How many people consciously take time to address or open their hips, a gateway to the energy flow of your body? If you think about the crown as the top of the energy flow and the feet as the bottom, the natural middle is the hips. We want our energy to flow unobstructed from head to a toe, and back again, which enables blood, energy and oxygen to stimulate the body.

There is a lot going on when we talk about the hips. The hip joint affects the legs and the pelvis, the sacrum and tailbone. The hips join these two workhorses of our bodies. The hips make sure the legs track properly and that the spine is erected in a straight long fashion. This means we are kept in good form and order by having aligned, open hips.

Inherently hips are tight to maintain the delicate balance and mobility of our lives. We should keep that in mind when we begin to address our hips and attempt to increase their flexibility. When I first started practicing yoga I had no patience and I was very persistent to open my tight hips. It was a battle and I used force to try and win the feat. What I learned was there is no strong-arming your basic anatomy and eventually I tore a hip flexor by practicing kung fu kicks with inflexible joints.

Know that for every action there is a re-action. By the way, it takes about a year to fully repair a hip flexor. Not fun at all!

The smarter safer way to increase your flexibility and cultivate good chi (energy) throughout your body is to consciously, regularly return to your practice. Engage in those types of postures that address the body part that you want to work. Take time to send your breath energy (long, slow, controlled breaths) into the spaces where you are working. Release the tightness through your breath and mind being focused to that area. You can even visualize the hip, as you desire it.

If you can slowly allow the body to change and evolve you will be accomplishing patience and flexibility at the same time. Getting in tune with the rhythm of your body and allowing it to feel comfortable and safe enough to naturally open. This will make you more in harmony with what and how your body acts, responds and adapts as you create a deeper flow through your body.

Try these postures or forms:

Seated:

Cobbler’s Pose

Butterfly

Knee to Ankle

Pigeon

Standing:

Straddled Forward Bend

Triangle

Warrior Two

I think it is safe to say no one is excluded from the cyclical nature of life’s turns. I know from my life experience that you can never know what a day will present you. At the root of it all can be the very way you feel on a day-to-day basis.

The daily challenge of controlling one’s own emotional chemistry can be a feat. The idea of waking up in a mood or feeling a certain way can dictate how you act and how you deal with daily events. In writing this article I have just been encouraged to reflect on my own repertoire of daily moods. I think in general my mood is consistently pleasant, good; but, energy levels tend to dictate how expressive and engaged I am in interacting with others. Then, I think about recent challenges and realize my mood is definitely influenced by what is happening in my world and that it does affect me and weigh on me.

So, how do we prepare for a multitude of people, events, challenges questions and situations at a moments notice in time?

For example, I have been trying to make sense of a growing number of difficulties in the creation of my vision Totally Zen. There are so many different people and skill sets that have to be addressed and coordinated in getting a business idea to develop and work in tandem. It can be overwhelming, disappointing, frustrating and then again it can be exciting, energizing and gratifying. All these feelings and much, much more that you must go through to get through every day of the week, month, year. How to deal with it all?

I know as a person I have grown so much more even and balanced in mood, energy and behaviors through the years since I have been practicing and teaching yoga; as well as, studying Daoism and Buddhism philosophy and integrating more healing and natural living into my life. I still see a need for improvement in other areas. I am committed to the idea of continual improvement as a part of life’s work.

From the simple tasks and conversations to the more intense and engaging ones I see growth in my behavior. So, how do we as people monitor our selves and address areas of weakness while still allowing ourselves to feel free and open in the world?

For me, I have found that yoga and the act of breathing or meditation, breathing without thought, is vital to my ability to be able to openly and honestly assess what is really going on in my life and between other people in my life. The funny thing is that sometimes it is not apparent and it takes time to move into the answer. Of course, life is perpetually changing and the answers must change. Just like yoga is a moving meditation so is life. Finding your rhythm and sticking with the practice of seeking, discovering and integrating all the aspects that make up a full life is so gratifying.

Cultivating balance and patience, focus and strength while holding or moving through postures seems like a funny way to improve one’s life; but, in fact through time that is just what I have found to be true.

I am happy to have yoga to turn to at times when I cannot find the answer on my own. It is something special to reflect on one’s situation’s and relationships and give it some time and thought, move away from it, practice yoga or meditation and slowly, carefully begin to progress through life in a more positive, focused way.

And when you find yourself going through the ups and downs of life maybe some of my own ideas can help you to process your own set of challenges.

I begin my last day of the Omega Institutes’ Being Yoga Conference w/Nischala Joy Devi, a lifelong yoga teacher & healer. The session was called “The Healing Path of Yoga” just like the book. She was a part of the team that created the first yoga/healing program accepted & reimbursed by an insurance company. She was the director of Stress Management for the Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease & also co-founded the Commonweal Cancer Help Program. A gentle, warm, loving woman who spoke to us about the benefit of spiritual practice & healing work. She recommends yoga to facilitate both realms.

Joy spoke of th critical place we are in the health crisis. So many people on prescription drugs & unhealthy, dis ease ridden bodies. She believes it is necessary to become more natural & use self healing practices whenever possible. She says most of our illnesses come from stress a result of fear & anger.

She points out that first there is an emotion, then feeling which leads to thought or action. Try not to put your mind or heart in a negative place. This can only harm your health! Use a bubble of love at your heart center to meet people & your life will be full of love & joy & health as your mind controls your body!

