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Loving Kindness Face Lift

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Many thanks to Dan Leven for sharing this Loving Kindness Face Lift.  He was inspired by Sharon Salzberg’s book, Real Love.

As he puts it, “It begins with “may my face be happy, may my face be peaceful.”  And then you continue moving through each body part wishing them well in this way… “may my neck be happy, may my neck be peaceful … may my shoulders be happy, may my shoulders be peaceful,” and so on.   You open your heart’s kindness to your whole body (including to your own heart).”

It’s a great way to start and end the day.  I love it.  I really go to town with spreading happiness and peace throughout my entire body.  I enjoy coming up with new places to shower with loving kindness with each practice such as for my brain, blood, eyes and ears – even my hair.  Before long, it’s going out to family, friends, pets, strangers and to all kinds of situations.  This meditation is especially handy when my attention is restless since it lets me jump all around.  It can be any length too – long or short.  It sure feels uplifting.

Dan goes on to explain the science underpinning it.  He says, “the vagus nerve is a core part of our parasympathetic nervous system that has two branches.  One branch is associated with surviving in a perceived life or death situation where our whole body slows down, feigning death (a primitive survival mechanism).  The other branch is about helping us relax and soften into the loving support of others and is associated with the release of oxytocin (the cuddle or bonding molecule).  Both branches are about our relationship to “others”: dangerous “others” or safe and loving “others.”

Here’s the kicker he reports, “the vagus nerve has many fibers that connect to our facial muscles where we reveal our emotions through a plenitude of expressions.  Scientists have logged 21 different emotional expressions that register within the face and there are 8 universal emotional facial expressions that you don’t need a translator to interpret.  So our face can register the vagal response from shock and terror, like a deer in the headlights of a moving car (survival vagus nerve), to happiness and peace, like a contented Buddha face (loving vagus nerve)!  However, we can also create the response as we bring happiness and peace to our faces!”

So the KEY point, according to Dan, “is that as you invite or train your facial muscles to discover happiness and peace you are strengthening the relaxation response that’s linked to feeling supportive or loving connection with others -to feeling safe in the world.”

Come on – Give it a shot!

PS.  May you be happy and peaceful!

How to Make a Yogatini

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How to make a Yogatini ~ Inspired by Tracey Rich
Ingredients:
  • Yoga mat
  • Fresh air
  • Music
  • You
Mix: 
Benefits:
  • Calorie Free
  • Gluten Free
  • Feelings of freedom, happiness, and joy!

Earthing ♥ Grounding is Amazing

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Guess what?  Just like we need air to breathe and vitamin D from the sun, we really need to be in physical touch with our Earth to be healthy and happy.  The term is earthing or grounding.

So, kick you shoes off and go barefoot.  Not only does it feel great, doing so releases muscular tension and calms your nerves by regulating your nervous system.  It’s fantastic for your heart too.  That means it will lift your spirits and help your heartbeat and blood pressure.  We truly need our Earth more than you realize.  Here’s why…

We are bombarded by EMFs (electrical magnetic fields) and RFs (radio frequencies) from WIFI and our devices with no way to discharge this overload of energy.  This can cause harmful results.  To reverse this for better health, it’s important we spend time earthing, also called grounding.

“The Earth’s surface contains a limitless number of free electrons that are continually replenished through solar radiation and lightning strikes; your body naturally absorbs these particles when you make physical contact with the ground” reports Dr Sinatra, MD.

He says, “In the body, these electrons have an anti-inflammatory effect because they reduce the free-radical activity that causes inflammation and chronic pain. (If you remember your high school science, electrons are negatively charged. Inflammation-causing free radicals are positively charged, which means the additional free electrons neutralize the free radicals.) The energy of the free electrons gained through grounding also helps keep your body’s innate electrical circuitry properly balanced. All of these effects of grounding are extremely beneficial to heart health.”

This disconnection is a result of our modern lifestyle.  A big reason is that wearing rubber and plastic soled shoes blocks us from the Earth’s surface and is strongly associated with an increase of inflammation, oxidative stress, and nervous system malfunctions.  No wonder there’s been high increases in insomnia, heart disease, diabetes and other problems related to inflammation.

A simple solution is to stand outside on the ground barefoot … actually touching our skin to the ground. More options include standing on cement (not blacktop/asphalt).  Brick, stone, or using a specialized pad, or a sheet made especially for grounding work as well.

Dr Sinatra said not to keep smartphones in one’s front pants pocket because doing so for only 20 minutes lowers testosterone by 400% in males.  Avoid holding smartphones directly against your ear too.  Keep it an inch or so away or use speakerphone.  Lower your risk by not using it while it’s plugged in as well.  Write your text then set it on a desk before pressing send.  Small changes make big differences.

