Does Pain Help Our Cells Communicate?

In the mind body connection, pain helps our cells communicate with our brain.

Has your body ever hurt and ached for what seems like no reason at all? Have you gotten up in the morning and exclaimed "my body hurts, I must have slept wrong"? Have you ever considered your job to be a pain in the neck while you are suffering through neck stiffness? While I could go on and on with examples, this hopefully helps you begin to (read more)

Taking Away Their Pain

Written by Don Shetterly

Many of us who are extremely sensitive truly struggle when we see others hurting.  We want to take their pain away, but more often than not, we don't have the power to do this.  I wish I could heal and take away the pain of so many, but that's just not how life happens.


While I realize we can be there with others in their pain, there is a big difference between that and taking away their pain.  Pain is there for a reason.  I wish I understood why it is for everyone, and why it is in my own life.  I'm not that smart and I doubt very few people can truly say with one hundred percent certainty.

I see many things come through my mail promising to alleviate pain.  After all, who wants pain in their lives?  Unfortunately, most of these things are a band-aid applied to a gushing wound.  Now before you say, oh but it did take away my pain, let me explain the misconception here.

If pain and suffering are in our lives for a reason, then if someone takes it away we lose the full impact of why it was there.  If we look to others to take away our pain, we give our own personal power up to them.  If we look to outside forces to fix us and heal us, then we've neglected what our own mind and body are capable of doing.

Keep in mind that these so-called pain relief treatments, models, and remedies do not often heal the pain.  They only mask it for a short time.  I say this because if they truly healed the pain or situation in your life, then one treatment would be all you would ever need.

If someone helps you...

Instead, if someone helps you find your way from pain, then you've got the possibility of being empowered with your own mind and body to take that healing further than you ever thought was possible.  If someone helps you find the way to healing your pain, you now learn new tools that will assist you in the future.  It isn't just a one time fix.  It is like teaching someone to fish, rather than only giving them the fish.

I personally believe that pain and suffering are there in our lives to help bring us further into our own awareness of who we are.  The more we go through moments of suffering, the more we wake up and discover all that we are.  Does that make suffering easier to swallow?  Not in my view.  I still struggle with this concept even though I've come to see how true it is in my own life.

It is in understanding what that pain means to our lives and to the world, that we discover so much more about life and consciousness and all that is possible.  Without the pain, we would miss some of those things.  Without learning how to heal the pain, we would miss the lesson.

I am often reminded of the song that Garth Brooks sings, "The Dance".  The line that really stands out to me in this song is, "I could have missed the pain, but I'd have had to miss the dance."

If our focus in helping others is just to take away their pain, then we're doing them a disservice.  Sure, we don't want to see them suffer, but we need to help them learn whatever it is that they need to learn.  We need to walk beside them and hold them and be there for them while they make the discovery.  We need to walk through the fire with them, not merely dump water on the embers.

Our greatest gift we can give someone else in helping take away their pain is that we enable them to connect not only with their mind, but with their body. That connection is where the healing forces are found.  When we lift someone up to that moment and we're there walking through the fire with them, the hope and possibility they will have for their life will be multiplied many times.

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
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Manifesting – the Aladdin’s Lamp of our Earth Existence

(by A Happy Medium, Amanda)

We all remember the story of Aladdin, the poor boy who finds a lamp with a genie inside, ready and waiting to grant his every wish. I’m sure a lot of us have even lamented about not having our own genie. What would you pay for a force that would grant your every whim and wish?

What if I told you that you already have it?

You do. It’s the Universe.

“Wait a second, Amanda,” you might be saying, “if I had access to a genie that granted my every wish, I wouldn’t be living this life. Get off the crazy train.”

The Universe is a field of infinite possibilities, and you have the power to manifest anything you would like by your own intention and attention.

I offer you two lessons that are easy to remember:

1. Where your attention goes, energy flows; and,
2. What you resist persists.

Have you ever noticed that when someone buys a new car, or you decide that you want a certain make of car, you start to see them absolutely everywhere? That’s a great example of manifestation.  I still remember when my Aunt bought a new Jeep. I hadn’t seen it, I’d only heard about it and all of a sudden I was seeing Jeeps everywhere!

