For many survivors of childhood trauma, we spend our lives believing that we're burdens and burdensome. Likely, our parents raised us living in Survival Mode themselves, unaware that we couldn't help but noticing how much easier their lives would've been, if we simply didn't exist. True, we didn't ask to be born. Likely, we wish our parents would've waited until they had had the financial stability and emotional maturity to give us AND THEM better lives.
But we didn't get that choice, barring what you believe about soul contracts and what have you. Nonetheless, we take the message from childhood that life would be easier for those around us if we simply didn't exist. And we keep that message into our adult lives. It might be low key or insidious.... just a nagging sub-thought in the back of our minds that we're too ashamed to voice, but it's there.
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By Danielle Schwartz With the descent of winter, Ayurveda, the ancient Indian holistic healing system, prescribes a cache of wisdom to synchronize our internal landscape with the external environment. As the chill sets in, here’s a compilation of the top six Ayurvedic tips to maintain a robust health in the colder months.
By Gail Allen Surviving the Holidays can be tough for anyone, but when you've come from a dysfunctional family it can mean something entirely different! Keep reading for our helpful tips on how to survive this holiday season.
By Danielle Schwartz The winter solstice, rooted deeply in pagan mythology, marks the point at which the Earth's axial tilt is farthest from the sun in the Northern Hemisphere. Occurring on or around December 21st, it heralds the longest night and shortest day of the year. Many ancient cultures perceived this astronomical event not just as a celestial phenomenon, but as a powerful spiritual juncture. The return of light following the solstice was often seen as a reason for celebration and hope, symbolizing rebirth and the rejuvenation of life. Stonehenge in England and Newgrange in Ireland stand as timeless testaments to the reverence ancient peoples held for this pivotal moment in the annual solar cycle.
By Danielle Schwartz Svadhyaya is an ancient Hindu concept, which refers to the practice of self-study or self-observation. The term ‘svadhyaya’ is made up of two words, ‘sva’ and ‘adhyaya,’ which mean ‘self’ and ‘study’ respectively. Therefore, svadhyaya, in its simplest form, can be understood as the process of learning about oneself.
In Hinduism, svadhyaya is considered as one of the five niyamas or self-disciplines prescribed to lead a fulfilling life. According to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which is a foundational text of classical yoga, svadhyaya is one of the key components of spiritual growth. The text, in the second book, defines svadhyaya as ‘the repetition of sacred words, accompanied by the search for their meaning.’ By Danielle Schwartz Many of us suffer from back pain. Whether it’s your low back, mid back, or up around your shoulders and neck, stretching - and practicing yoga - has many benefits including relieving back pain. With yoga, like any physical activity, it’s best to enter into the poses slowly and not to push yourself to your limit. If you feel like you’re at the peak of your stretch - then release the pose about 10%. This is a marathon, not a sprint!
Yoga, originating in ancient India, is a practice combining meditation and physical postures that have been used as a healing practice for thousands of years. It is a practice of self-realization, self-awareness and personal transformation that helps one to achieve inner peace, harmony and eventually enlightenment. One of the aims of yoga is to lead one to a more fulfilled spiritual and physical life. Yoga has four main paths of practice, each offering a unique approach to its practice: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Raja Yoga.
Props are my favorite! Most yoga poses can be accessible to most people with the assistance of props. Using props can not only guide you into a pose, but it can help you with your alignment in a pose. Check out below how to incorporate Blocks into your yoga practice.
Here are 8 ways to use Blocks in your Yoga Practice! The physical practice of yoga is a form of meditation, and its purpose is to unite the body, mind, and spirit. During the practice, the practitioner works to move into a deep and meaningful state of mindful awareness. By focusing the power of mindful attention, yoga encourages its practitioners to tap into an innate source of self-healing wisdom. Through the process of regular practice, practitioners learn to identify and regulate emotional states, foster resilience and cultivate balance in their relationships with themselves and others.
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