As we get older, often we lose the natural curvature of our spine. Gravity pulls us downward and often we end up out of alignment anteriorly and posteriorly as well. Our doctors often recommend exercise which is a great beginning. Massage, Craniosacral Therapy, and other forms of Bodywork can be very helpful too. But there is something you can do to feel young that is easy to do right at home in just about 5-10 minutes a day that will help you quite a bit.
How about spending a little time with the Cobra Pose to self-correct your posture and open up your energy flow!
Begin Cobra by lying down on your stomach with the legs extended. Place your hands fairly close to your body parallel and slowly lift your body off the ground. Continue to lift higher, but only in comfort with a light stretch.Hold the stretch as long as you feel release for up to 30 seconds. If anything feels like it is too much, move back to the ground and relax and try again when you feel rested.
Stretching
Many of my clients come in with painful necks and lower backs.Those two areas especially seem to shorten in many people and end up being the weakest link in posture. Part of that can due to a shortened psoas muscle but usually include anterior fascia being too short from the feet to the top of the head.
If you take the time to do the Cobra Pose routinely, you will begin to see great change in how you stand and feel each day. This is accomplished by lengthening the front of your body with the stretch and relaxing all the above back muscles. This pose is counter to many of the activities we do each day which jet us forward. The Cobra Pose allows us to move into a backward curved space which restores better balance.
In Yoga, often the class leads us into pushing the stretch. I’d like to invite people who are in discomfort not to go all the way, but to simply go into the stretch gently, listen to your body to what feels good and stay there. I have found that when the body is not overtaxed, the defense mechanisms relax and more tissue will relax and spread throughout the whole body.
As with all physical activity, it is helpful to check with your physician what is good for you to do, especially while dealing with spinal issues.
As we age, we don’t have to limit our movements. We have a choice to move freely but we need to take advantage of our Cobra range of motion. Want to feel young? Then live young!
How about entering the world of horses with a totally new outlook?
New Beginnings in the Presence of Horses
I am not sure how this whole new divergent thread in my life began, but something inside me said, “wouldn’t it be lovely to find a beautiful farm for my husband and I to retire.” I had a vague notion of reconnecting with horses, but was a bit reluctant to fully tell my husband because of the great responsibility of taking care of these noble friends. But as life has a will of it own, my longing and life in its own wild ways has opened up a whole new doorway for me to discover how to be more human as well as be in reverent service to life. With gratitude to the presence of our horse friends, the old constructs of life are falling away, and my eyes experience Spirit freshlythrough the Nature of Horse.
Many of us have at some point or another experienced other animals as being inferior to us. As with the way of things, Human Beings during the last few centuries have learned to dominate and shape the earth for the most part according to what supports our lifestyles and decisions. At this point in the spectrum of time however, many educators, therapists, and coaches are delving into the expanding field of “animal” communication. It is very exciting at this point of our evolution to re-examine how we can live more closely in mutuality with other creatures for not only their growth, but for ours as well. It is by re-inserting ourselves back into the web of inter-connection that we can have hope to improve our futures and that of the planet earth. When we find deeper contact with ourselves, our relationships begin to shift as well.
While I have experienced great joy working with dolphins, lions, tigers, and bears with my work, the spark of my heart is now to bring the great teaching that come from living with the horse to people who are interested in a whole new way of “Self-Discovery”. I have created a template of belief and movement on the farm to view horses as our “equal partners” on this planet we call our home. Our retreat here is being planned to open this summer to introduce daily and weekend workshops opening the pathway for learning through “Communicating with the horses.” Entering the Equine world with a certain naiveté will change the life of those who have little experience to those who have been riding all their lives. The more empty the mind of preconceptions, the more possibilities can enter. Yet, even if you are the sort that longs to confront and challenge thought, the horses guidance always finds a way to melt your heart and bring a greater depth of understanding to your life.
Learning about power, intimacy, confidence and independence by playing with horses.
Here on the farm, life shows us a simpler way to live within the balance of life. The horses, when given freedom to experience themselves, offer us new perspectives of life on how to resolve conflicts, to play without inhibition, and to find our own inner authority and leadership skills. In the lack of words, a look… a movement will express exactly what we need to know in the moment.
If you are feeling drawn to a more “nature” based method of self-discovery…consider befriending the world of horses with us here in Johnstown, Ohio. We will be offering 1:1 facilitation and also group and herd experiences. Our retreats will be offered with walking meditation, interface with the horses, touch experiences, and also through developing intuitive understanding of energy dynamics. If you are interested, as part of the equine therapy process, we will offer touch and bodywork upon request and with certain curriculums. This is an evolutionary concept where seeds have been planted, and the fruits of the creative process have taken root. The horses are the teachers and we are the eager students receiving the learning. We are excited to take the journey with you into the world of Horses!
Hakomi is a holistic approach to massage and bodywork:
Typically, a person comes into a Massage Establishment looking for a nice soothing and relaxing massage.The muscles are tight… they feel tense and are looking for some type of relief.
A Swedish massage may feel great and may be exactly what you need to relief your daily stresses, but when you find yourself feeling tight again in a day or two, why not decide to try a different method of bodywork: A Deeper and longer lasting Hakomi massage healing may be more helpful with its gentle intention of mindful touch and self-awareness.Hakomi methods may be helpful in helping you to find self-understanding and in letting go of past traumas.