I read a really interesting book on manifestation by Pam Grout called E2 in it, she lays out a number of experiments for playing with this field of infinite possibilities and your own ability to manifest the things you want in your life.

You can test this theory in a lot of ways. You can decide today you are going to see green cars. Make the intention in your mind when you wake up tomorrow and see how many green cars manifest.  For me,  I find the most effective manifestation comes when I either journal or I talk to the Universe when I am driving.

When you are driving, your literal mind is busy driving and your creative mind is open to send and receive information between you and the Universe. January has been a really quiet month for readings. I think that this is because people are paying their Christmas bills and maybe don’t have the money right now for readings. Anyway, I was having this conversation with the Universe last week asking where my clients are. I literally said, “Okay Universe. I want to be doing more readings, more writing and more speaking. BUT HOW?!!?”

That afternoon I received an email about two psychic fairs, and the following day, my mentor referred me to another medium that is hosting a third psychic fair. I had five emails in my inbox from five new  potential clients as well. I actually thought to myself, “wow! The universe sure works fast when your intentions are clear.” I had another event like this this week, where I asked the Universe for exactly what I wanted and it put what I wanted directly in my path.

According to the Law of Attraction, when you put yourself in the vibration of having what you want, your desires cannot resist you.  Focus on the things you want as if you have them. A good tip for doing this is with journaling. You can journal about that awesome new job you have in the field of your choice. What does your office look like? Does it have windows? What’s hanging on the wall? What type of company is it? Be as specific and detailed as possible. As you write, you are going to find yourself feeling great!

BAM! You are in the vibration of having what you desire. Keep yourself here.

Remember – where your attention goes, energy flows.

The opposite is also true. You could say to me, “Amanda, I am always thinking about my desires. They are not getting any closer to me.” Here’s where the tricky part comes in. It’s important when working on manifesting your desires that you are focusing on having the thing you want, not focusing on the lack of it. When we focus on lack (not having something, being stuck etc) we become more stuck and attract more lack.

A major worry for a lot of people is finances. There may be more month than money and maybe instead of focusing on how abundant your life is and how you always manage to pay your bills and take care of business, you focus on the end of the month and the dilemma you are going to face when you don’t have enough money. You’re going to attract more money troubles in this vibration. Sometimes, you can be in the right place vibrationally, but your beliefs need to change. You may think that you are not worthy or deserving of that great job or that abundant flow of money.  Even when you are doing things absolutely right with manifesting, if your vibration and your beliefs are stuck in patterns that aren’t in alignment with abundance, you will end up with more of the same.

Let’s say you’re working a job you hate. Every day, you lament about how much your job doesn’t serve you, and how you think you should be doing something better, but nothing good is coming along. You’re convinced that you are doing everything right, but wait a minute… you are in a position of resistance and lack. When we resist, we block the flow of life so things are unable to come to us and inspire change.

Remember – what you resist persists.

Once you accept your situation for what it is now (maybe the job isn’t great, but it’s an income and it isn’t permanent. There’s hope for change), you’ll find that the right opportunity just falls right into your lap!

Try this principle out with something small, like seeing green cars today and check out how quickly it works!

The world really is your oyster. Once your attention and intention are in alignment, your desires won’t be able to resist you. Step into the flow of infinite possibility!


-    Amanda

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Amanda is a regular columnist on Mind Body Thoughts.  She writes A Happy Medium monthly column.  This article is written by Amanda.

To learn more about her and see all her other articles, go to Amanda's Page, A Happy Medium.

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Don Shetterly and Amanda

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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Bumps And Bruises

(by Natural Healing Gal, Marie)

Things that go bump…

My all time favorite Homeopathic remedy is Arnica Montana.

