The Chakras Explained – HEART

We’re halfway there as we reach the heart. The fourth energy center is located in the center of the chest and the mid-back. Called Anahata in Sanskrit it translates as ‘un-beaten’ or ‘unhurt.’ I find this translation very interesting since we all clearly know the sensation of our heart feeling hurt and broken. However the yogis relate this energy center to the sound created without striking. A celestial sound. I like to think of it as the sound created as the 3 lower chakra meet with the 3 upper chakra. The more physical with the more spiritual. And they do so in the heart.

Anahata is where we keep our love, compassion, trust and acceptance. Yup, it’s a doozy. Therefore if you experience feelings of shyness and loneliness, an inability to forgive or a lack of empathy there may be some blockage in the chakra.

Place your hands in the center of your chest. Close your eyes and take 4 full and easy breaths.

What do you feel? What do you see?

If this center feels open and abundant, great. However if you lack compassion, have issues of jealousy or co-dependence you may want to take a moment to shake things up.

So, what are some ways you can do that?

1. Go out in NATURE. The heart chakra is associated with the color green. Rolling fields, blossoming trees, beautiful gardens.

2. Get a MASSAGE! As touch is the sense associated with anahata, indulge in a little body work. Or if you’re in a treating mood, give your partner a massage and enjoy the sense of touch.

3. Practice YOGA. When I teach a heart centered practice, I focus on opening the chest and movement of the arms. Ustrasana (camel pose) works wonders along with Gomukasana and Garudasana arms.

4. MEDITATE. Sit with the eyes closed in stillness for at least 15 minutes. Use the mantra “I am loved,” “I deserve love,” or “I send compassion to those around me.”

5. Perform a random act of KINDNESS. It could be anything. Opening the door for a stranger, smiling at a neighbor, buying coffee for the person behind you in line. A little generosity goes a long way.

As each of the chakras is connected to a gland in the endocrine system, Anahata is associated with the thymus gland, located in the chest. This gland produces white blood cells, that combat disease, and bring equilibrium to the body.

So, what’s going on in your heart? How do you keep it open and accepting? What fears keep it blocked?

Would love to hear your thoughts in the COMMENT section below.

First Thursday Gratitude!

This year is gonna be a good one. I just feel it. There's an energy of potential. Of possibilities. Like the seeds that were planted years and month before have started to take root and will soon be pushing through the surface.

Kind of exciting, non?

Makes you appreciate people and things around you. At least that's how I feel.

Here's my GRATITUDE LIST for this week:
1. a wonderful visit from great friends, Angela & Chris
2. old friend, Julia for including me in her NYE plans
3. new friends, Armando and Vasia for including me in New Year's Day plans
4. yoga
5. a city full of great food - both in and out of homes

Please join in the sharing and ADD yours below in the COMMENT section.

Happy New Year!

-Hope

More gratitudes

Today is the last Thursday of 2012, and therefore also the last Gratitude blog list for the year. I am very excited for the year to come. As I am making my little mark in New York, I feel the possibilities abound. I do my best to feel that positivity over the cold and raininess, the homeless on the subway and one aging kitty. And so far it's working.

Theses are the things I'm grateful for this week.

1. the ability to teach yoga yesterday. In fact I taught two classes as the snow came down.
2. catering leftovers
3. warm boots. They're warm AND fuzzy. And they keep my tootsies dry
4. pending wedding couples. While I'd prefer they be confirmed wedding couples, I'll take the pending over none at all.
5. snuggling kitties

And you? What are you grateful for? Add it to the COMMENT section below.

Gratitudes, Gratitudes, Gratitudes!

Another week has come and gone. Even though Chanukah is over I still have my holiday spirit as we approach Christmas and New Year's. This year was full of challenges, but I find it easy to make my list this week. Please join me and share yours below.

Things I'm GRATEFUL for:
1. my day of leisure in Greenwich Village
2. a bird pooping on my head (apparently it's good luck!) and the coffee shop that let me use their bathroom immediately following the poop drop
3. two potential wedding clients
4. lots of work this month
5. yoga. One studio class yesterday and one today - in prep for teaching MY first studio class since moving back to NY.

