Practicing with my Daughter

I once was asked by a client if I believed that the mindbody connection really existed. The truth is that there are many authors from various backgrounds and disciplines who share the conviction that the mind has the power to combat disease and improve health. Throughout my own exploration of mindbody therapies I have witnessed my own self healing from environmental allergies. Immune disorders aren’t the only illnesses that I have seen healed through mindbody practices,  autonomic disorders like gastrointestinal disorders and tension headaches have also been completely over come. My theories have been solidified through my experiences of working with clients for the past fifteen years. I have seen clients heal from chronic lower back pain, shoulder pain, sciatica, etc. How? Through mindbody techniques such as reiki, assisted stretching, myofascial release, yoga, meditation and nutrition. Yoga can be an example. As I practice yoga asana poses I am confronted with realizations about the limitations of my body. Limitations can bring up deeply held subconscious cellular memories. When I can relax and loosen my grip I can surpass the limitations of my body, then I am confronted with the limitations of my mind. The want to confront my mental blocks is the very first stepping stone to meditation practice. Sitting with them calmly and watching my thoughts. The mindbody connection is such a powerful tool that if everyone had an established practice they would have  profoundly changed the lifestyles of themselves and everyone around them. Imagine, being so in tune with yourself that you have no need to over eat or eat foods that make you sick, or over indulge in alcohol or shopping. Imagine being calm in your daily life even when dealing with tough clients or moody children!

This past weekend I went on a trip with my seventeen year old daughter, Marichka. She wanted to visit a friend in Edenburough so we visited some college campuses along the way. We went to Erie and walked along the beach. It was our first time in Erie, we were amazed that we were still in Pennsylvania. We practiced yoga together with the vast endless backdrop of the lake surrounded by new life. We saw tons of turtles and birds diving for fish. We both gathered unusual stones as small souvenirs of our journey. On the way home my daughter told me that she felt lucky to have a mom that practiced “zen”. She said being a teen is so stressful that most of her friends are usually “freaking out” about every little thing. She said that she has learned so many stress reducing techniques from my zen practice that she teaches them to her friends. As the mother of a teenager you can imagine how great I felt!

Please share mindfulness experiences you have had.

Dec 2-4 I attended a Bandha Yoga workshop at the Lila Studio with Dr. Ray Long. Ray is a surgeon and a yogi, but what I really liked about him is he also practices Qi Gong and Martial arts. He had a refreshing sense of understanding in the physical practice of yoga according  to medical anatomy, but I felt that his Qi Gong practice gave him heightened understanding of energy. To me, meditation is key to knowing your”self”. The physical exercise of yoga postures can be meditative, even when practicing a vinyasa flow. Over the years my practice of many styles has given me knowledge to know what is right for me. Yoga is one of those things that tugs on your heart strings, you can get attached to a certain teacher or “way”, but it all comes down to YOU. Your teacher within is who you are searching for. I admit that I am a purist, I want authenticity.  Does that mean I want to have every posture filtered and measured and sifted until  somebody says, “Yes that is the correct way, here is your piece of paper that proves it”. There are countless ways to move this human form, from a zen perspective form is emptiness and emptiness is form. The space within is vast, it’s endless and waiting for your consciousness to unfold into.

In December I attended a chanting workshop. I love to chant and I really enjoy chanting with others. The workshop helped me to improve my Sanskrit pronunciation.

The most recent workshop I attended was the most fun and insightful to the practice of yoga. My husband, Jim, and I drove to Philadelphia for a “Beginning Ashtanga”class at the Ashtanga Yoga Shala. Ashtanga means eight limbs, as in the eight limbs of yoga.

1.Yamas- Universal morality

2.Niyamas- Personal observances

3.Asana- Body postures

4.Pranayama- Breathing exercises for the control of prana

5.Pratyahara- Control of the senses

6. Dharana- Concentration and cultivation of inner perceptual awareness

7. Dhyana- Devotion, meditation on the divine.

8. Samadhi- Union with the divine.

An Ashtanga class is a dynamic blend of philosophy, vinyasa and held postures. Breath is at the core of the practice, with special attention for the control of the sense of vision. All these things combine to bring the practitioner into a state of focus on their inner being. Most Ashtanga classes offered are Mysore style, named for the city in India, home of the Ashtanga yoga research Institute. The classes are designed to allow each student to practice the series they are currently working on. So, everyone does their own thing. This may seem confusing to those of us who are used to being led, but it trains you to go within. The instructor monitors everyone, giving directions and physical adjustments throughout the two hour time period.  I was truly inspired by this workshop, I am currently working on the primary series everyday. My Gentle classes have been learning sun salutes A and B with standing, seated poses and supported inversions.

I couldn’t have had a more yoga- full filling winter! With my Chakra detox and all the in depth study I couldn’t have learned more if I had gone to India! I should mention the most important part of my practice, Dhyana (meditation). Without Buddha, Dharma and Sangha I would not have looked within and followed my own inner wisdom.

Before you try your next weight loss plan or the latest fad diet, come attend this informative workshop aimed at teaching you how to reduce your sugar cravings and to eat sweet foods in enjoyable ways without affecting your weight or your energy. Why suffer eating foods you don’t enjoy or buying packaged “diet food” that you really don’t care to eat? The FREE workshop will be held at the Center for Well-Being, 123 Mt. Nittany Rd Lemont, PA on January 22, 2011, at 1 p.m.

This workshop explores the effects of sugar on the body. Since Americans, on average, consume 576 cans of sugar-based soda per year, causing multiple health conditions including diabetes and obesity, it is imperative to learn about healthy alternatives to improve your health and energy. Participants will gain a greater understanding of why we crave sweets, how sugar decreases our energy and the cycle of sugar addiction. In addition to understanding why we overindulge in sweet foods, participants learn what alternatives exist to the typical refined sugars we find in junk food, candy bars and other unhealthy snacks.

Jenefer Nadenicek, Certified Health Coach, facilitates this workshop. She works in State College and has a private practice, coaching clients on how to reach their goals for health, weight loss and stress reduction. Additionally, she presents workshops and lectures on living a healthy, balanced life. Please contact her for more information.