According to Dr. Luc, "Arnica is the king of the trauma remedies and king of the sports remedies. Arnica is good for the whole family for bumps, bruises, pulled muscles, and overuse of muscles…"

Well, he is so right! I tend to bruise quite easily, and I am not the most graceful person.  My cat, Otis (who passed away a few years ago) would walk across my lap and I would occasionally see bruises like his paw prints! I began taking Arnica 30C anytime I bumped into a chair, hit my head on the car roof, or fell in the grass when I was running. For minor bumps and bruises, one dose (see article Starting with Homeopathy on doses) is all that is needed. To my surprise, the bruises were minimized, and if I took the remedy right away, there was usually no bruise at all. The best part? No side effects.

I soon realized I could use Arnica for a heavy workout when my muscles were sore. It worked so well, and I felt better quickly!

I began to give it to my pets when they bumped into something or fell. One time my sheltie, Desi, was heading into the house and did not see the glass sliding door was closed. OUCH… I immediately gave him Arnica and he recovered from it very quickly. In that case I gave him an extra dose a few hours later.

Our pets cannot tell us how they feel, so we have to watch for signs carefully. Running in dog sports, they can get a mild injury that we may not notice for a while. I have a massage therapist that works on my dogs who would find mild injuries from time to time. When I began giving them Arnica 30C after a long day of competition, the sore muscles and misalignments usually found were minimized greatly.

Once when I was running at a competition indoors, I was knocked down and hurt my ribs. We were running on a dirt surface that was not very forgiving. When I stood up, the pain was pretty strong.  Since I have never broken a bone, I had no idea if it was broken…I just knew it hurt to breathe. Luckily, I had my kit with me as I try to take it with me on all my travels. I took Arnica 30C right away, but it still hurt a lot. I told a friend about my concern, and she said, there is one way to know. Lie down. You will know by the pain you feel. OH my…

I considered going to the doctor.  I could not lie down until I got home several hours later. When I did, I felt it POP and saw stars. Luckily it was momentary, and I was back to the pain I felt earlier that day. It felt like I had knocked a rib out of place, (and my chiropractor confirmed it at my next appointment).

Dr Luc has a protocol that he wrote about for a serious injury like that, and I followed it. Take Arnica 30C, then four hours later Arnica 200C, then another four hours Arnica 1M.  I actually made a mistake and followed it backwards, I used 1M first. It still worked like a charm! The pain was minimized the next day, and by the following weekend, I was back to running again, with very mild discomfort. I saw a light discoloration on my skin that could have been a bruise. A few days later it was gone.

I unfortunately had the opportunity over the last two years to try the protocol 3 more times. Sprained ankle, pulled leg muscle while running, and the last incident happened when I was visiting my grandchildren in Kentucky. I was playing soccer with my granddaughter and slipped on the grass and fell. I thought I was ok, but I bruised my big toe…and I had forgotten to take my travel kit with me! I tried to forget about it, but a few hours later my foot swelled up so I could barely get my shoe on, and I could only put pressure on my heel when I walked.

It was the night before Thanksgiving, and stores were closed the next day. Thankfully a local health food store was still open, and my incredibly helpful husband drove me in the freezing rain to find it. (He told me to write that!) They had Arnica 200C. I took it right away, and took a dose every 6 hours for the first two days. By the second day the swelling was gone, and on day 3 and 4 I took the remedy twice a day. I was walking normally again by the fourth day. By the following week I was able to dance in my Zumba class and run with my dogs.

I think I will remember to have Arnica with me next time!

-- Marie --

Further Reading:

Arnica:  Natural Relief During Pregnancy And Childbirth

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Marie is a regular columnist on Mind Body Thoughts.  She writes the Natural Healing Gal monthly column.  This article is written by Marie.

To learn more about her and see all her other articles, go to Marie's Page, Natural Healing Gal.

Check her page out to see the Medical Disclaimer

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Don Shetterly and Marie

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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The Trauma of Accepting Our Trauma

It can literally take five minutes of trauma to permanently affect a child’s life. It does not necessarily matter what the trauma is or if it happened only once or multiple times, the underlying damage can physically alter the development of certain areas of the brain thereby altering the development of personality. This is particularly true in cases of childhood sexual abuse.

