As human beings, we have all come to a point where we feel like a prisoner in our mind. To find freedom, it’s important to be aware which thoughts are dictating your life. It won't do you any good to start labeling your thoughts "good" or "bad." I use the words positive and negative to help me stay on track. Positive thinking energizes me, creates joy, and brings out the best in me.

Here are examples of positive thoughts:
"I am smart and I will get that job."
"I will have a good day today."
"I am a thoughtful person and a good friend."

 Unfortunately, most of us don't say these positive things to ourselves. We spend most of our time lost in negative thoughts. Negative thinking leaves me fearful, tired, angry, lonely and paranoid.

Here are some examples of negative thoughts:
"I'm going to be late again, I'm such an idiot."
"I look horrible and fat in this outfit."
"No one likes me and I'm going to end up alone."

Negative thoughts can be very strong, sticky and itchy. The chatter is earsplitting as though you’re at a heavy metal rock concert; no matter where you move, you still feel like you’re standing right next to the speaker.

Right now try this exercise: sit in a quiet space and set your timer for 1 minute.  For 60 seconds just notice what’s passing through your mind. Without analyzing or trying to ignore, just notice your thoughts. Was it easy to sit with your thoughts, look at them without scratching and obssesing? As we practice the art of silence and stillness, we learn how to wake up. Meditation does not require you fasting and sitting in a cave for 21 days straight, it simply requires your full attention and awareness. Now try sitting for 5 minutes. Take a few deep cleansing breaths in and out to begin. As you sit here allow your thoughts to pass by like clouds; acknowledging, noticing and coming back to the breath.  Meditation allows us to slow down and be conscious of what it is we are thinking. Awareness is the key that opens up our prison door and sets us free. That key has been inside of you all this time.

It is important to know that you have a choice to separate yourself from that thought. You are not your thoughts. When you feel that your negative thoughts are taking over you, use this mantra: “I am not my thoughts.” This mantra was powerful in my healing process, it makes space in my mind and brings me back to reality. It took time and practice to learn how to make peace with my mind. The inner struggle and victim mentality was something I had become used to. When stress came up in my life I would quickly get trapped in negative thought patterns. Even the feeling of letting go of my thoughts was something I had to bring awareness to. This is how meditation
works, sitting still, watching your thoughts and coming back to what is real. 

So next time you are feeling like a victim, pay attention and bring awareness to your thoughts. Remember that you can always change them. You always
have a choice.

To learn more about awareness come to an Intro. to Meditation class with Emily. Next class will run April 11, 2012 8:30-9:00pm. Email to reserve your spot!

How does a philosophy from thousands of years ago have anything to do with your life in 2012? I used to live life always looking outside to find the answers. Constantly I comforted myself with quick fixes. I was caught in a cycle of highs and lows as I reached towards: food, drinking, poor relationships and numbing out for hours in front of the TV or computer. My life started to shift once I started to practice Yoga; I realized the key to feeling better wasn’t about running away from myself, but rather sitting with myself.

I became aware that for a long time I had been cut off in major parts of my
body. This was apparent in my very first Yoga class when I could finally feel my own two feet and take a complete breath. As my journey with Yoga started to unfold, I learned about the “Chakras.” This is the foundation of the ancient science; these 7 main energy centers,  known as Chakras. As you can see in the picture below these energy centers start at the base of the spine and travel up to the crown of the head.

Our well being is not purely a physical issue. We are body, mind and spirit and none of these areas function entirely alone; each has an effect upon the other. Eating well and exercising daily is a great first step, but to really feel our best, we need to dig deeper. All life experiences have an affect upon us. As the saying goes, “The issues are in the tissues.”  It is these negative experiences which can manifest themselves physically over time as dis-ease. For example, I used to feel like a victim in the world, and often feel powerless to circumstances and other people’s desires. Overtime this lack of personal power manifested as a problem in my third chakra, located above the belly button, known as the “solar plexus.” Physically I dealt with years of frequent stomach pains, digestive issues and bloating. Working with the Chakras helped me to dispel negative feelings, free blocks and re-balance my body without the use of medication.

Why do we face challenges in so many aspects of our lives? Why do our personal power, relationships, ability to communicate, or finances go awry? The answer may be that the Chakra controlling this part of your life is dysfunctional–which means it’s your job to strengthen it. Break free from personal limitations, and start living on your own terms! Healing your Chakras isn't about fixing yourself; healing your Chakras is about freedom and becoming more of yourself.  

