health

The Power of Deep Breathing to Reduce Anxiety

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Several weeks ago, as I woke up from sleep, I had a vision. I saw a tunnel about three inches in diameter open up near my forehead (third eye area). I heard a “snap” as it briefly opened up for a second. I saw a ring of light around the circle, and in the center of the circle were white, twinkling stars in a black background.

AI generated from my sketch.

I’ve never had a vision like that before. I wasn’t scared, but I also didn’t feel ready to go “down that rabbit hole.” I even questioned if I was ready to dive deeper into my spirituality.

To calm my nervous system, I practiced Ujjayi Pranayama. Here is the practice:

  1. Start to breathe in and out through your nose, naturally (mouth closed).
  2. Then take a slow, deep breath through both nostrils. The passage of the incoming air is felt on the back of the palate and makes an oceanic sound (sa). The sound is audible and loud enough to be heard.
  3. Exhale slowly, deeply, as the outgoing air is felt on the back of the palate and makes a sound (ha).
  4. Repeat the cycle for five to ten minutes.
  5. Ujjayi breathing sounds like the ebb and flow of the ocean.

Ujjayi Pranayama is also helpful when practicing yoga, especially during pain when stretching. I remember reading years ago that yoga can give the practitioner the skills to work with pain.

One more thing, emotions are very powerful. We can use our emotions to send out our intentions into the universe. If you feel a strong emotion, send out a prayer with that emotion as a catalyst for change.

Namaste.

8 Things I Learned From an Ayahuasca Retreat

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The Lagoon – Tarapoto, Peru

Before I went on the Ayahuasca retreat, I knew it would be a challenging retreat. But that’s what I wanted. It would be different from a typical yoga retreat, offering relaxation, gourmet food, and sightseeing. I remember the quote, “Like tea, you don’t know how strong you are until you’re put in boiling water.”

8 Things I learned from an Ayahuasca retreat:

  1. Trust myself. I trust myself but also ask for help when I need it.
  2. Listen to my intuition – My heart and mind will nudge me to make the best decisions for myself and my family. I want to open my mind even more! I ask, “Spirit, what do you want of me?”
  3. It’s okay to feel “unhinged.” During the retreat, I was an emotional mess. I felt uncomfortable at times. But during the storm, I am learning to take shelter. I also need to prepare for stormy weather. Do I have everything I need to make it through? I continue to learn from life.
  4. Be in the present moment—My breath connects me to the present moment. I can feel the air pass through my nostrils. When I meditate, I focus on the inside of my nose. The nostrils serve as the center of balance and the intersection of yin (left side) and yang (right side) energy. These energies meet and open up the third eye (between the eyebrows).
  5. Find ways to calm my nervous system – I need to feel embodied. I’ve learned that I must start with my body to calm my nervous system, such as through yoga and qigong. I also need divine meditation to purify my mind – it’s the only way to clear my mind.
  6. It’s okay to be alone – Even though I have family and friends in my life, the truth is that I journey in this life solo. I was born solo, and I will die solo. The truth is that I am responsible for my spiritual development. No one can do it for me. I must realize I am alone.
  7. Make my husband and family a priority – During the retreat, I realized that I take my husband for granted. Now, with clear eyes, I see how much he loves me, and I love him. I am so grateful to my husband and family.
  8. Let go – Wow! I didn’t realize that I have way too many thoughts. It’s time for me to LET GO. The more I let go, the more I can be in the present moment. Also, I want to let go of my external world. I don’t want to worry about how many friends I have or what I say to people. I know that I am working with good intentions. After I let go of my external world, I will let go of my internal world (attachment to thoughts).

I am grateful to have learned these lessons. I have renewed intentions to deepen my yoga and meditation practice as well. My focus is on balancing the connection between my body and mind. I want to redesign myself into a brave, intuitive, loving, and mindful person.

 To love fully, we must remove fear and pride.
- Angeles Arrien

Namaste.

Entanglement

/ Tunnel Vision 8

We must heal our minds – Bhante Sathi (triplegem.org)

As I become more wise, I see the physical world wants my attention (and takes me away from working on my Self). It is so easy to become distracted and entangled in earthly matters. I must decide where to put my time and energy. Therefore, there are several questions I must ask myself:

  1. What will help me grow towards love and light?
  2. How can I use my energy and presence to help people?
  3. What is worthy of my time?
  4. What is the path of wisdom and self-knowledge?

As a yogi, I must focus on the chakras. Yoga is a noble path. Yoga and meditation keep me clear in my head and calm in my heart. It is the right path for me. I must stay on this path. I need to increase my practice, especially if I am struggling in any way.

The Internet and all computer devices are not the path to wisdom. They are entanglements to the human – something that distracts us from love and light. The dosage matters – small amounts of conscious, wise interaction are okay. Be aware of the addiction and algorithms that keep us enslaved to cell phones.

We are at a crossroads with technology. Some technology is beneficial, but the computer (mainly the cell phone) is damaging humans. Do we want to be entangled with technology?

I am sending a severe warning to all humans. Do not get entangled with a cell phone or any computer device. They are traps to the human mind.

I propose that we use cell phones minimally. Do not allow yourself to be entangled for hours on any device. The computer plays with the ego, and this is not healthy.

We need to bring ourselves back to silence and deep meditation (do not use a cell phone or any device for audio or video meditation). Meditation must be in a distraction-free environment.

As a yogi, I light a candle and burn some incense. I practice gratitude, mantras, yoga, and meditation every morning. In the evening, I recite mantras and meditate before I go to sleep. The mind must be clear (not filled with online garbage).

Become a clear vessel.

We each have a choice – we can set ourselves free or become entangled with technology. What is the path to wisdom and self-knowledge?

Namaste.

Everything’s Figureoutable

/ Tunnel Vision 8

About two months ago, my right ear started hurting. I thought I had an ear infection. So, I went to a minute clinic to check on my ear. At the clinic, I discovered my blood pressure was high, and I didn’t have an ear infection. The nurse practitioner said I should go to urgent care right away. But instead, I went to my regular clinic the following day.

My mom has high blood pressure – so it could be hereditary. Also, I am getting older too. I did not take the Covid-19 vaccines (unvaccinated), so I know it’s unrelated. The doctor did some labs, and everything looks great. So, I now need to take my blood pressure twice a week and then report it to my doctor after a few weeks.

I am a health-conscious person, so I get worried about my health. So, I’m trying to manage my blood pressure by taking herbs and CBD oil, practicing deep breathing, exercising, and doing more gentle yoga. I’m also trying to reduce stress in my life.

I know everything’s figureoutable. I noticed that I’m more present in my body and mind when facing challenges. I want to figure out how to solve my problems.

When we have health issues, it’s an opportunity to explore more about ourselves. We can grow and learn through our challenges. Some things can be scary – no doubt. It can turn your life upside down if you’re not feeling well.

But when we look at the bigger picture – it calls us to re-examine our lifestyle. Everything’s figureoutable. We can become closer to God (or our higher consciousness). I know when I’m sick, I pray more. It calls us to go inward and focus on our spirituality.

Thankfully, my ear no longer hurts. And I’m on the road to healing my heart and getting back to a healthy blood pressure.

Namaste.