A Twelve Day Practice - Light Up Your Spirit

Light up your Spirit

New Years' Considerations, Gentle Poses for Renewal and Hopeful Guidance

Welcome New Year - Light Your Way into the New Year. "We have prepared 12 Days of joyful poses, simple meditations and community notices to bring about a healthy and heart-centered beginning for your New Year."

Day 1

'Breathe in (2 minutes), sit in Sukhasana and use this time for yourself to unite your body and mind.'
'Breathing out, open your body (1 minute) in Matsyasana and feel the vibrant floating feeling in your spine to feel refreshed.'
For local enjoyment of floating this holiday join in the Cayucos Polar Bear Dip at 12 noon. It is a large social interaction (some 2500 people) and truly cleanse yourself in the ocean. — with Nicøle Nøel inCayucos, California.

Day 2

Celebrate Day 2 of the #NewYear and we can commit to being great this year let’s also be grateful. Any shift in our lives will take focus and time. Good thing we have Wednesday (hump day) poses to keep us centered during the week. At our MELT Method Yoga practice today we created that warm-up of the body and with gentle rocking we moved with control to reconnect to our center. Allow today’s poses to connect with your core and use the momentum of to re-center ourselves. Not only will we be able to keep the course for the remaining of the week but through the winter months ahead. Speaking of winter months, visit the Elephant Seal habitat in No. SLO and Monterey Counties Hwy 1. There are new miles of trails to safely allow peaceful observation.

Here's Mary doing a standing twist to engage the center. Use your hands and feet to feel even weight and pressure this allows us to stay centered. Thank you for following and for practicing with us. ❤️

Day 3

"Determined to obtain the greatest possible benefit for all beings...I shall hold them dear at all times." H.H. Dalai Lama
There are many roads to take through our beautiful backcountry. Count on your wildlife friends to welcome you for a visit.

Day 4

Practicing living with harmony to light up your spirit brings an opportunity to refocusing on ourselves with new intention. Use YOUR yoga practice to take care of yourself so that we can be in harmony with others and the world around you. 

Get rest in your evening and celebrate the upcoming weekend filled with some fun, lively gatherings.

These poses are modified to connect your 2nd Chakra. Practice using props, chairs, bench or balance ball. You can do 10 breaths or allow "breath of fire".

Meditation: May I be peaceful, happy, and light in body and spirit. May I be safe and free from injury. May I be free from anger, afflictions, fear and anxiety.

Day 5

Light Up  Your Spirit through Change

The sensation of stillness in Corpse Pose allows you to stay aware so that you are conscious of the deeper state of oneness. In this way change is not so worrisome and you can become perfectly comfortable.

If feel this is the ultimate pose as it does bring an awareness of the path of letting go fully. A long-term illness ended with one of my students in this pose. Literally, she was able to achieve the state for her final moments. Her body and heart allowed love to change into a new form. New years is mixed with loss, change and hope. Let this pose help you through all your changes.

Day 6

Yoga brings an internal motion that is not always evident on the outside. The nature of movement is known to regenerate cells, decompress joints and improve cleansing throughout the day. As a rainy day continues, find some way to move.

Today we visited the Labyrinth at Allegretto Resort Hotel in Paso Robles and enjoyed the contemplation in the rain. Achieving the quieting of the mind while in movement brought us to a natural state of our surroundings - the peace, beauty and light rain.

Day 7

Observation is a life of practice moment to moment. Look for time in your practice to practice your Dharma and observe your spiritual discipline. In these poses we can feel components of authentic balance, enjoyment of the fruits of our efforts and liberation from Self. These are Four Aim in Life proposed by Yoga Philosophy.

Take pleasure in your local hikes or join us as we explore "Open Spaces, Open Minds" mindful path walks at local city parks.

Day 8

Tuesday afternoons are abundant in practice here at EarthTones. Mary teaches a restorative class at 4pm, and another wonderful class at 5:15pm. Please join! Nicole's 7pm Hatha class this evening is canceled, but her classes start back up next week!

