Challenge or Opportunity?
Finding Equanimity
Our focus this eletter is how to find equanimity in the face of challenge. That is tricky. The real trick is to find equanimity before the challenge and try to gracefully tap into it during the challenge. I am reminded of this quote:
"Peace...does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work...it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."
Really all we do here at All That Matters is to this end; eating well, meditating, doing yoga, connecting with other like minded folks are all tools for cultivating calm in the storm. I facilitate our popular 40 Day to Revolution Program together with my husband David. Equanimity is the theme of week three so we discuss it at length. David says these practices are simple hygiene...and just as important as brushing your teeth. If only we can all engage in these habits!
This reminds me of another quote: Inner peace leads to world peace and that is all that matters.
We hope that this newsletter inspires you to cultivate your equanimity during challenging times.
Be Well
Joan Dwyer
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posture in practice
BHEKASANA- FROG POSE
by Cathy Cesario, E-RYT
So, how does yoga help us in facing the challenges of our lives with greater ease?
The habit of yoga is to cultivate an evenness, an equanimity and non- reactiveness in the body and the mind. Most of us have been trained to move towards pleasure and away from pain. We flee from discomfort and often take drugs or numb ourselves with over-activity to keep us from fully experiencing it. Yoga seeks freedom from the attachment to pain and pleasure by disciplining the mind/body to notice strong sensation without judging it, and then, by breathing into it. The breath is the body's way of bringing reassurance and support embrace to the places of struggle in both the body and the mind. We neither ignore the sensation nor simply react to it; instead we observe it, bring loving awareness and breath to it, and let go of our attachment to either attraction to it or aversion.
Practicing Frog Pose* is a great way to train the mind and body to face challenges with greater "comfort." We become more and more comfortable with discomfort, and less and less reactive in the mind. Let's give it a try......
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optimal health.....naturally
The Healthy Side of Stress
Maintaining our Adrenals
by Keri Layton, ND
When we talk about stress and our health, we usually are talking about how it prevents health. From stomach aches to cancer, stress has been linked to many diseases.
But stress isn't all bad. Stress refers to that heightened state of arousal that comes when we feel like our resources can't meet the demands that are placed on us. How could this be positive?
The adrenals are small glands that perch on top of the kidneys, secreting a hormone called coritisol, along with the adrenaline hormones, epinephrine and norepinephrine. Adrenaline is important, and so is the stress response... it creates lightening fast reflexes that catch toddlers who are about to take a fall and gives us the clarity to manage a crisis on minimal sleep. Cortisol is important too; it breaks down body tissue into glucose that the brain and muscles can use to perform these feats.
When stressed, we are meant to move... run when afraid, fight when angry, dance when celebrating. Then rest. We humans have days that are packed with crises and emotional events, but void of movement. We ruminate on events rather than react, which leaves cortisol and adrenaline circulating at high levels. In the same way cortisol helpfully provides food to tissues in need, in excess it breaks down healthy tissue and causes damage to the body.
How can we prevent a good thing from becoming too much?
Read Dr Layton's complete article here...
Join Dr Layton on Sampler Day, Sept 20th and hear about the many benefits of taking a natural approach to your health. |
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ask our teachers
In the spirit of frog pose, we asked our instructors: How do you find equanimity in the face of challenge?
Here's what some of them had to say:
"By maintaining connection to center & remembering that challenge is ultimately fortifying!"
- Coral Brown, yoga instructor Coral is offering her Vinyasa Flow Immersions and hosting our first Immersion Getaway Nov 13.
" Breath into and notice my heart space; especially the effect the 'challenge' or situation is having there and on my nervous system. Then I use the breath and if possible a walk or yoga practice to shift that energy out of the body and let it go! "
Dave Harrigan - yoga instructor
I first notice that something is triggering a reaction, then I notice if it brings up fear. If it does (as it certainly can) I try to remember that this trigger is just helping me to clarify another piece of myself so I can lighten up the dark corners, and become more wholly who I AM. When I am blessed with this realization, I find myself relaxing, and even becoming curious about what is happening--a far cry from going ballistic! Knowing that nothing happens that can't be used for good, for wholeness is the key! (Yoga = Body + Mind + Spirit Wholeness)
-Shakta Khalsa, founder of Radiant Child Yoga
"I first "unplug" myself from as much electricity/"noise" as possible (TV, cell phones/phones, computer etc), and go sit in nature with my bare feet on the ground (or if that not possible I'll sit next to the nearest tree or body of water I can find- sometimes that would be my bathtub!) and just sit and breathe....Then I remember to ask God and Spirit for help with whatever I'm dealing with, surrender the "how" of it - and it never fails to come- often in ways I least expect...."