How can you start balancing your Chakras? The breathing, stretching and meditative exercises used in Yoga are frequently targeted at the 7 Chakras flowing through the body. Reiki is a healing touch that works on energy blocks within the body. On Saturday, February 25th from 12:30-2:00pm come bring your 7 Chakras into balance in a transformative workshop I am leading at USMMA in Bellingham, MA. This Chakra Yoga workshop will include Yoga, Reiki, aromatherapy, crystals and sound healing. Most importantly you will learn more about the Chakras, how they affect your life and tools to bring your system into alignment and health. Sign up now at WWW.USMMA.org!

As some of you know I been taking this year off from teaching in the classroom to explore my passion for yoga and healing. Even when a change is good, the journey from the familiar to the unknown is unsettling to say the least. Transitions were always very difficult for me, change triggered a lot of anxiety and fear. Because life transitions can feel uncomfortable, confusing and scary I often tried to move as fast as possible to get to a stable place. My
understanding about transitions didn't change until I was in a yoga class one
day and I started to feel my transitions inbetween my postures. Awareness of
feelings I had toward transitions allowed me to see the truth: The space
inbetween is just as meaningful and important as any other moment on our timeline. The time inbetween your poses, the transition from Warrior I to Warrior II is a powerful space. That space between the poses is what makes our practice. It brings in a whole new connection of our mind, body and spirit. 

While you're huffing and puffing, just trying to make it through high to low plank, crunching your low back to get into upward facing dog, it's hard to find this "space" I'm talking about. Space in Yoga requires your full attention and breath. When you are feeling pressured to keep up with everyone else it is hard to notice the transitions; you feel out of sync and out of control. Take one step at a time. Off your mat it's also understandable to feel like your life has become unmanageable. To regain a sense of power, find one small thing you can control right now. As you learn to modify and take it one breath at a time it becomes easier to experience the inbetween moments.

Resting in Child's Pose use to bring up a lot of mixed emotions; my body needed the rest, but I felt too fidgety to sit still. I was in a hurry to get to whatever pose was next.  Sometimes we don't notice the transition, the space inbetween, because in society we are always feeling pressured to get things done and be productive. The poses start to feel choppy, as though you have a checklist next your mat. We are always in a rush to get somewhere, to be something, we forget that we are already there. Don't be in a rush. When your life is disrupted, it takes time to adjust to the new reality. Expect to feel uncomfortable during a transition as you let go of old ways of doing things.

Shifting from Cresent Lunge to Airplaine, we tend to use momentum to throw ourselves into the next pose. Another reason why we rush through the process is fear that we might fail. When you are getting ready to fly into Airplane pose, you might lose your balance. You might fall. Expect to feel uncomfortable. A time of transition is confusing and disorienting. It is normal to feel insecure and anxious. These feelings are part of the process, and they will pass. What happens when you let go of that fear and feel it all? Feel your foot peel off the floor, feel your foot lift as your breath spreads to your body and finger tips. Looking at your feelings while you're in the inbetween makes you see that there is nothing to fear. I learned to accept the process, the highs and lows of flying, and it got easier to fly.

Staying connected to that space between the poses has given me more fluidity, lightness and finess in my practice. The time in the inbetween is no longer a stressful or fearful place. The time inbetween is a magical place; it is where we find our true self.

As the new year approaches we start to reflect on the past year or life thus far. We might consider how we want to change our life and, or what we want to improve. Most of us spend time after our holidays in limbo, waiting for the new year to arrive for a new beginning; a clean slate. Once January 1st arrives we finally feel ready to tackle on our resolutions to eat better, get to yoga more regularly, kick a habit, etc. So what happens to our resolutions in February, March or even a week after New Year's day? We burn out. The excitment of a fresh start begins to fade away. Problems arise as they always do and we slip back into our old patterns.

How does our yoga practice help us reach our resolutions? We begin to understand that the world isn't black or white. We let go of the idea of perfection and find what works. We begin to witness that our practice, much like life is different from one day to the next. Some days we feel light as a feather, the next we feel heavy as a hippo. The key is to accept what is, rather than fight what is. If we can just learn trust the process before giving up. It is important to bring mindfulness to our decisions and know why we are choosing what we are choosing  on and off the mat. Are we skipping our yoga practice because we need to restore in other healthy ways or are we getting caught up in negative stories that deplete our energy?

This year perhaps we can commit to our goals, knowing that there will be highs and lows. By trusting, understanding and believing in ourselves along the path we can achieve anything.