Month: November 2018

The Practice of Gratitude

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The act of expressing appreciation for all that is! This time of year, we tend to resonate within the frequency of gratitude as the magic of the holiday season falls upon us. While I think this is absolutely wonderful, I encourage you to practice gratitude every day all year round.

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Many different studies have shown the positive effects are practicing gratitude; such as becoming more patient and accepting, sleeping better, increased happiness, and overall better health and wellness. We all have our unique ways of showing our gratitude and exercising ways of creating greater gratitude in our lives.
Below is a short list of simple ways to express and increase gratitude in your life:

  • Sending a random note of thanks and love that is unexpected
  • Stating 3 good things daily (I love this one! And I absolutely loved seeing this in practice, when my cousin, at the end of each day, asks her two girls to tell her three good things that happened that day. Then they discussed each and talk about it further in detail. For example, she asks them how did that make you feel?).
  • Offering a smile to others
  • Giving hugs (There is nothing better than a welcomed, full, loving embrace. Science even says that if you can hold a hug for at least 6 seconds, it begins to have a positive, chemical effect in our bodies, by increasing the hormone levels of oxytocin, the “feel-good hormone” and lowering blood pressure and cortisol levels, the “stress hormone.” Hugs also increase our social connections and belonging). Hug on folks!2744232_s5640666373340194827.jpg
  • Saying Thank you. So simple, but yet so powerful!

…The list can go on, and while I practice all the above, my favorite is practicing gratitude on my yoga mat.  Besides hugs that is.  I love HUGS.

The energy of Gratitude begins in the heart. One must have an open and receptive heart chakra to allow the energy of gratitude to radiate from. As you become more mindful of expressing gratitude the heart energy will naturally open. The more you begin to practice gratitude and see the silver lining in all situations, the more appreciation and joy will be attracted into your life.
Now, I know we are only human, and as humans, we experience a plethora of emotions, which we are most definitely allowed to feel. We all will have times when we feel sad, angry, frustrated, or overwhelmed, and that is OK! Have your moments, then gather yourself and move back into higher frequency emotions such as joy, gratitude and love. Sometimes making the transition back may be challenging, so an easy way to move back into gratitude is simply repeating to yourself, or out loud, ”Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you…”

I have created a mini yoga session, 13 minutes, for my fellow yogis to practice to help cultivate gratitude.  The yoga practice is a mini series of asanas (poses) and mudras (hand poses or spiritual gestures that have an energetic seal of authenticity between mind, physical body and energy body, facilitating the flow of energy). All asanas and mudras in this mini session are focused on opening the heart energy, and in essence connecting to the energy of gratitude. The series is also written out for you below.  You can also just choose to use the mudras I demonstrate below to help open your heart and cultivate gratitude.  

Namaste my beautiful souls.

Zenfully Yours,
Jyll

Yoga practice for cultivating Gratitude:

Begin is a seated, crossed legged comfortable position, (sukhasana) with the Hridaya (Heart) Mudra: is the index fingers touching at the base of the thumbs where they connect to the hands, resting the middle finger and ring finger gently on the tip of the thumb and the pinky finger extending outward,then rest your hands upon your knees.

This mudra opens the heart meridian which begins in the heart and travels up through the axilla and down the medial side of the arm through the wrist and out the pinky finger. This mudra helps releases any heavy emotions weighing on the heart, releases stress and anxiety, and helps to keep the heart open. Holding this mudra, take a few rounds of even breaths and state the intention: “I intend to to open my heart and to connect and radiate within the energy of Gratitude.”

You can then repeat the mantra, “THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU…”

Then take your hands behind your hips about 6-12″ and lift your hips upward and come onto your knees, opening the heart. Take a few breaths here. Then roll your hips back down and walk your hands out before you to fold forward. Take moment here and have an internal thought of something you are thankful for.

Next come to stand at the top of your mat in Mountain Pose (Tadasana). Standing with an open heart and allowing yourself to be open and receptive, find gratitude for all your inspirations and dreams. Here you can take Padma (Lotus) Mudra while taking a few breaths and connecting to the unlimited possibilities the future holds.  Padma Mudra is taking your hands in prayer pose, then keeping the base of the palms together and the thumbs and pinkys touching, peal the index, middle and ring finger away from each other opening your palms like a blooming lotus.

Next move slowly into low lunge (Anjaneyasana) holding this pose for a few breaths on each side creating stability in your legs and then reach your arms upward and take a slight back bend revealing your heart. Find gratitude for an aspect of your life that you are grateful for.

