two hearts connect, it always means that they accept each other. Lovers often don’t need words because they feel like one person. And even if you’re not in love, just feel what the other is feeling. And do this without evaluating, without judgment. This is how you create harmony. ~ Christiane Schönemann (Happinez 1/23)
You might have heard or read what I am sharing with you before, but it is always good to be reminded.
It is said that the gods considered where to hide the greatest power in the universe so that man would not be able to find it before he was mature enough to use it responsibly. Many proposals followed, all of which were rejected. Finally the wisest of gods spoke: “I know what to do. Let’s hide the biggest force of the universe in man himself. He will never look for it there until he is mature enough to go the way within.” To this all agreed, and there, deep hidden, it waits for us to discover it and make wise use of it.
If we choose the path of the heart, everything changes. We go beyond the purely physical side of our being and become aware of what we really are: users of the brain, not the brain; travelers in a body, not the body; a thinker of thoughts who is so much more than any thought. The essence of our true being exists beyond time and space. And our personal reality defines us in our now. It is made up of things we believe in, the emotions we feel, our unique memories, experiences and relationships. If you choose the path of the heart, we awaken and recognize: We are in this world, but not of it. ~ Christiane Schönemann (Happinez 1/23)
I believe true transformation is only happening if we have the courage to go within. Embracing all the facets of ourselves and love ourselves unconditionally.
Monday 06.02. Love Yourself Slow Flow
Wednesday 08.02. Courage to Embrace all of You Flow
For the longest time I didn’t understand the concept of February the month of love or Valentines. But looking at the world and what it has become in the last years, I see it more as a reminder to all humanity that we have a heart that should be consolidated and acted on. I will give this month again extra attention to our heart in class.
Most of you have heard me saying before that yoga when it comes to alignment is rather a “boring” system, it is always the same. But because of the body being different in space and gravity working on it accordingly, it seems more complex. So it simple, but not easy 😉
I feel like the same thing applies to life. It comes all down to finding your center, your heart. Trying to use it in every situation life throws at you then all as a sudden it becomes more challenging. Again simple, but not easy! Maybe Valentines is a good practice tool for beginners after all 🙂
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” The path does not lead to heaven. The path leads into the heart” ~ Buddha
Monday 30.01. Shoulder & Chest Opening Flow
Wednesday 01.02. Leading with the Heart Slow Flow
Thursday 02.02. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 03.02. Bow flipped in Space Flow
Always more we can explore and find out about our heart!
I found this little story in my magazine. I would like to share it with you.
The boy watched as the grandmother wrote a letter. At some point he asked: “Are you writing a story that happened to us? Is it maybe even a story about me?” The grandmother stopped and with a smile she said to her grandson: “Right, I’m writing about you. But more important than the words is the pencil I use. It would be nice if you were like him when you grow up. The boy looked at the pencil in confusion and couldn’t see anything special about him. “But it is just like all other pencils.” It depends on how you look at things. The pencil has five qualities and if you can make them your own, you will become a person at peace with the world. The first quality: You can do great things, but should never forget that there is a hand that guides your steps. This hand we call God and he shall always guide you according to his will. The second quality: Sometimes I have to stop writing and use the sharpener. Therefore the pencil suffers a little, but afterwards it’s sharp again. So learn to endure pain from time to time, because it will make you a better person. The third quality: So that we can erase mistakes, the pencil is equipped with an eraser. You must realize that correcting is not a bad thing, it is absolutely necessary to keep us on the right path. The fourth quality: What matters in the pencil is not the wood or its outer form but the graphite mine that is in it. So always pay attention to what is going on inside you. Finally, the fifth quality of the pencil: He always leaves a trace. You too must know that everything you do in life leaves traces and therefore try to do what you are doing very consciously. ~ Paulo Coelho (Author)
All what we do or don’t do with our body leaves traces in our body. If we move or do things consciously we can give our energy paths, health and overall well/being a direction and create the possibility for physical changes. Further more if we make a conscious connection between body and mind, the desired changes will manifest themselves as “pathways” in your body/mind.
