Strength For Today

Freedom (1960's)

To stand forth in strength;
The strength of wisdom,
The strength of knowledge,
The strength of power,
The strength to stand tall,
The strength to say nay,
The strength to be proud,
To be strong, able and wise,
Down this road true freedom lies...

Karl Stuart Kline

DEEP RELAXATION

Why is it sometimes difficult to relax and be at ease? This is the work of an over zealous ego that is always "shoulding" as a way to feel better about itself.  Should I do this or should I do that to get what I need? The problem with this way of thinking is that the ego is never satisfied for long, even when you do everything you think you should do—there is always more to do. So how do we get the ego to quiet down and stop telling us what we should do so we can relax and enjoy life?

Once you let go of the tension in your body it becomes easier to calm your mind. Quieting the mind through deep relaxation has tremendous benefits. First, and foremost, you will experience greater peace of mind. Secondly, you go into the alpha state, one of the electrical brain-wave patterns produced by the brain. This is an altered state of consciousness, like daydreaming, that  has a special kind of awareness associated with it. It is the state you are in right before you fall asleep and right after you wake up. At this level of the mind you are connected with your right brain—the creative, intuitive side.

You may be thinking that you don't have time during the course of your busy day to devote to deep relaxation. The truth is, it is one of the best uses of your time. Fifteen to twenty minutes of deep relaxation is equivalent to a three-hour nap. It refreshes and invigorates your body and allows you to tap into the creativity of your right brain. Your powers of visualization are twenty times more effective when you are deeply relaxed so it is the perfect time to use your imagination in a productive way. Make sure you won't be interrupted and listen to soothing music to help you relax.

During the holidays it is especially important to take time for relaxation. This could make the difference between enjoying this season and stressing out until it’s over. Our Satori Fitness classes (Mondays and Wednesdays at noon) end with a guided deep relaxation and leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

May you have a peaceful and relaxing holiday,

~ Carol

11 Basic Principles

1.         Life is energy.

2.         We thrive on a balance of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual energy.

3.         Balance leads to harmony and creates the foundation for an optimal quality of life.

4.         We shape our bodies and our lives with energy.

5.         A state of balance and harmony can be developed through training.

6.         Physical energy is increased by releasing internal blocks of tension.

7.         Mental energy is enhanced by the positive use of our imagination and focused attention.

8.         Emotional energy is stimulated through healthy expression.

9.         Spiritual energy flows freely through acceptance, trust, gratitude and      love.

10.       LOVE (Living On Vital Energy) is the source of our freedom.

11.       The decision to be in harmony with yourself and your physical world can happen instantly . . .  SATORI.

These principles are the foundation of Satori Lifestyle Coaching.  To learn about

this unique coaching program I invite you to visit my website at:  http://www.destinationsatori.com/. Once you register and login you can take a free lifestyle assessment under “Coaching.”

Peace and blessings to you this holiday season,

Carol

Just Breathe

Breathing is a vital source of energy. We can live for several weeks without eating any food, several days without drinking fluids but we can only survive a matter of minutes without breathing air. The human body is designed to release 70% of its toxins through breathing. The other 30% is discharged through sweat, urination and defecation. If you're not breathing efficiently to rid yourself of toxins, other systems of the body, such as your kidneys, must do the extra work. The skin is the body's largest organ and needs life-giving oxygen to look vibrant and healthy. When deprived it must take over helping to eliminate toxins from the body.

You might think that aerobic exercise would supply enough fresh oxygen to your system to keep it healthy. Although vigorous exercise is extremely beneficial it actually burns up the oxygen as soon as it comes in. By practicing deep breathing exercises you are nourishing your body and receiving therapeutic benefits that aerobic activities don't provide. After teaching breathing exercises to a woman with emphysema she suggested I write a book because the exercises gave her more relief than anything she had ever tried before.  Stress causes shallow breathing. The fastest way to de-stress is to breathe deeply. It is physiologically impossible to breathe deeply and feel stressed at the same time. Therefore, you can immediately change the way you feel by changing the way that you breathe. Breathing consciously is an integral part of a balanced life. It is a way of connecting the mind with the body and living in the present moment.

Our Satori Fitness classes always start with vigorous deep breathing exercises. We offer these classes on Mondays at noon and Wednesdays at noon and 5:30 in the evening. Once you learn these exercises you will have a way to energize yourself in five minutes!

Breathe deeply,

~ Carol