Next take Exalted warrior (Viparita Virabhadasana) on each side for a few breaths. While holding this pose find gratitude for challenging moments you have encountered and how you evolved from them.

Next take Standing Forward Fold (Uttanasana) and hang out here for a few breaths and feel the sensations of the inversion, and all the fresh oxygen-rich blood moving toward your brain for mental clarity.

Moving down to the ground onto your belly move into Bow Pose (Dhanurasana).  Bend your knees and reach your hands behind your to grab hold of your ankles.  As you being to kick your feet into your hands, you begin to move into a strong back bend.  Let your breath rock you and gently massage your internal organs.  Honor your body here, and learn how to move from the your heart.

Next move slowly into Child’s pose (Balasana).  As you fold forward into yourself take this moment to travel inward and give thanks for being here.  For being present and practicing.  As you feel your breath move effortless in and out express gratitude for your breath, for being alive.

Gently come up and swing your legs out before you into Seated Forward Fold (Paschimottanasana).  Again, a pose that allows your to travel inward.  In this pose honor a part of your body which you are especially grateful for.

Then move into a Supported Reclining Heart Opener (Setu Bandhasana Variation). Taking a yoga block or rolled up towel, place it under your upper back and lay right into it. This is a relaxing chest opener inspiring gratitude allowing the heart chakra to open. Here bring your thoughts to an event or something you witnessed that invoked great feelings of joy and love and gratitude in your heart.

Remove the block and take Corpse Pose (Savasana). Allow yourself to let your body become fully relaxed and melt into gratitude as your tension melts away and you are firmly supported by the earth below you. Have gratitude that the universe will always support you.

Finally move yourself back into an easy seated pose (sukhasana) taking Anjali Mudra, (prayer pose) at the heart, inducing awareness and honoring what is and all that your are.

Namaste.

Muscle Testing

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I was first introduced to muscle testing back in 2006 when I began certified in Crystalline Consciousness Technique, aka CCT.  CCT is a new energy healing modality working with sacred geometry and the electro-magnetic fields of our bodies (as well as everything around us) and the power of positive intentions.

Muscle Testing is a direct way of obtaining Yes and No answers from our energy body/subconscious.

First to understand how this works you need to understand that our bodies have an energy grid as well as everything around us; everything is pure energy.

Just like any electrical system, when it is operating correctly and efficiently the power flows through the circuit strong and continuously and if something goes awry, there is a short circuit.  Same holds true for our bodies.  Everything that happens to us affects our flow of energy; such as events, thoughts, emotions, food, weather, etc.

With muscle testing we are using the flow or lack of flow to connect to the inner wisdom to understand how something is impacting our energy system. When something feels good and enhances us, the circuit flows strong.  When something is negative and not in our best interest our circuit cuts out, even if just for a quick moment.  Same thing with Truth.  If we make true statements, our electrical system continues to flow open and strong, allowing muscles to retain their strength.  On the other hand if a false statement is made, our energy system will temporarily short circuit and the muscles weaken.

To begin muscles testing, the hardest part is removing the many veils of judgement, assumption, emotion and other personal distortions we may place on what we think is the correct answer we are searching for.  Therefore the most important element of muscle testing is the willingness to actually listen to the energy body, without any wavering insight or left brain utility.

THE BODY DOESN’T LIE.

“When we get into our bodies, we get into our lives. And when we are into our lives, anything is possible.”  Karol Ward

The Body strives to move us to emotional/mental health. The discernment to hear and listen to the innate wisdom of the our energy body is an excellent way to perceive our truth.  When we are open and receptive in energy body, we are open to the world surrounding us.  I encourage you to be open and feel into and experience all the true beauty this world has to offer.

I give examples of muscle testing in my blog Communicating with Self.  Go ahead and practice the techniques.  Which one most resonates with you?  As you develop your skill, how are you incorporating muscle testing into your life?

Zenfully Yours,
Jyll

Communicating with Self

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When is the last time you got in touch with and listened to what your body and/or soul had to say?  If you take the time to feel into the body, it will tell you what it needs.  It’s amazing just how beautifully complicated we human beings are and just how intelligent as well.

When we are able to connect to the energy of communication we become aware that we truly are able to communicate with our bodies.  When we allow this to happen we begin to recognize its signals and understand how to solve its discomforts.  Resonating in the energy of communication brings our body and our spirit into deeper contact with each other.