During the trauma we simply do not have the capabilities to cope with the situation, so the natural instinct of the brain kicks in and the emotional center is quickly replaced by the instinctual (reptilian) portion of the brain. The mind does what it needs to survive the trauma at the time, which is basically to shut down and kick into survival mode, since our brains are entirely unable to process what has happened.

Fast forward an undetermined period of time and our brains are as developed as they are going to be and are now better equipped to cope with our childhood traumas and despite our desperate attempts to keep these memories repressed, they slowly start to exit their domain of safety and creep their way towards the front of our brains.

Those seemingly unexplainable actions and behaviors, the bad habits and negative coping skills and the diagnoses of whatever mental illness, all really do have an underlying reason. The emotional outbursts were not displays for show and the random and often harmful acts were not cries for attention. The lack of ability to fully bond and trust was in no way meant to be malicious. The darkness that you have carried in your heart and soul has cast a shadow that has dimmed your entire perspective of life.

Once the memory is at the forefront, we can either spend a tremendous amount of emotional energy trying to repress it again, or we can try to ignore it, but somehow it always seems to rear its ugly head. The process of accepting these memories as truths is not only the first and perhaps most difficult step in the healing process but is also multi-faceted.

To believe these atrocities happened to us brings about intense feelings of shame, confusion and anger. We question why this happened to us, or what we did to deserve it. We can’t accept that it isn’t our fault and self-blame torments us for years. Even our adult brain has trouble comprehending that these memories are actually real. We cannot understand how someone we knew or trusted or even loved could violate us in such a traumatic manner that it forever changed our views of the world, and of ourselves. It marred our ability to trust, set boundaries and have healthy relationships. The feelings of shame have weighed us down and burdened us throughout our lives and the emotional weight of the trauma that has held us captive for years finally breaks our back.

What alternative do we have aside from accepting these new truths that are not only completely overwhelming but seemingly impossible? We are almost forced by our minds to deal with our trauma whether we believe we are ready or not. We are guided directly through the middle of it as there seems to be no true detour.

Acceptance involves challenging the only values and beliefs we know, and puts into question our already fragile sense of self. It requires setting new emotional boundaries and learning to place the blame where it rightly belongs. It often means we will have to emotionally and sometimes physically remove ourselves from the lives of certain family or friends. It means taking a step back from life in order to get a different viewpoint.

Acceptance forces us to look deep inside at the shame we have been unnecessarily carrying around for a lifetime and realize it is actually not our burden to carry. It means opening up wounds that we have already formed scars over in order to heal properly. Accepting our abuse, however hard and trying it may be is the beginning to the end goal of healing.

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Don Shetterly and Jody

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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Mental Health Matters - Mind Body Connection

Today I get the wonderful opportunity to introduce a great friend of mine, Jody.  She is one of my new regular columnists on the Mind Body Thoughts Connections.

Her blog will be on the subject of "Mental Health Matters".

I met Jody online through Twitter.  I believe it was a connection through Matt, who also writes a column for my blog, "Survive, Thrive, Conquer".

Jody's insights and tweets and blog posts caught my attention because I could tell that she was sharing them from her heart.  Out of her own painful experiences in her life, she was reaching out and trying to help others who were searching for their own way to heal.

Jody's passion and insight are things I truly admire in her.  Everything I read from her feels so heartfelt and authentic.  Often I can see myself in much of what she writes.  She is very encouraging to others who are struggling and often reaches out to just let you know she is thinking about you.

Mental health is an issue that many struggle with in this world.  All too often there is a stigma against it as if someone is damaged goods or weak or just not valued.  People who struggle with mental health issues need help and support and to know that things can get better.  They don't need to be ostracized and looked down upon by people in our society.

I so look forward to what Jody will share with this blog, and her articles are always top notch!  Welcome aboard this team, Jody.  I am so happy to have you as a part of this endeavor, as we reach out and support those who need it.


For more information on Jody and the articles she writes, go to the page on this blog, Mental Health Matters.  Look for her articles around the first Monday of each month. 

Survive - Thrive - Conquer - Mind Body Connection

I have the distinct honor of introducing one of my friends who is excellent at writing and blogging and being supportive of everyone he meets.  From his own site, Surviving My Past, Matt is one of those people that I instantly connected with when our paths crossed.