Next, Jivamukti Yoga uses yoga as a path to enlightenment. Sharon Gannon teaches the yoga of spiritual activism. I went to the “Chakra Purification through Asana & Mantra” workshop. We learned about what chakras are, what they contribute to ourselves as a whole, what organs are connected to each chakra, what types of relationships they each encompass & the chant & asana/posture to balance & purify them.

From the root up the sound vibration for each chakra is Lam, Vam , Ram , Yam, Ham, Om , Om. We did a series of posture where we focused on clearing out the old energy that holds us back from our true, loving self. We aligned ourselves into postures that corresponded to chakras & used the mantra or chants to cleanse & clear each chakra. We put a focus on to a person whose relationship was not finished, healed or positive & sent them loving kindness, blessings & love & then focused on seeing them as Buddha-like to resolve our past karma. It was very effective! Also, a great physical practice.

At the end, she helped us reach a state of true relaxation. Did I feel relaxed when I left the space! Also, the amazing energy in the room that all 100+ people created together through our “work” there together! Pure bliss!

Finally, I wanted to find out “Becoming Strong as Steel w/Kundalini Yoga ” was all about. Can you imagine becoming strong as steel? Well, go to Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa’s classes & you will be strong as steel, no doubt! We began by focusing our minds to the concept of becoming strong through selflessness. Steel is achieved through service, commitment to serve & steady practice. She asked us to , “Ask G-d what is your purpose if you do not know!’ She says it is imperative you know what is your purpose in your lifetime!Also, that you must love yourself & sit with yourself.

We did certain postures & small flows for 12 minute intervals. Wow! How challenged I felt in those minutes that passed. We were to concentrate on G-d & forget our own self. Transcendence for a greater purpose. So, I never gave up. She cheered us on w/words of encouragement, music & reminders of why we were there. The reason- to clear away the old energy, the stuff that gets in our way, our minds.I really enjoyed the physical work we did there b/c it was for a clear higher purpose to become fortified without a physical goal. It was so taxing, my arms were breaking, my body aching & calling to me & I tried never to stop. Letting the mind control the body. I have to admit after an hour or so I did let my hands fall a time or two.

The hard physical work was followed by dancing. Jubilation, setting oneself free to be your own true, natural self not some self you might not feel connected to or in control of at times.When our time came to an end I was transformed. I felt almost like I was floating! The deep physical & spiritual work had saturated my being. What a mix of emotions I felt when I left the space.

So, my Being Yoga experience had just about come to an end. It was a mixed bag of being completely exhausted & then filled with such wisdom, technique, energy. Every day I left the building I felt this huge wealth of knowledge reminding me I would never be the same.I feel completely immersed with new life, love & teachings to behold in my mind, body & spirit. I am so thankful for the opportunity to take part in this exceptional experience! Being so thankful for the gifts that were given to me & for the presence of these hard-working masters & teachers & staff that bestowed their gifts & efforts on me! The people or new friends I met & bonded with in this time. I am truly blessed & ready to share all this with those I encounter & teach & learn from each day in the walk of my life.

http://www.abundantwellbeing.com/abw/index.action

http://www.jivamuktiyoga.com/

Can’t wait to share my journey through sound w/you! Peace Out!

                                                          ************************************

Well, it was a fabulous trip to Austin to visit old friends & be one w/so many different vibrations sounds. You know music is vibration. Vibration is energy. That is a very important fact to remember when choosing what music you might like to spend your time listening to in life. Good, positive music brings you the same kind of energy & follow that thought across the spectrum of music. I LOVE MUSIC & I LOVE ALL TYPES OF MUSIC! But, since I have studied energy I choose more carefully what music i surround myself with because, in fact, it does make a difference in your attitude which filters through to your life; not to forget the people or spirits you attract because of the music you listen to & the way you present yourself.

Anyway, in Austin, Texas people are mostly friendly, open; hospitable. I hadn’t been back to Austin much since graduating from college there. What a GREAT place! It is just big enough, just sophisticated enough, has the right blend of weather, rolling hills, cheap food, lotsa party spots & good folks! I have to remember to get back there more often!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Austin City Limits Music Festival brought to us by C3 was a seemingly effortless well run 3 day show that hosted about 120 bands & 75,000 concert goers a day. Impressive by anyone’s standards. The amount of music w/5 stages was actually overwheming! I saw so many bands: The Killers, Arcade Fire, Bjork, Blue October, Crowded House, The IndigoGirls, LCD Soundsytem, Cold War Kids, Gotan Project, Zap Mama, Blonde Redhead, Ben Kweller, Peter Bjorn & John, Louis XIV, Queen of the Stone Ages. There were so many other bands I wanted to see!

It was like being a kid in a candy shop w/only so much money. Money there was time.. How to schedule yourself to get more bands in.. The long walk across the massive Zilker Park Grounds to catch a few minutes of someone you really wanted to check out. Arriving not quite as early as I had wanted to & leaving as the last people left the park trying to fully absorb the experience.

It is said you can experience Zen when you are present in the moment & in equal balance within & around you. I got that feeling there many times as I let everythng else go but that connection to my environment. As I took in & expanded out my moments of bliss in Austin, with my friends, listening to great music, feeling connected to the people & all the energy that went into creating & being a part of those moments in time, I know I am truly blessed!

http://www.austincitylimits.com/