Day 9

Freshen up your practice! These rainy days are a great time to refresh. Add some flowers, incense or a candle to your practice space. Clean your mat. Drinks lots of water (freshen it up with some lemon!). A great cleansing and refreshing pose is revolved triangle. We prefer to do it after stabilizing in a regular triangle pose. Make sure to rotate from the torso, thinking about your chest facing the wall behind you. Add an arm toward the sky after you've got the twist down (or place that top arm on the lower back as May is demonstrating in this picture). Exhale completely! When you inhale think of bringing in all new FRESH energy with the breath. Come in to EarthTones and ask Mary or Nicole for more information if you have any questions : )

Day 10

Yoga can be a meditative practice during asana (postures /poses). It can also prepare us to sit in mediation, and then relieve our body after sitting for long periods of time (in meditation or otherwise). Do you allow asana to prepare, relieve, or guide your meditation practice? Day 10 of our yoga exploration invites us to examine the relationship between yoga practice and meditation practice. If you'd like some meditation inspiration, be sure to visit with the Tibetan monks while they are constructing a Peace Mandala Central Coast Center for Spiritual LivingFebruary 7th-9, 2019. Their full schedule is Drepung Gomang Tour of Central Coast

Day 11

Transformation

The beginning of the year we sense the need for transformation. Anytime we choose to transform energy take a time of possible to reflect on what works and what has not worked. If there are un-serving mindsets or paths you can make a decision to commit unconditionally to your new practice. Some helpful keys are keeping transformation joyful. Laugh, release and delve into the humor of life. Also, taking risks of being with new people can bring the world together and make align you with others who care to make that commitment. 

Look over our Schedule and Description of Classes at Whole Balance @EarthTones. They include skilled and trained instruction and small groups for Yoga, Pilates and THE MELT METHOD. Everything has its time. Call us if you're ready to launch into a new practice. 

Day 12

New Year "Lighten Up Your Life" with Yoga. Our final post (thank you for following us). Today we close with the value of Generosity. Practicing a sense of purpose in our charity and acts of generosity enhanced by the awareness, focus and personal clarity we achieve in all our yoga practices.

Select your plan for giving, exchange or charity with openness to your own path of self understanding.

Local Charities will love your fresh approach. And to mention a few: Paso Cares, Hospice of SLO, RISE, The Lighthouse and Paws Cause.





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EarthTones Gifts, Gallery & Center for Healing

1319 Park Street

Paso Robles, CA 93446

805-238-4413

www.earthtonesgifts.com

@earthtonesgifts

Pass on the Pain

Rewiring The Brain

During the first week we looked into release from emotional patterns and allowed understanding of those emotions. With the Reiki treatments we added the purification to both cleanse and bring about more mental freedom. Let's keep that light switch on and move into the physical realm of the emotions.


Consider how breath by breath we can unwind injury and pain as well as the projection of that pain from self to the outer world. Keep your grounded-ness so that we can release from the body the thought patterns to help bring about total healing. That is 'emptiness from self'. With attention to the physical patterns we hope to reduce our reaction to past/present/future stressors.

Exercise: Process one of the common emotions you observed last week, or one of your common emotional triggers. Inhale, concentrate a moment on that sense and with eyes open turn your head gently to the left. Exhale, release any sense of struggle and with eyes open turn your head gently to the right. Continue until you are aware that the trigger has reduced or dissolved.

To finish, complete a steady and centered breath cycle for 2-5 minutes. Allow the awareness of Reiki to light up your body during this time. Imagine the mind of each cell filled with a renewed life force.

Just for today, I will not worry. Just for today, I will not be angry. Just for today, I will be grateful. Just for today, I will do my work honestly. Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing.

Put Yourself First

Honor Your Emotional Balance

Being Centered

Yes. It is in giving that we receive. And, with awareness of the tendency to over commit, honor how you can do that while continuing to nurture your inner energy field. Open to the love light of source and you will achieve a capacity to both give and receive beyond measure.

During this week of the Reiki Purification Retreat, we are healing energy within our emotional structure. Be calm today, and let the meditation-channeling time help you to build a sense of Whole Balance. 

My friends, our lives are long, mixed up, challenging and exciting. We have struggles with memories and desire. This is generally part of the human condition and it can be overwhelming. So continue in peace.

Just for Today love and respect all living things:

Be grateful.

Do not worry.

Do not anger.

Do your work honestly.

Honor  your parents, teachers and guides.