He's pours his heart and soul not only into his own healing, but anyone else who is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.  I love how open he is about his own process and through that openness, he draws you into a world of surviving, thriving and conquering.  His process of learning and hope helps you learn while giving you hope.

Matt and I have shared each other's blog space a few times and I'm always thrilled to have him write for my blog.  I've been equally as happy to write for his.  I believe when we have done that, it has elevated both of our sites up to new heights.

Matt is just so darn real.  He's has the survivor cat that more than likely if you watch any of his stuff online, you'll see make an appearance.  Mia loves to steal the show.  He likes to rock the survivor journey (literally and figuratively).

So, I'm sure you will enjoy the insights that Matt shares and his desire to see us all not only survive childhood sexual abuse but thrive and conquer our lives!  You can go to his website and check out some of the awesome stuff he's got up there.  Blog posts, Videos and lots of information and connections.

Don't be surprised if Matt makes you chuckle a little bit during the day.  He's got a great sense of humor!

For more information on Matt and the articles he writes, go to the page on this blog, Survive - Thrive- Conquer. Look for his articles around the fourth Monday of each month. 

A Happy Medium - Mind Body Connection

Today I get the wonderful opportunity to introduce a longtime friend, Amanda as a Happy Medium.  She is one of my new regular columnists on the Mind Body Thoughts Connections.

I believe Amanda and I first met online back in the thriving days of Xanga.  We each wrote our own little blog and connected.  We soon learned we shared things in common.  Amanda became a good friend of mine from a different country and at the opposite end of the continent from me.

I love how Amanda writes from her heart with love and compassion for all.  She shares her journey and her struggles along with her triumphs in life.  She is very authentic and real and that's why I invited her to be a part of this new endeavor as a regular columnist on Mind Body Thoughts.  I think she will bring a unique perspective on the world of healing and growth.

For more information on Amanda and the articles she writes, go to the page on this blog, A Happy Medium.  Look for her articles around the third Monday of each month. 

Introducing Natural Healing Gal

Today starts a day where I'm making a wonderful new addition to my blog.  I'm starting up the "Mind Body Connections" page.  As of this point, there are three people identified to be a part of this, but with time, I hope to add others.  I'm just a one-man band and there's only so much I can do in a day.

Marie is someone I recently came to know, but we really clicked and end up challenging each other.  I welcome her insights and questions because they help me grow as an individual.  They challenge me sometimes to explain what it is that I think I've learned, seeing if my conclusions really are solid or if I understand them fully.

Around the second Monday of every month, you should see a new post by Marie on a topic related to natural healing.  Through difficulties in her own life, she had to find natural healing ways that helped her.  This is what she will be sharing with you and I welcome Marie to the Mind Body Connections.

She also loves her dogs and has a wonderful husband.  So, join me in welcoming Marie!  Her first blog post will be coming on January 9, 2017.

For More information on Marie and all the articles she writes, go to the page on this blog, Natural Healing Gal - Mind Body Connections.

Tension In The Body

Do you ever doubt just how powerful stress is in the body?  I know we all know that stress affects the body, but all too often we are mind numbed robots living on a busy schedule, eating ourselves to death, taking pain pills, or just ignoring what is going on.  We are masters at it in our world and its taught from a little baby on through our lives.

It happens so frequently and so unconsciously that we barely notice (if ever).  We go through our days smiling and acting as if everything is okay.  We convince the world that we have no pains, ills, or discontentment.  Even if we realize something is amiss in our body, we tend to employ many different ways of boiling water, rather than cooking something in the kitchen, so to speak. 

I've had those moments when I'm going 16 hours a day nonstop and in those moments, I rarely feel pain in my body.  It isn't until I stop that all of the sudden, I notice it.  My mind is preoccupied in running from the pain to do what I have to do, rather than stopping to embrace it.  While this may be necessary in the short term, if we continue this way over time, the buildup of the stress and pain leads to chronic pain and other health conditions.