” It is truth that liberates, not your effort to be free” ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti (Freedom from the known)
Did you ever find yourself holding on too much to the known? Maybe because it is a security blanket of some sort or the thought of letting go creates anxiety in you? But then there are moments you may be forced to leave your comfort zone and the rug has been pulled out underneath you. Either you can start to freeze, kick or scream while falling into a dark hole or begin begin to surrender and let go after you digested the first “shock”. Soon after letting go you might feel a glimpse of new found freedom that brings excitement and opportunities along. Even if you don’t know what the next step is or what is waiting around the corner for you, staying open for what the universe has in store for you, is the better option than tightening up and hiding out.
We all know the quote: “In the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity.” ~ Albert Einstein
Yoga has been always a big aid when it comes to “crisis”. It helps us to get out of the head, connects us with our body & breath – our essence. That we can release tension, take conscious breaths and find peace with what is. By learning more about our body and mind and finding new ways to deepen and/or advance our practice, we practice to have faith in the new.
Aligning our energy centers from the bottom up is, as we discovered last week, quite powerful. A lot of information comes with each one of them. More awareness and attention we give to the centers, we see how it relates to our whole being that we can gain more valuable information – physically, mentally, emotionally and even on the cellular level. The most important lesson for me last week was in the class about our solar plexus. Being reminded that feeling in power has nothing to do with more control or effort. In the contrary it depletes our 3rd energy center. If we are able to laugh at our-self or a situation, we are not lessening the importance of it, instead we gain power over it. I guess it is time to take things and yourself not so serious.
This week we will move up to the 4th and 5th chakra. When I started teaching yoga about 25 years ago, I always said ” the world needs heart opening”. Looking at the world as it is now, I think love and healing is more important than ever.
Monday 09.01 Rooting down to shineabove Flow
Wednesday 11.01. Healing heart Slow Flow
Thursday 12.01. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 13.01. Heart, Throat & Brain Flow
Aligning the energy centers, what a great way to start the year! Thank you for the inspiration for the theme – keep them coming 🙂
I have been contemplating what would be a good theme to start the year with. Signs from different sides have kept on showing up and pointing to PEACE
With wars being still very present it doesn’t seem unusual, but messages from within the line of wellbeing and leadership as well.
Here an Affirmation from wonderful Luise L. Hay “The more peaceful I am inside, the more peace I have to share with others. Love is around every corner, and joy fills my entire world.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ As most of you know, I have been working a lot with my dog the last couple months to create a stronger bond etc. Yesterday I opened up one of these advertisements for training animals I have seen plenty of time before, called Trust Technique. Sure enough the base of this is to be so much at peace yourself that it transfers to the animal. No surprise that it is working also with people and it all starts with oneself!
“Peace can only exist if we have complete security, both outwardly and inwardly, psychologically and environmentally. We all want security, even the greatest scientist and the poorest, very uneducated villager – all of us want security. Like every animal, every living thing needs security. And apparently we don’t have security. We have sought it in religions, in beliefs, in ideologies, in some form of authority; followed them, and yet we remain separate. We are asking, is that one of the basic causes why human beings, thinking they are separate, isolated entities, each one seeking his own particular form of security, must inevitably come into conflict with others who are also seeking their own particular form of security? … If you examine without any bias, without any tradition, if your brain is eager to find out whether it is possible to live in this world with complete freedom and peace and therefore with order. One has to put this question. You may be a great scientist, a great painter, a marvellous poet, like Keats, but the scientist, the poet, the painter have their own sorrow, pain, anxiety like the rest of us. And as long as we think we are separate, conflict must exist – between the Arab and the Jew, as is happening in Beirut, between the black and the white, between the Muslim and the rest of the world. So please, consider this question seriously – exercise our brains, not accept.
And if that is one of the causes of war, one of the causes of conflict between human beings, this fallacy that each one of us is entirely different, we are questioning that very thing. And if we are not, then we are the rest of mankind. You are the rest of mankind. With that goes tremendous responsibility which you may not like to have. We like to avoid responsibility.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ We all have felt a togetherness in our little global yoga community. In that safe space we are able to keep on growing together and strengthen it as well as finding our inner grounding and security.
Monday 02.01. Activating the Root Chakra Flow
Wednesday 04.01. Moving up to the 2nd Chakra Flow
Thursday 05.01. Open Theme Yogis Choice
Friday 06.01. Connecting with the Solar Plexus Slow Flow
I think peace is a good counterbalance to the turbulent energies that a new year brings along!
Love,
Nicole
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