Isn’t it remarkable that our Earth protects us from harm and gives us better health.  Let’s not forget that’s really where we get our food and water too.  What a connection, eh?  So, kick your shoes off and find out for yourself!  It’s beautiful out there – there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Here’s 3 resources for you.
1.  An explanation of the “Earthing Benefits for Heart Health” here by Dr. Stephen Sinatra, MD, a cardiologist for 40+ years.
​​​​​​​

2.  A  15 minute explanation of grounding/earthing called Down to Earth 

DOWN TO EARTH from Big Picture Ranch on Vimeo.

 

3.  A 7-minute video reviewing the benefits of Earthing/grounding according to medical studies by Dr. Laura Koniver, MD.  She explains how long is needed to get results.

 

 

Give Yourself Some Space

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Out for a walk the other night, I was stunned to see how groups of people were all looking at their phones instead of talking with each other, let alone noticing the brilliant sunset.  Even the bikers were glued to their devices while riding their bikes.  I was surprised that people weren’t crashing into one another. More folks were glued to their screens at the restaurant too.  We all know that too many people text while driving – another recipe for disaster.

Living in a fast-paced 24/7 world, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.  We’re pushed to work harder, take care of our family, and keep up with current events along with a constant social media stream. clockExpectations are high all the way around.

Pico Iyer, a lifelong travel writer says ““In an age of acceleration, nothing can be more exhilarating than going slow. And in an age of distraction, nothing is so luxurious as paying attention. And in an age of constant movement, nothing is so urgent as sitting still.”

His Ted Talk video is well worth watching.  It will inspire you with ways to take back your time in ways that will replenish your body, mind and soul.  Here are a few quotes and tips to whet your imagination.

“One of the first things you learn when you travel is that nowhere is magical unless you can bring the right eyes to it.”  He says that best way to develop more appreciative eyes is by sitting still.  A trip is limited in duration, but the memories will last a lifetime by sitting still long enough to remember.

By going nowhere, he recommends taking a few minutes out of every day – or a few days  out of every season – to sit still long enough to find out what moves you most, to recall where your truest happiness lies, and to remember that sometimes making a living and making a life point in opposite directions.

“It’s not our experience that makes our lives, it’s what we do with it.”

“We can easily make contact with people on the further corners of the planet, but sometimes in that process we lose contact with ourselves.”

Why not take a few moments out right now?  Here’s how …

  1.  Turn your phone, TV, radio and other electronic devices off for a while.
  2.  Focus your attention on the moment by breathing fully and mindfully.  It is calming and refreshing for your nerves and it will light up your energy.  Try out yoga’s ocean-sounding breath (ujjaya breath).
  3. Blink your eyes a bunch of times till they water.  The moisture will help your vision.
  4. Yawn.  It cools the brain, gives you a burst of oxygen, and refreshes your eyesight and hearing.  If you’re lucky, you’ll catch some flies.
  5. Take a “2-hour nap in less than 1o minutes.“
  6. Give “The Inner Eye of Awareness Meditation” a shot.
  7. Add your own ___________________________.
  8. Bone up on mindfulness.  It’s easy with this “Stop ~~ Look ~~ Listen”  meditation.

4 Ways to Stop Freaking Out

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I don’t know about you, but nearly everyone I know is freaking out.  Watching the daily news is enough to shake anyone up.  Plus, nearly all of us have everyday pressures at work and home that never seem to let up.

Here’s 4 ways to stop freaking out and refresh yourself  …

Refresh your mind

a. Take a news fast. Turn off the tube and shut down the smartphone for a while. You’ll be amazed by it.Asheville creek meditation

b. Practice mindfulness. Why jump into a future of doom and gloom.  Instead anchor yourself in this moment and enjoy the outdoors, cuddle your pet, have a good laugh.

c. Listen to Guided Mindfulness Meditations: Practicing Presence & Finding Peace. The net effect is calmer nerves, a brighter outlook, stronger memory, sharper focus, and a more balanced perspective. Or get Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation and Stress Relief as a book and audio set (New Harbinger, 2015)

Take charge  – Chaos or calmness is up to you

a. Quickly reset your nervous system and brighten yourself up with breathing better.  It makes a world of difference

b. Completely relax yourself physically, mentally, emotionally and more.  Experience bliss with yoga nidra.  See a list of yoga nidra benefits here.

Practice self-care

a. Get some sleep – Oh, can’t sleep?  Practice yoga nidra. (1 hour = 4 hours sleep).  Listen to Yoga Nidra: Guided Meditations for Relaxation and Renewal  It will help you get to sleep too.

b. Eat and drink with good nutrition in mind (mindfully of course).  Avoid excessive food, alcohol, caffeine, and sugar.

c. Treat yourself to beauty – outside in nature, museums, get a treatment at the spa

d. Do something you enjoy – exercise, color, sports, see a movie, call a friend, hobbies, etc.

Ask for Help

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Talk with a trusted relative, friend or spiritual adviser. If you want professional help, obtain a referral for services from your local Mental Health Association or the National Mental Health Association.

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