Developing effective ways to communicating well with yourself is an imperative aspect of overall health and happiness, just as a well-balanced diet and exercise.  Mindfulness helps you tune into how you are feeling and what you are thinking without judgement and possibly without words, allowing yourself to be open and accepting of yourself.

There are many ways to connect to the energy of communication with yourself, below I cover three methods:
*Meditate
*Inner Listening
*muscle testing

Inner Listening:  One of my favorite tools for accessing my body.  It’s when you take some time to journey through the body and feel into it.  First, find a comfortable position either sitting or laying down. I prefer savasana (corpse pose). Bring your awareness to your breath, without manipulating it in any way, just being aware of it.  Feel the breath moving in and out of your body.  Take notice of which parts of your body move with your breath and which parts do not.  Take a little journey through your body, I like to begin at my toes and slowly travel upwards taking in any sensations you may be experiencing, noticing any areas of tension or temperature upon your skin.  Do any images of colors or sounds bubble up from within?  You can go a little deeper by actually placing your hands on certain areas of your body.  Take notice how sensations and breath may shift as you move through your body.  Take notice how this exploration changes your mood, your energy, your sense of who you are.  When done, give a moment of gratitude to self for taking the time to journey within.

Muscle Testing:   This is a direct way of asking your body yes/no questions and having it innately know and answer you.  It suggest that we already have all the answers we seek within us.  There are many forms of muscle testing, below I list three:
1) use of holding a pendulum
2) swaying of the body
3) various hand gestures: interlocking, sticky fingers, bringing palms together, index and middle finger to thumb, finger press

Perhaps you have heard of the pendulum muscle testing.  It’s when you hold some sort of pendulum, rather it’s a crystal on the end of a chain, or your grandfathers pocket watch, etc, you hold it out with your hand, and as in all forms of muscle testing you first ask for it show you what YES is and then what NO is.  For each answer there will be a consistent movement of the pendulum.  Once you can decipher what a YES and a NO, is you can ask yourself the questions you desire answers to.

For me, I use my Left hand (my recessive hand) and place my middle finger on top of my index finger.  My Yes is when I go to flip my fingers apart the middle finger will stay on top of my index finger, a magnetic feeling if you will.  My No is my middle finger will quickly slide off my index finger.  The great thing about this version of muscle testing, no one really knows when I’m asking myself a question and finding my answers.

If this is new to you I suggest first practicing with general questions.  First, ground and center yourself then using your chosen method of muscle testing, ask yourself a few easy questions that you already know the answers to like:  “Is my name Sam?” (Use a name that is not your true name to test your No.  Do this a few times.  Then use your true name that the answer is YES. In my case, Jyll.  You can use basic facts about yourself, like birth date and birth place, you get the idea.  As you learn your signals for YES and NO, begin to ask other questions and see how you begin to connect to your innate wisdom.  I go into more on Muscle Testing here.

Meditation:  While I know this word has a tendency to scare some people and I get a reaction like, “I can’t slow down, my mind is always going.” or I can’t sit still and think about nothing.”  Granted, I enjoy my meditation sessions my sitting quietly on my yoga mat with my eyes closed and connecting with my breath, this is not the only way.  Some people choose to meditate with a visual object such as a burning flame.  Some like listening to music.  While some people can enter a meditative state when they go for a run.  Some people yet find their meditative state in cooking or hiking.  When I suggest meditation, I’m encouraging you to find an activity where you simply lose track of time; your thoughts seem to disappear because you are so immersed into your activity that brings you such joy and calmness.  In other words you enter a state of wordlessness, where no thoughts are required because you are immersed into the passion of what you are doing.  Here in this state, you can take a moment to access how you are: how you are feeling, what sensations are traveling through your body when you are immersed in said activity, if removed from the moment, how does that feel?

Over time this ability to settle into breath and body will begin to broaden the ability to being more present to every aspect of life: feelings, thoughts, sensations, intuitions.  You will begin to grow clearer and wiser and have a deep feeling of connection with all beings (the ultimate goal of seeing clearly with our innate wisdom, after all, is understanding that we are all truly connected and are one), and you will begin to act with deeper care and love.

The body truly strives to move us to emotional/mental health.  The discernment to hear and listen to the innate wisdom of the our energy body is an excellent way into perceiving our truth. When you are open and receptive in energy body, you are open to the world surrounding us.

I encourage you to communicate with yourself, get to know yourself and find what makes you thrive. Resonate in high vibrational feelings and manifest your greatness.

Zenfully yours,
Jyll