Clearing The Path For Growth

A Challenge for Growth

There are times that we may feel considerably distant; perhaps unhappy or depressed with negative emotions more accessible than positive ones. At those time, we hope to invoke tools to become free of the struggle.  With Usui Reiki Ryoho we are blessed to have additional emotional healing methods to practice and to transform the field of energy within the emotional realm. By experiencing meditation, visualization and energy clearing we can clear the spaces of our awareness and purify each of our body's cells. As our healing progresses, the clarity of heart energy emerges to conscious awareness and joy can become manifest like a glowing light.

Exercise: Sit comfortably in easy pose or an upright chair and allow the spine to infuse with open and slow breathing. Now imagine you're heart space exists in a garden. Fix your attention on the roots whether they are in the sand, soils or embedded in rock. Regardless, allow the connection to Earth that anchors and stabilizes your experience. Then, reflect on your emerging physical space/body. Experience the feeling of connection to that space as an abundant birth of movement. Visualize you are among swaying lavender spikes, an endless filigree  of ferns or a whisper of sea oat grasses. Be in the movement and in such a state begin to allow emotional debris to be wrangled free. Finally, emerge from the problems and distress to occupy an elevated space of a tree with a great open canopy. Occupy that space for as long as you need. In the process of this meditation begin to trust that this is a natural space where joy and gratitude is refreshed.

Let today's Reiki self treatment or distance healing be like the warmth and purity for your inner self to cleanse and the heart to feel the presence of positive energies.

For Those Whom You Love and Can Love

Allow Emotional Healing to Expand

Identifying our feelings and becoming real to our response is essential towards living in the light of Reiki Healing. In examination we may feel strong attachment to an experience, worldly experience or more often one person. 

Attachments that entrap us in irritation, anger, jealousy, or rage are burdens for our energy field and our path to loving kindness. You're encouraged to reflect on the healing power of this Kahuna (Hawaiian) power tool for forgiveness during our Reiki Share today.

Imagine the experience or person and call to mind the energy you feel. Perhaps locate in your body. And, with the repetitions necessary let the method of healing awaken a freedom to forgive.

Complete with Reiki dedication.

• Just for today, I will not worry. ...

• Just for today, I will not be angry. ...

• Just for today, I will be grateful. ...

• Just for today, I will do my work honestly. ...

• Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing.

It Is Real

Experience is Real -- Our Interpretation is Optional

The opportunity to look inside and then awaken to our balance emotional state, consider how the field of emotional energy is carried through your body.

During the balance of emotional offered by the Reiki Purification, you will possibly observe the movement into your body, affecting y our sleep, and giving interesting sources of energy and drive. Take note, be aware.

When the emotional body takes over, embrace it. SLOW DOWN, SLOW DOWN, SLOW DOWN.
And ground yourself in the moment to connect with the feelings and needs.

If you have any need to ask for help, do so. There are many right there in your space to empathize, explore solutions and celebrate your transition to peace.

Just for today, I will live the attitude of gratitude.

Just for today, I will not worry.

Just for today, I will not anger.

Just for today, I will do my work honestly.

Just for today, I will show love and respect for every living thing.

www.earthtonesgifts.com

Our Thoughts

Keep Your Emotional World Light

When we have a connection to our needs, we become more clear about how to express them. Today's mediation and channeling help up to lighten up through honest embrace of our needs and those of others.

This Center for Needs Inventory is a tool shared by the Center for Non-Violent Communication. Begin to use your reflection of inner feeling and connect them to inner needs.

CONNECTION acceptance affection appreciation belonging cooperation communication closeness community companionship compassion consideration consistency empathy inclusion intimacy love mutuality nurturing respect/self-respect

CONNECTION continued safety security stability support to know and be known to see and be seen to understand and be understood trust warmth PHYSICAL WELL-BEING air food movement/exercise rest/sleep sexual expression safety shelter touch water

HONESTY authenticity integrity presence PLAY joy humor PEACE beauty communion ease equality harmony inspiration order AUTONOMY choice freedom independence space spontaneity

MEANING awareness celebration of life challenge clarity competence consciousness contribution creativity discovery efficacy effectiveness growth hope learning mourning participation purpose self-expression stimulation to matter understanding