Loveopedia..........
Loveopedia is a 101 for all the thoughts, therapies, theories and tools I have explored and now use at
"Love Yourself Beautiful"
I am no expert in any of these areas but have used them to some degree and found them fantabulous and a great way to to say "thank you and I love you to my bod"
I'm sure you will too, check some of them out on our 21 day challenge page.
"Love Yourself Beautiful"
I am no expert in any of these areas but have used them to some degree and found them fantabulous and a great way to to say "thank you and I love you to my bod"
I'm sure you will too, check some of them out on our 21 day challenge page.
Affirmations............
Affirmations are very simple positive statements that if used regularly and with emotion will change our negative mindsets and bring about our scrummiest desires, wishes and dreams.
So how do we come up with these affirmations……….
Well firstly these positive statements must describe the ideal outcome we want from a wish, dream or desire.
Secondly they need to be short and simple, if we are saying them dozens of times a day then we don’t want them to be novels, they need to be easy to remember. ( more.......)
Thirdly they must be in the present tense………as if they have already happened. If we say ………I will have………..that keeps our desire in the future. So be clear………I am a strong independent woman! I am now, right now.
Number four, the statements must be made of strong emotive words, really think about each word, do you want to EARN a good income, or do you want money to come to you EASILY and EFFORTLESSLY.
Fifth the emotion……….emotion is very powerful when asking the Universe for change, the Universe communicates in emotion and feelings. Take some time to feel how fantabulous its going to be when the ideal outcome arrives. What does it feel like not to have to worry about how the bills will be paid. How sexy do you feel in that gorgeous red dress. Really feel it……… you are connecting with the Universe………..stay with that lovely feeling as long as you can……….just to make sure the Universe has your order just right! Yay its on its way.
Number six, repetition …….,the repetition of these positive statements can actually change the neural connections of our minds. Used with emotion they will abolish negative self talk. We need to repeat them dozens of times daily until the belief becomes part of us.
A little warning from Anita Revel in her fab book “The Goddess Diet”
Anita says watch out for back enders…………back enders are the comments our old inner critic hits back with when we are trying to retrain our thought patterns with positive affirmations You know the ones……..”no your not thin and beautiful, look at those fat thighs”.
Our inner critic hates change so he will quite possibly smack you with a back ender when you say your new affirmation. It’s really important we listen for these back enders as they are negative and will undo all our good work. Our positive self must get the last word, we need to get the inner critic on side, retrain him, this takes a little patience but he will change if you persevere. After all he got the back ender dialogue from us in the first place. Just answer him back firmly with the affirmation Eventually he will come on board and even assist you.
So how do we come up with these affirmations……….
Well firstly these positive statements must describe the ideal outcome we want from a wish, dream or desire.
Secondly they need to be short and simple, if we are saying them dozens of times a day then we don’t want them to be novels, they need to be easy to remember. ( more.......)
Thirdly they must be in the present tense………as if they have already happened. If we say ………I will have………..that keeps our desire in the future. So be clear………I am a strong independent woman! I am now, right now.
Number four, the statements must be made of strong emotive words, really think about each word, do you want to EARN a good income, or do you want money to come to you EASILY and EFFORTLESSLY.
Fifth the emotion……….emotion is very powerful when asking the Universe for change, the Universe communicates in emotion and feelings. Take some time to feel how fantabulous its going to be when the ideal outcome arrives. What does it feel like not to have to worry about how the bills will be paid. How sexy do you feel in that gorgeous red dress. Really feel it……… you are connecting with the Universe………..stay with that lovely feeling as long as you can……….just to make sure the Universe has your order just right! Yay its on its way.
Number six, repetition …….,the repetition of these positive statements can actually change the neural connections of our minds. Used with emotion they will abolish negative self talk. We need to repeat them dozens of times daily until the belief becomes part of us.
A little warning from Anita Revel in her fab book “The Goddess Diet”
Anita says watch out for back enders…………back enders are the comments our old inner critic hits back with when we are trying to retrain our thought patterns with positive affirmations You know the ones……..”no your not thin and beautiful, look at those fat thighs”.
Our inner critic hates change so he will quite possibly smack you with a back ender when you say your new affirmation. It’s really important we listen for these back enders as they are negative and will undo all our good work. Our positive self must get the last word, we need to get the inner critic on side, retrain him, this takes a little patience but he will change if you persevere. After all he got the back ender dialogue from us in the first place. Just answer him back firmly with the affirmation Eventually he will come on board and even assist you.
