Feeling lethargic?

Here's a technique for those days when you are feeling lethargic that you may or may not have heard of.  It's beginning to incorporate the Bhandhas throughout your day.

 

These are the internal locks applied similar to valves to direct the prana upward through the subtle energy system (nadis, chakras, meridians).

 

The bhandhas are mulabhandha (root lock), uddiyana bhandha (belly button lock) and jalandhara bhandha (neck or throat lock).

 

Like the breath they can be illusive as our focus slips away from them. Give it a try to see what I mean.  Begin to breathe deeply and evenly and allow the breath to be your sole focus for a least a minute.  If this practice is new to you it will be challenging as every 30 seconds or so we have a new thought to take our focus away. 

 

Traditionally they are used in a yoga practice which can deepen if the bhandhas are utilized. Apply them as you move through the asanas (physical postures).  However you need not be on the mat to apply them to your life.

 

Here’s how to apply the lower two:

At the end of the exhalation apply mulabhandha by drawing up on the muscles between the perineum and the anus. These are the same muscles that stop the flow of urination. Keep holding it.

Take a full breath at the end of the exhalation come to the belly button lock by drawing the abdomen in and up thereby applying uddiyana bhandha. It’s not a hard holding or crunch of the core, but rather a lifting … concentrated holding the abdomen up and in.

Here we’ll skip Jalandhara, but know it is mostly used for pranayama (loosely described breathing) practice. The bhandhas can significantly shift and change your yoga practice taking you to entirely new levels of concentration, focus and present moment awareness.

Give it a go even off the mat and see, sense and feel how your energy can & will change!

Let’ s begin to use them today. Here is link to a video I did awhile ago explaining locks further:
http://tinyurl.com/energylocks

Thanks for watching & reading!
Namaste,
Tammy






PS.  Joining in the energy today to honour our soldiers and give thanks for our freedom.  Lest we forget.

PPS.  Please subscribe to the youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/ganesharocks
 & follow on twitter @tllc

The Sound of now

Do you ever stop and pay attention to the sounds of life within your home?

This week I've been practicing much present moment awareness. 
I practice what I preach mostly because I know it works. 

Sometimes it's not as evident and has an effortless flow.  Sometimes I really have to work toward listening to myself.  This has been one of those weeks.  A week where I need to practice to be present.  A challenge with my inner self.  I've chanted....

I am, here now.
I am here.
Here I am in this present moment.
There is only this moment.
And I breathe.

It's been a process of forgetting in one moment.  A wave of anxiety.  A moment of remembering.  A soothing state of rest of relaxation.

Another tool I've worked with this week is listening to the sounds around me.

Here are some sounds which have brought me into the now....

-Fish tank water cycling.
-Sophie screeching for someone, anyone to throw her ball for her (yes she is one strange cat).
-Bella meowing beside her window (this is one Russian Blue that adores her window time).
-Rodney Yee's Yoga Burn playing in the living room.
-The Oracle's struggle with downward dog (he secretly hates down dog).
-Vishen Lakhiani's Envisoning Method Meditation playing.

I adore the sounds I live with.  Who knew how wonderful and blissful these sounds are?
It's been working albeit slowly.  Give it a go.  Listen then repeat after me:  "Every sound I hear draws me more into the presence of this moment."

And so it will be.

Wishing you much peace,
Tammy
x

PS.  A few changes over on my Etsy page - from its name to some new additions:

Mini journal covers....

 

 

And a book to journal in....

 

 

This is so adorable!  And a great reminder of what is needed this week.

 

Rise.  That's right....rise above it all.

 

Om Shanti Love

 

 

Eternally guided

I was first introduced to Rumi's poem "The Guest House" from a reading by Lilias Folan at a Yoga conference a few years ago.  It was so comforting and so applied to what I had learnt about myself over the years.

I have, in past, suffered from pretty severe depression (I was actually stuck there for years).  One day during this time of suffering a girlfriend said to me, "It's the best thing that could happen!  Depression is such a blessing!"

I thought she was nuts - dropped off the deep end... riding the short bus... loosing her shit.....

I wondered, "How the hell can depression be a blessing?"  It took me a few years, but I finally got it - without knowing or understanding true pain can we truly appreciate what the other side feels like. 

She was so right - you can not have up without down, right without left, incorrect and truth... it's relative.  For us to really appreciate living an abundant life we need to live it's flipside.

I've also learned that happiness takes work.  

This knowing took me so many years to understand. 

I think that's why "The Guest House" made such an impression on me like no other. 

May it do the same for you,
Namaste,
Tammy


THE GUEST HOUSE

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

~Rumi

My wish for you is eternal guidance

The Alkaline Myth & Hype- The Acid-Alkaline Truth Exposed

A little more serious of a post for today - but I really believe people need to watch this! 

A store around my town is currently selling Alkaline water which some of my students are drinking.
It's really important that we educate ourselves before we 'buy' into some of the commercial products
available.






Our health is our first wealth - be good to yourself and keep in mind all things in balance.
Sending you much love & healing,
Tam
xo

PS.  Enjoy the Civic long weekend if you are in Ontario!

PPS.  Here's a link of me teaching a breathing technique which will help you.  Check it out if you wish:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsqvrYoXluU

So Very Blessed

"May love carry you and guide your breath, guide your thoughts, guide your actions, and guide your words. May you be a bright light in this world. May your soul catch fire... and with that light, light many other lights."
~Rod Stryker

I adore Rod.  A few years ago I took his meditation class at the Yoga Show in Toronto.  I remember leaving him feeling so light and airy - so relaxed as I had dropped so many layers of holding.

We all tend to have holding patterns - some we aren't even consciously aware of.  This can stem not only from the physical body, but also the mind. 

Think of the last time you crept facebook or any other social media site and felt less worthy than whomever's page you were creeping. 

This holding is so very damaging our psyche. 

In order to release this - stop yourself from comparing you to them. 

Let go of this holding. 

Remember you are a beautiful, gorgeous soul who is here to share your strength and your knowledge with the whole.

You are so very blessed.

Never forget that.

Namaste & sing it with me now ... "Come on baby light my fire!"

Love,
Tammy

PS.  I'm so excited and almost ready to reveal my Exercise & Wellbeing series on my Etsy Page - it will definitely help you to create a positive shift in your life (and waistline).  Speaking of holding patterns it will help you to release a few.  Watch for it.  In the mean time be sure to check out my Zodiac Series.  I had a blast creating these guys - aren't they cute?

 

A Place to be Free

When I was a kid we used to have a tree fort.  I loved that place as the magical center of the universe in those years.  Truth be told it was my brother's fort, but I used to love to climb up into it myself.

We lived on a hobby farm which had 4 acres of land.  Behind the house you would walk down a ginormous hill and at the bottom was the Dunford's rickety old fence which lead to where their dairy cattle grazed.  Just inside their fence was a huge Maple tree.  My Dad & brother built two platforms in the tree.  I remember how scared I was to climb to the top platform.

The memories of that tree always bring me such peace and happiness.  The years may have had challenges for other reasons, but for the moment in time it brought so much joy. 

We need to rekindle these feelings as adults. 

We need not be SO serious all the time.  And the places that bring these joys need not cost a lot of money, nor be far away.  (I mean, come on, I adore the Caribbean but I can't go there today.)

What places can you go to bring about the feelings of joy, playfulness in your life?  Where can you go back to basics where the simplest things made your heart sing?

If you don't have an answer, you're homework my friend is to find it.

You seriously need to.

Wishing you much more love & abundant play!
Tam
xo

PS.  Sending you the best eagle arms, warrior hug... ready.....

 

Motivation to create change!

Let's do it!