"My goal is to calm myself and find my center - and clarity will come again. I try to stop believing my thoughts because they will just dig me in deeper in my worry or obsessive thinking. My preferred tools are: meditating (sitting or lovingkindness), yogic breathing; what I call "The Practice" (naming the feelings, accepting them without trying to change them, breathing, and sending myself compassion for what I'm feeling ) ; journaling, doing EFT, or going out in nature. Sometimes I can do this on my own but at other times, I find my spiritual books and CDs are very helpful.
~Barbara Holtzman, MSW, LICSW, is the author of Conscious Eating, Conscious Living.
Be sure to check out Barbara's Conscious Living Series beginning Oct 19.
"Well a foundation prinicipal in Life Coaching is that "There are no problems, not even challenges only opportunity!" So when I am in those hard places I try to always look at the opportunity or as the teacher that has arrived in the situation to show me something deeper about myself. That always allows me to breathe and step back and take a look at the situation from a broader perspective. And of course, I always call on Arch Angel Uriel to see the truth in all situations. That helps me re-group and find the strength I need to move through it with a more grounded calm."
Stephanie Marisca,Certified Life Coach and All That Matters Program Director. Stephanie will be offering Shift Happens- A Coach Approach to Moving Forward Oct 26 and her popular Angelspeake class again Sept 21.
"To move through challenge with grace and ease it is essential that I achieve balance with music - by singing and chanting mantras. I do yoga, meditate, work out at the gym - and I invite mantra in at those times as well-yes, even at the gym! I enjoy long walks and I listen for the music of birds-their voices bring me such joy!"
Margaret Trezza, Kundalini Yoga Instructor
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eat pray laugh
Recipes, Mantras and Jokes to Feed Your Spirit
Try this easy and very yummy recipe.
Here is what you will need:
� ¼ cup canola oil
� 1 medium onion
� 1 red bell pepper
� 5 clove garlic, minced
� 2 tsp minced ginger
� 2 tbsp curry powder
� 1 tsp ground cumin
� 1 tsp sugar
� 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
� 2 tbsp flour
� 2 Cups of light coconut milk or 1 can regular
� 2 pounds jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
� ¾ cup shredded coconut
� 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
To get your own great healthy recipes like this, check out Joan Dwyer's popular WHOLE FOODS 101 class Oct 17. |
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pray
MANTRA:
Om Gam Ganapatayei Namaha
Ganesha- remover of obstacles
We have featured this mantra before but there really is nothing more effective than the power of Ganesha in trying times when you want to remove obstacles and challenges that are standing in your way.
Try it and see for yourself!
Recommended reading:
HEALING MANTRAS
by Thomas Ashley-Farrand
available at the Store at All That Matters. |
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laugh
Two psychic friends met, one said:
"You are fine.
How am I ?"
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What do Yoga meditation and an apple peeler have in common?
A: They both take you to the core
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browse and
be inspired
Healthy Reads from The Store at All That Matters
While the practice of yoga is the practice of equanimity, there are additional resources to help you feel this experience, especially in times of change. Here are a few titles from our store to guide you :
 " How to Meditate, a Practical Guide to Making Friends with your Mind, by Pema Chodron. This CD set offers personal guidance in the basics of mindfulness practice, with patience and humor, from proper posture to breathing and relaxation.
Yoga Nidra, by Richard Miller, a book, workbook and guided CD for experiencing deep peace, relaxation or stress reduction.
Guided Mindfulness Meditation by Jon Kabat Zinn, the founder of the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program, offered here at all That Matters, as well as nationally. Learn to experience the very deep states of relaxation, and well being.
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