Whatt'choo got?

A Little Gratitude for your Thursday

I find the more positive and pleasant I am to those around me, I receive that energy back tri-fold. It's amazing how that decreases the amount of time I bitch and moan, and just let negativity go. I still find myself venting, mind you, but it certainly doesn't stick the way it used to. It also makes me mind my gratitudes just a bit more.

And couldn't we all benefit a bit from that?

Here's what makes me grateful this week. Please join me and add yours in the COMMENT section below.

1. warm coats for cold days
2. shortbread cookies
3. the library
4. time to catch my breath
5. a potential new wedding client

The Chakras Explained – SOLAR

As we travel north in the body, we reach the third chakra. The solar plexus. If you want to go back and read about the first two before you proceed, you can find them in the list to the right.

THE SOLAR PLEXUS

The solar or belly chakra (called Manipura in Sanskrit) is located two inches above the belly button and is the center for our personal power. As we started with basic instinct with the root and added simple pleasures with the sacral, with the 3rd energy center we now bring in the understanding of the self and the ego. It’s not just about what we need, but we begin to take steps to manifest choices for our bodies and minds.

Take a moment and put your hand on your belly. The upper belly. Close your eyes and take 3 full and complete breaths.

What do you see?

Yeah, yeah, I know your eyes were closed, so what did you imagine? Manipura is associated with our sight as we continue to reach out in the world in which we live. There is also much intelligence in the 3^rd Chakra, and is the center of our “gut” reactions.

If feeling and seeing did not make this clear, Manipura is the center of our self-esteem, warrior energy, and the power of transformation; it also governs digestion and metabolism. A healthy, spirited third chakra supports us in overcoming our obstacles, so that we can take risks, assert our will, and assume responsibility for our life. If all is well, we should be able to engage in deep belly laughter and share warmth, ease, and the vitality we receive from our selfless service.

If you have a hard time creating personal boundaries, fear rejection, have a low self image, have difficulty making decisions and are easily tired throughout the day, there’s a good chance your manipura is blocked.

As this chakra is also linked to the pancreas, any issues you’re experiencing in your stomach, abdomen, upper GI tract, liver, gallbladder and kidney could be attributed to blockage in manipura.

Feeling a little sluggish in your 3^rd Chakra? Here’s a few ways to get your solar energy moving.

1. SIT in the SUN. It’s not called the solar chakra for nothin’. This center is also governed by the element fire, so a little warmth and a bit of Vitamin D go a long way.

2. Try some BREATH of FIRE. I really need to start making video blog posts, but until I do, I will recommend some good ones. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=V86Xao9bcRI

You may feel very silly, but it will bring heat and energy into your belly.

3. Practice YOGA. A little Warrior 1, 2 & 3 will certainly begin to open your solar plexus. When teaching a class on the 3^rd Chakra, I also tend to do Navasana (Boat), Cobra, Dhanurasana (Bow) and all belly twists.

4. Get YELLOW. As the 3^rd Chakra is associated with the color yellow, sometimes we need to find more ways to bring that color into our lives. Clothing, accessories, decorative items in your home or perhaps eat some yellow foods. Bananas, pineapple, corn, peppers, lemons, etc. In this instance, you want to be a ‘yellow belly!’

5. Participate in an active SPORT. Have fun, trust yourself and play to win!

6. LAUGH. Hang with fun friends, watch a funny movie, encourage a buddy to tell you a joke, or tell one yourself. It's makes a body good.

What’s going on in your Solar Chakra? Anything ring true? Please share your comments, questions and ideas below.

Thursday Gratitudes

I am in the process of writing the next installment of The Chakras Explained, but it's been yet another week, and I've only had time and energy to get the gratitude posts out. Here's what I have this week:

1. time to recoup from a cold
2. fresh ginger and Ester C
3. The West Wing and Homeland
4. comfortable shoes
5. possibilities

How about you? Please add your list in the COMMENT section below.

Go.