Hakomi Massage
People who receive massage regularly realize that they feel much better after being touched and contacted on a physical level by a professional with caring and experienced hands.More than 34 million people have discussed massage therapy with their doctors according to the AMTA as a means to relief pain and feel healthier.Often Massage and bodywork helps people feel more balanced, relaxed and closer to their health and wellness goals.A good professional partnership between therapist and client can do wonders.
However, consider that massage can also benefit you on much deeper level if you are willing to try some self-reflective techniques to the arisings of your consciousness. It’s interesting to realize that the mind body & spirit connection acts as a whole.Have you ever noticed when you lie on the table that all your thoughts of the day keep your mind active and and how your feelings are attached to the beliefs? Have you wondered about why your thoughts go outward rather than nourishing the “Self”? These different flows of energy are creatively looking for expressing and integration. When a connection through bodywork touch happens, cells begin to respond in a whole new way. Cellular memory sends this new information to the brain and not only is the body processing, but the whole way in which we relate internally and externally begins to shift into a more open way of living. Hidden memories and beliefs may begin to surface. With Hakomi, this is done in a safe and confidential environment. Our intention is to help the client to build a strong foundation and then to observe and feel as all these things move through “the self” in a soft and meaningful session. Hakomi brings the client into a more unitive state of being with its mirroring and compassionate support.
As a Massage Therapist for 15 years, Sharon has mindfully worked with clients to help restore alignment, balance and structural integrity back to her clients. With respect, she meets her clients where they are and with whatever goals they agree upon. If you are looking for a basic massage, that is welcomed. However, if trauma has existed in your life and has not been released. It may be in your interest during your healing journey to receive mindful sensory input to help you move along on your path to wholeness.
*Hakomi in this setting is not replacing psychotherapy, but it is helpful in conjunction with talk therapy and will support you in your healing in any case.
If you have any questions please contact Sharon Hartnett LMT:
Hakomi Therapy is a a system of body centered therapy developed by Ron Kurtz in the 1970s an which has evolved through the years through the work of the Hakomi Institute. It uses mindfulness, unity, and organicity to explore awareness and the core material that organizes our belief systems. Hakomi can be very helpful for massage and bodywork clients who have experienced past traumas and have not been able to process through the sensations and feelings with typical therapy alone.
If you are not happy, what is stopping you? Do you think it is due to your job, a lack of something, an argument, or finding yourself in a place where you don’t want to be?
Trying to find happiness can become a difficult task. If you are chasing it, it will always elude you because you are ignoring what is right in front of you in exchange for a belief you hold closely.
Happiness is slippery and it can slide right through your fingers if you try too hard.
In my view, happiness is a taste of authentic joy. It is a dessert that reminds us of the sweetness of eternal joy that is possible.
So what does one do if he or she finds himself unhappy?
On some level of awareness, I believe we all want to live an authentic life where we can be transparent, full of life and in healthy relationship. Yet often our beliefs and the energy of the fears that live attached to those thoughts lead us to creating strategies from giving ourselves a real experience of life. If you want to reconnect into genuine joy and love, investigating the thoughts that block you from your deepest seat of joy. I am not suggested running after the negative, but rather softly exploring the places that feel stuck or non-supportive in your life. Opening the mind to exploration can give you a whole new perspective on life. It allows all that frozen energy to move and transform, releasing more energy to live a meaningful life.
Exploring your thoughts can be done either alone in meditation, walking outside connecting to nature, seeing a psychotherapist or a bodyworker who works with freeing any struggles in the mind body spirit connection. But one thing is for sure- if something doesn’t feel right or you aren’t feeling happy, the truth will set you free. The silence of listening and unfolding will awaken your life to the real joy which is you.
Do you try to avoid it? In order to release pain from the physical body, one has to become mindful of his/her internal environment. Because pain is a signal to help us understand that something is distorted, we must learn to listen to resolve deep underlying issues. Our bodies and the world we live in are constructed out of the creative energy pulse of the Universe. We are Energy Beings. When we allow things to flow, we are in health. When we resist, fight against harshly, we block ourselves from the Source of Life. Healing may help the body to recover from serious illnesses, and miracles do happen. But more importantly, the soul will come to peace much easier when we bring awareness to our sensations, feelings, hearts and minds. Sitting in the mystery of our humanity and living fully brings true peace and harmony.
Living in Columbus, Ohio
Have you been suffering? Nobody can fix that, but with help…we at Lighten Up Therapies in Columbus, Ohio, can support you on your journey to wellness and health. We facilitate your inner light to self-correct and enhance your body systems.
Sharon Hartnett LMT is a Professional Energy Healer. She studied 8 years at the Barbara Brennan School of Healing and went on to teach at the school. Sharon loves working with and teaching healing work through mindfulness of the human energy field. She has also had a private practice with Structural Integration, as a Certified Advanced Craniosacral Therapist through the Upledger Institute. Call Sharon at 740 966-5153 for an in person appointment or for a long distance healing session.
Healing is actually evolving into your True Potential. More can be found in Self-Discovery than look outward for your answers. Yet relationships in the most positive sense will help you to embrace your experiences with more vitality and meaning. We are all part of the Source in its Creative Wave.