Feel Your Body And Find Your Truth

All too often we want to believe and follow what others say.  Whether it is New Age thoughts or Religions or Politicians or the Media, we look to everyone for answers to our life's situation.  We fail to go in and look within ourselves.  When you feel your body, you will find your truth.

Yes, I know the buzz words flow these days and people talk about the mind body connection, but most really don't understand what that means. 

Until you have an experience that you can replicate and is part of your mind and body connection, you will only know what others tell you is the truth.  When you experience these things deep within your physical body while connecting them within the felt sense of your brain, it is then that you have discovered truth for your own life.

Good Meditation Music - Missing In Action

I wonder these days if true creativity connected to the mind and body has just disappeared.  I mean, it seems like the majority of music is missing depth when it comes to creativity.  Yes, I realize that everything is digitally synthesized these days and that is what everyone is accustomed to, but it really is lacking in depth.

Today I was searching for some good meditation music and I clicked on a link to a song, but my ears could not even stand two seconds of it.  It had some type of drum beat in it, a whooshing type of sound, some other instrument trying to play a melody and then someone singing.  The sounds clashed together kind of like clanking symbols.  Instead of being music you wanted to listen to, it was so irritating that screeching fingers on a chalkboard would have sounded better.

Unfortunately the example I just gave from my search of good mediation music is not an isolated example.  It happens constantly and in fact with the sensitive ears I have, it is almost impossible it seems to find music I can connect with and enjoy.  I know there is music out there, but it is so hard to find these days.  Also, I do realize that not everyone has the same taste in music that I do have or the same sensitivity.  I will say though, the body does know the difference even if your ears and your brain don't pick it up on a conscious level.

Listen To The Body

In the human species, we have lost our way.  We absolutely have no idea how to listen to the body.  There are books written on the subject and plenty of people rave about the mind body connection, but very few truly understand what listening to the body is all about.

In a recent experience, I saw someone go through a very painful moment of difficulty with their health.  Fortunately we have been acquainted to the work of Unified Therapy with Dr. Paul Canali.  Keep in mind that this work is just not a bunch of feel good concepts or treatments.  It is not something that uses new age mumble jumble to make it appear like it is useful.  It is a practice that has unfolded over time and is based upon science, experience, and is highly reproducible.  You can't say that for many of the things out there, although many attempt to make these claims.

As I saw responses far and wide from many different people who undoubtedly cared about what this person was going through, I noticed one thing.  No one was really focusing on the one thing that could help this person and that was they needed to listen to the body.  All the girations of diagnosing medical conditions based upon beliefs really does nothing to help a person.  In fact, very people really knew what was going on, but it didn't stop them from playing armchair physician.  I can't help but think that if everyone was as intelligent as they thought they were, this world would have very few problems.  My statement may sound harsh, but in many ways it is honest and true.  Again, I know people mean well, but what I read on the internet as responses, made my eyes bulge out, especially knowing what I have learned and come to know in life.

Mind Body Breath Connection

Breathe.  When things get stressful and frightening in life, don't forget to breathe.  When you think that all is lost and there is no hope, breathe.  Just stop and breathe.  Notice your breath, the rise and the fall.  Notice how deep or shallow it is.  Observe the rhythm of your breath. Embrace your breath and when you do, you will discover another dimension of the mind body connection. - Don Shetterly

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Blog Post And Images (c) 7/21/12 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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New Age Nonsense Of Yoga

New Age Nonsense
Of Yoga

Today I came across a religious forum talking about how good Yoga was, but of course they had reservations.  In the words of the person, you had to be careful of this new nonsense that was part of Yoga.  Although they stated that it helped them to relax, they were very frightened by this practice.

I'm scratching my head at the ignorance here in these statements.  Yes, you can have your beliefs, but please evaluate them to see if they are founded upon fact, or just rooted in fear.  I've been to Yoga classes in my life and never once have I had someone tell me I must believe a certain way or follow some religion or new age thought that Yoga is based upon.  In many churches, if you don't follow their beliefs lock, stock and barrel, you're viewed as deficient in your life.

What Would Our World Be Like

What Would Our
World Be Like

As we start 2012, it seems to be a normal time to reflect upon this past year and to begin looking ahead to the next year.  Although you never need to wait until the end of the year to do this, it seems to be an appropriate time. 

