Yoga, Emotions and Riding the Waves

Written by Kim Fischer, below is a recent article taken from her blog, Lotus Life Yoga. Kim is a certified yoga instructor at our Syracuse CNY Healing Arts Center.

What is anger? When you get angry, is it you who gets angry, or is it something that is happening to you?  Yoga teaches us to slow down and examine our thoughts and emotions as they arise. We know through meditation, that most of the time our minds race with thoughts, plans, and expectations. How do we react when an expectation isn’t met? To an untrained mind, we feel waves of sadness, depression, anxiety or maybe fear. However, these emotions are just that, waves of energy. Lets look at what we know about the ocean waves, other than their obvious beauty. We know that quite simply, they come and go. And like the waves, our emotions also come and go. We must remember this analogy next time we are hurting, and learn how to surf!

Riding the waves, as I like to say in my classes, is what makes us good yogis. It pushes and guides us to deep edges and boundries of our minds where we feel resistance. Then we rise up, towards the light, surviving the challenge and ready for more! What a valuable lesson.  We can use this same technique off the mat, so to speak. When anger presents itself, we have an option. First, we can kick and scream like a three year old, and give into the emotion. Or we can pause, take a deep breath and put on our wetsuits, because it’s hang ten time! Let the emotion rise within you, watch it. Breathe into it. Say to yourself I feel angry or mad or jealous (fill in the blank with how you feel). Then watch it some more. Eventually the feelings will resolve and you can see clearly again. This resolve can take seconds or sometimes years. The point isn’t to rush out of “bad” emotions but to open-up, and be present to what is and use this as a self-learning opportunity.After the wave(s) have left the body we can then begin to ask ourselves important introspective questions. Why did I feel this way in the first place, what triggered this emotion? Is there something I need to acknowledge or address? Is there something I need to say out loud to someone (loving communication)? What do I need to feel better? We often neglect this last question and as a result we never “heal.” If we’re not careful this can lead us to unhealthy emotional patterns and behaviors.

Most importantly remember, we are not our emotions. Emotions are forms of energy, and all will pass. And, like any new adventure, it takes a good dose of courage and a pinch of patience to look inward. I know you can do it!

Cowabunga,
Kim

The Facts on Laser Genesis

 

             At CNY Healing Arts, we offer an advanced, innovative way to promote healthy, radiant skin in both men and women. With Laser Genesis, our staff can plump your wrinkles, diffuse your redness, shrink your oversized pores, and smooth your skin texture without the pain, irritation, and downtime you get from using other lasers. In fact, the Laser Genesis method has been scientifically proven to stimulate the reproduction of collagen, which keeps your skin looking lively and elastic. So, you can look like you did 10 or even 20 years ago!

            Now, you’re probably wondering how this “miracle” laser works. Unlike ablative lasers, which typically require anesthesia, pain management, and some serious down time, Laser Genesis can be performed in a relaxed, comfortable environment and patients typically don’t use topical anesthetics or gel. Laser Genesis works by gently heating the tissue below your skin’s surface and in your capillaries.

Over the course of a patient’s treatment, Laser Genesis can help restore the skin’s youthful glow and appearance by smoothing out uneven texture caused by aging, sun damage or scarring. Patients will experience a more even, healthy complexion as treatment diminishes large pores and minor imperfections. Although the results of each individual treatment are subtle, the overall effect of a full treatment plan can be quite dramatic.

An average patient requires 4-6 Laser Genesis treatments to achieve his or her best possible results. Still, keep in mind that each patient’s conditions and needs are different. The most common side effect is slight redness that should disappear within a few hours of treatment.

The Health Benefits of Cat-Cow Stretch

            Cat-Cow Stretch is the incorporation of Marjaryasana (Cat Pose) and Bitilasana (Cow Pose). The two asanas are paired together for a gentle, flowing vinyasa. For those of you who are not familiar with the term, vinyasa is defined as “breath-synchronized movement.” If you practice Vinyasa Yoga, you will move from one pose to the next as you inhale or exhale; that is, your movements will match your breathing.

Getting Into Cat-Cow: 

            Begin on your hands and knees in Table Pose. Your hips should be set directly over your knees and your shoulders, elbows, and wrists should be in line and perpendicular to the floor. Keep your back straight (like a tabletop) and your spine in a neutral position. Let your neck be long and your eyes soft, looking at the floor. Stabilize your shoulder blades by drawing them down your back.

            Once you have established Table Pose, move into Cow Pose. As you inhale, simultaneously lift your sit bones upward, press your chest forward, and allow your belly to sink towards the floor. Lift your head, relax your shoulders away from your ears, and gaze straight ahead.

            As you exhale, come into Cat Pose. Simultaneously round your spine outward, tuck your tailbone, and draw your pubic bone forward. Release your head toward the floor, but don’t force your chin to your chest. Note: if you have a neck injury, keep your head in line with your torso throughout Cat-Cow.

            Go back and forth between Cow and Cat on each inhale and exhale, matching your movements to your own breathing. Do this for 5-10 breaths and try to keep an even distribution of weight between your hands and knees. After your final exhale, end the stretch in Table Pose.           

Benefits of Cat-Cow: 

• Improves posture and balance
• Strengthens and stretches the spine and neck
• Stretches the hips, abdomen and back
• Increases coordination
• Massages and stimulates organs in the belly, like the kidneys and adrenal glands
• Creates emotional balance
• Relieves stress and calms the mind

Featured Tonic of the Month for April: Belly Be Good

Belly Be Good is our most popular tonic and one that many clients have had a great deal of success using. This tonic is used for temporary or chronic indigestion, gastritis, constipation, lack of appetite, intestinal gas, colitis, acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, and stomach cramps.  The herbs used in this tonic increase the digestive juices by warming and relaxing the diaphragm and stomach muscles to improve production of the digestive enzymes from the stomach, liver, pancreas and gall bladder.

The tonic can be used by babies, children, adults, pregnancy, and during breastfeeding.  The dosage is different for each age group so please speak to a Maya Abdominal practitioner before using for the correct dosage.

There are no known side effects or contraindications for Belly Be Good.

Belly Be Good is our featured tonic of the month and is 10% off for the month of April.  Please feel free to contact a Maya Abdominal Therapy practitioner at any of our CNY Healing Arts for further information. Contact us here.