Altars........
coming soon
Chakras.......
coming soon
Crystals............
coming soon
Divination..........
coming soon
Grounding.........
Grounding is a way of pushing your energy down into the earth to keep yourself solidly rooted. Being grounded allows you to get rid of any extra energy and dispose of crap energy you picked up throughout the day.
You can think of this connection as roots or a cord that penetrates from your feet deep into the earth.
Being grounded enables you to stay cool, calm and collected when stuff gets hard. Grounding helps you stay in the present moment letting the past be and trusting the future to take care of itself.
Use grounding whenever you feel stress, anger, frustration or hopelessness. stop, breathe in the healing earth energy, feel it cascading through the roots beneath your feet into your body. You will start to feel more peaceful and calm and will gain a sense of clarity about your situation.
Try doing it every morning for a healthier happier life, it prepares you to take on the day with ease.
Grounding methods.......
Do you need grounding......
You can think of this connection as roots or a cord that penetrates from your feet deep into the earth.
Being grounded enables you to stay cool, calm and collected when stuff gets hard. Grounding helps you stay in the present moment letting the past be and trusting the future to take care of itself.
Use grounding whenever you feel stress, anger, frustration or hopelessness. stop, breathe in the healing earth energy, feel it cascading through the roots beneath your feet into your body. You will start to feel more peaceful and calm and will gain a sense of clarity about your situation.
Try doing it every morning for a healthier happier life, it prepares you to take on the day with ease.
Grounding methods.......
- stand barefoot on the grass. feel the earth under your feet and feel your energy sinking into the earth. Breathe in the healing energy of the earth, breathe out into the earth allowing it to remove all excess or unwanted energy.
- take time to lovingly pet your cat, long loving strokes.
- have a giggle-snorting belly laugh
- sing the deepest note you can, feel it in your pelvis, let it go into the earth.
- do this meditation
- try these yoga poses
Do you need grounding......
- do you feel stressed?
- do you feel nervous?
- do you feel scattered?
- do you feel disconnected?
- can you stand on one leg? If you are properly grounded this should be easy, you should even be able to move the other leg around. Sometimes I can do it on one leg and not the other. Remember the left side represents your spiritual side and the right side represents your physical side. Are you grounded in both dimensions?
Grounding yoga
Grounding yoga poses help to quiet the mind and release anxiety. Grounding yoga poses are those in which the energy of the pose moves down and the body feels rooted and connected to the earth. Below are my choices for the ten best grounding yoga poses. Be sure to read all ten, and work with a certified yoga instructor if you are unfamiliar with the poses.
10. Tadasana
Also called Mountain pose, Tadasana is the basic standing yoga pose which establishes the alignment for most other yoga poses. Although standing up straight with your feet together may seem like a simple task, yoga practitioners know that Tadasana is anything but simple. Tadasana is one of the best grounding yoga poses because it requires a solid foundation through the feet and a straight spine that allows the free movement of energy both up and down. If feeling anxious or "airy," spend a few minutes in Tadasana remembering all the many alignment cues (toes spread wide, inner thighs rolling back, tailbone drawing down, tops of thigh bones back, shoulder blades together, biceps externally rotated, chin drawn back, etc.) and focusing on the feeling of your feet rooting into the earth.
9. Vrksasana
Tree pose, like Tadasana, requires a solid feeling of being rooted to the earth, making it one of the best grounding yoga poses. Vrksasana is a balance pose that can be very meditative and calming to the mind, once you establish your balance. Although the full version of the pose has the foot pressing into the inner thigh, you can also practice tree pose with the foot on the calf or ankle (but not on the knee). If balance is challenging, place one hand on a wall to steady yourself. Focus the mind by fixing your gaze on one unmoving point and softening your eyes and facial features.
8. Uttanasana
Uttanasana, Standing Forward Bend, is a soothing and grounding yoga pose that can relieve anxiety and calm the mind. With both the feet rooted solidly into the floor and the head reaching down toward the feet, Uttanasana is a grounding and introspective yoga pose, especially useful for the winter months. Uttanasana may not be a good choice for you if you have blood pressure problems (either high or low) or spinal problems, but seated forward folds such as Paschimottanasana can give you many of the same grounding benefits.
7. Adho Murkha Svanasana
One of the standard poses in almost any yoga class, Downward Facing Dog Pose can also be one of the best grounding yoga poses. As a mild inversion, it increases blood flow to the brain, which can quiet the mind and relieve anxiety. When performed correctly, the weight is distributed evenly between the hands and feet, creating a very solid and grounding stance. If you feel your weight more in the arms, ask your yoga teacher for an adjustment that will make the pose feel lighter and more relaxing. If you have high blood pressure, carpal tunnel syndrome or frequent headaches, try an upright variation with your hands pressed into a wall.