The question I pose to everyone as I share some of my own thoughts is "what would the world be like if" and then you can fill in the blank.  My aim is for deep perception into our role in our day and how we impact the world immediately around our existence.

So what would the world be like if we all chose to stop each day and find time to relax and travel deep within the mind body connection?  What are the possibilities that could exist and how would this affect our overall physical body, our health, the peacefulness and productiveness of the day in following our life's purpose?  Just stop for a moment and ponder what the potential outcomes could be and see how this impacts your own life.

Release And Then Relax

Glass Of Water
Release And Then Relax

Imagine a glass full of water sitting on a table.  If you try to add more water to it, it will over flow.  If you try to add the water all at once, most likely you will splash some of the original water leaving you with less water in the glass then before.  However, if you want to add additional water to the glass, you need to drink some first.

Now imagine your body as the glass and you are trying to relax.  Relaxation is the water and so if you're nervous system is revved up too much, (or the glass is too full), it will be difficult to add much relaxation to your body or to feel relaxed.  Yes, you might do some relaxing things or enjoy some body work that is relaxing but the capacity for you to take it all in, is limited.  In order for you to replace the tension or stress in the body with relaxation, you will need to remove some of it first.  Once you remove it or release the tension and stress from the body, you have the opportunity for greater relaxation and peace.

Unfortunately, too many body workers, healers, and massage therapists, focus on putting more relaxation into a body that has no capacity to take it in.  In fact, many people out there going for treatment are looking for the quick and easy fix to relaxation, rather than creating greater capacity within their body for this.  While limited results may occur, the person being treated only gets so much benefit from the treatment.  Many modalities and healers claim that they just allow whatever to happen that needs to happen.  There is much truth to this, but there is also a blind spot in the mirror.

Yoga Is An Invitation Into The Mind Body Connection

Creating Spaces For
New Yoga Students

I was reading "Creating Space For New Yoga Students" by Katie Lamie.  In this website article, the author states, "Yoga is an invitation" as she writes to those who are afraid they are not good enough to practice Yoga.  I found that to be very insightful, because Yoga is an invitation into the mind body connection. In fact, I got a chuckle out of her when I read that yoga is not a for-flexible-folks-only-club!

It is a practice I don't do enough of and often I fail because of some of the same things she talks about in her article.  Yet, I know just like she is saying that with a good Yoga teacher, there is a pure place of peace that you can reach.  This place of peace is because we have allowed our mind and body to connect.

Unfortunately, the only place I can currently experience Yoga is through the LA Fitness center that I belong to in my area.  While it is Yoga, they rush it through like it is an exercise class and they miss a major part of Yoga's benefit.  Of course, LA Fitness doesn't seem to care because like everything else in this club, the money appears to matter most. 

Mind And Body Are One

Mind And Body
Are One

If we go through our life treating our mind and body as if they are two separate entities, we will be placing limits upon our self.  For the mind is part of the body and the body is part of the mind.  The two are joined as one.

However, in our life we often treat them as two things.  We push our body beyond its limits and we fail to stop and sense all that is going on around us.  Additionally we often focus on our mind without taking time to honor our body.

In order to find balance and success in our life, we must listen to what our mind tells us, observe what is going on in our body and then act accordingly upon this information.  When we fail to do this, we throw our body system off balance and pay the consequences at some future point.

Brain, Mind And Behavior - Emotions And Health

Brain Mind and Behavior
Emotions And Health

There is an excellent video of a lecture given by Dr. Jason Satterfield at the University of California, San Francisco.  This lecture is a little over an hour long but is filled with very good information on the interaction of the brain and mind when it comes to our emotions and health.

I have outlined a few points from the video that I found very helpful to me.  However, I urge you to view the video for the full information.  These are just some highlights from the notes I took.  Please refer to the video for the full context of the following notes.

YouTube Video:  http://youtu.be/GogLW14WEb0

Amygdala
Brains homeland security system.  It is there to detect threats, help you face dangers and it can be functional or dysfunctional.