6. Prasarita Padottanasana
Wide Legged Standing Forward Bend can relieve stress and anxiety by placing the head beneath the heart. The wide stance requires the feet to be solid and grounded. If you can, place both palms flat and the top of the head on the earth for even more of a grounded sensation. Use blocks in you cannot reach the ground and be sure to keep your spine straight and your legs unlocked. If you have blood pressure problems, frequent headaches or lower back injuries, choose the similar seated pose Upavistha Konasana instead.
5. Virasana
In Mark Halpern's article "Ayruveda and Asana," he recommends both Virasana (Hero's Pose) and Supta Virasana (Reclining Hero's Pose) as grounding yoga poses that can calm mental agitation and counteract Vata anxiety. Sit on a block for Hero's pose if you have any knee pain, and focus on externally rotating your thighs and drawing your tailbone down toward your knees. Hero's pose is a good seated pose for meditation, as well, and may be combined with apana mudra to aid the downward flowing energy of the pose.
4. Parsvottanasana
Also called Intense Side Stretch, or sometimes Pyramid, this is a forward bending yoga pose that is calming and increases the flow of downward energy in the body. A variation of this from the Bikram series known as Compression Pose is also a useful grounding yoga pose, since it employs Jalandhara Bandha, the lock that stops upward flowing energy, and also takes the gaze up toward the naval for a more introspective pose. If you have blood pressure problems, opt for seated forward folds instead.
3. Horse Stance/Victory Squat
This grounding yoga pose is a wide-legged squat. The feet should be turned out at a diagonal, with the knees tracking over the second toe. Push your pelvis as far out behind you as you can and then draw your tailbone down toward your heels to reduce the curve in the low back and stack your torso over your hips. If you add the arms in "cactus position," with the elbows bent at a 90 degree angle, this pose may also be known as Moonflower or Goddess pose.
All squat poses are good grounding yoga poses. This squat variation is accessible to most practitioners and the wide stance creates a very solid grounding sensation. For an even greater sense of downward-flowing energy, add Jalandhara Bandha, the throat lock, to Horse Stance.
2. Viparita Karani Mudra
Legs-Up-The-Wall pose is an excellent restorative yoga pose that calms the mind, relieves stress and anxiety and increases downward flowing energy. Place a prop beneath your hips and leave a bit of space so that your sit bones are just off the prop. This will allow your femur bones to root deeply into your hip sockets. According to Hatha Yoga Illustrated, this pose is contraindicated for people with glaucoma.
1. Balasana
Balasana, or Child's Pose, is one of the best restorative and grounding yoga poses there is. With your knees wide and toes together, sit back on your heels and rest your forehead on the ground. Arms can be extended out in front of you or down at your sides. You can also use bolsters or blankets to support yourself in this pose. Balasana relieves fatigue and anxiety, and calms both the mind and the body. Close your eyes in this pose and allow the weight of your body to sink toward the earth.
Considerations
If you are in need of grounding yoga poses, avoid doing backbends, since they may further agitate your mind. Also avoid heating series such as quick sun salutations and opt for a gentler practice to help calm your mind. Practice in a dim room and remember to keep your gaze soft and your facial features relaxed. Focus on your foundation and your connection with the ground beneath you, and visualize your energy moving downward.
Sources:
Hatha Yoga Illustrated; Martin Kirk, Brooke Boon & Daniel DiTuro; 2004
Yoga Journal; Find Your Roots; Richard Freeman; http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/2585?print=1
Ayruveda and Asana; Mark Halpern; http://www.satyoga.com/documents/teachings/Mark%20Halpern%20on%20Ayurveda%20and%20Asana.pdf
California College of Ayurveda; Yoga and Ayurveda: Two Sides of One Coin; http://www.ayurvedacollege.com/articles/drhalpern/Yoga_Ayurveda_Two_sides_Coin
Published by Sarena Ulibarri
Sarena has published more than 600 articles on various websites, writing on topics such as education, ethical consumption, music, names, women's health and yoga. View profile
10. Tadasana
Also called Mountain pose, Tadasana is the basic standing yoga pose which establishes the alignment for most other yoga poses. Although standing up straight with your feet together may seem like a simple task, yoga practitioners know that Tadasana is anything but simple. Tadasana is one of the best grounding yoga poses because it requires a solid foundation through the feet and a straight spine that allows the free movement of energy both up and down. If feeling anxious or "airy," spend a few minutes in Tadasana remembering all the many alignment cues (toes spread wide, inner thighs rolling back, tailbone drawing down, tops of thigh bones back, shoulder blades together, biceps externally rotated, chin drawn back, etc.) and focusing on the feeling of your feet rooting into the earth.
9. Vrksasana
Tree pose, like Tadasana, requires a solid feeling of being rooted to the earth, making it one of the best grounding yoga poses. Vrksasana is a balance pose that can be very meditative and calming to the mind, once you establish your balance. Although the full version of the pose has the foot pressing into the inner thigh, you can also practice tree pose with the foot on the calf or ankle (but not on the knee). If balance is challenging, place one hand on a wall to steady yourself. Focus the mind by fixing your gaze on one unmoving point and softening your eyes and facial features.
8. Uttanasana
Uttanasana, Standing Forward Bend, is a soothing and grounding yoga pose that can relieve anxiety and calm the mind. With both the feet rooted solidly into the floor and the head reaching down toward the feet, Uttanasana is a grounding and introspective yoga pose, especially useful for the winter months. Uttanasana may not be a good choice for you if you have blood pressure problems (either high or low) or spinal problems, but seated forward folds such as Paschimottanasana can give you many of the same grounding benefits.
7. Adho Murkha Svanasana
One of the standard poses in almost any yoga class, Downward Facing Dog Pose can also be one of the best grounding yoga poses. As a mild inversion, it increases blood flow to the brain, which can quiet the mind and relieve anxiety. When performed correctly, the weight is distributed evenly between the hands and feet, creating a very solid and grounding stance. If you feel your weight more in the arms, ask your yoga teacher for an adjustment that will make the pose feel lighter and more relaxing. If you have high blood pressure, carpal tunnel syndrome or frequent headaches, try an upright variation with your hands pressed into a wall.
6. Prasarita Padottanasana
Wide Legged Standing Forward Bend can relieve stress and anxiety by placing the head beneath the heart. The wide stance requires the feet to be solid and grounded. If you can, place both palms flat and the top of the head on the earth for even more of a grounded sensation. Use blocks in you cannot reach the ground and be sure to keep your spine straight and your legs unlocked. If you have blood pressure problems, frequent headaches or lower back injuries, choose the similar seated pose Upavistha Konasana instead.
5. Virasana
In Mark Halpern's article "Ayruveda and Asana," he recommends both Virasana (Hero's Pose) and Supta Virasana (Reclining Hero's Pose) as grounding yoga poses that can calm mental agitation and counteract Vata anxiety. Sit on a block for Hero's pose if you have any knee pain, and focus on externally rotating your thighs and drawing your tailbone down toward your knees. Hero's pose is a good seated pose for meditation, as well, and may be combined with apana mudra to aid the downward flowing energy of the pose.
4. Parsvottanasana
Also called Intense Side Stretch, or sometimes Pyramid, this is a forward bending yoga pose that is calming and increases the flow of downward energy in the body. A variation of this from the Bikram series known as Compression Pose is also a useful grounding yoga pose, since it employs Jalandhara Bandha, the lock that stops upward flowing energy, and also takes the gaze up toward the naval for a more introspective pose. If you have blood pressure problems, opt for seated forward folds instead.
3. Horse Stance/Victory Squat
This grounding yoga pose is a wide-legged squat. The feet should be turned out at a diagonal, with the knees tracking over the second toe. Push your pelvis as far out behind you as you can and then draw your tailbone down toward your heels to reduce the curve in the low back and stack your torso over your hips. If you add the arms in "cactus position," with the elbows bent at a 90 degree angle, this pose may also be known as Moonflower or Goddess pose.
All squat poses are good grounding yoga poses. This squat variation is accessible to most practitioners and the wide stance creates a very solid grounding sensation. For an even greater sense of downward-flowing energy, add Jalandhara Bandha, the throat lock, to Horse Stance.
2. Viparita Karani Mudra
Legs-Up-The-Wall pose is an excellent restorative yoga pose that calms the mind, relieves stress and anxiety and increases downward flowing energy. Place a prop beneath your hips and leave a bit of space so that your sit bones are just off the prop. This will allow your femur bones to root deeply into your hip sockets. According to Hatha Yoga Illustrated, this pose is contraindicated for people with glaucoma.
1. Balasana
Balasana, or Child's Pose, is one of the best restorative and grounding yoga poses there is. With your knees wide and toes together, sit back on your heels and rest your forehead on the ground. Arms can be extended out in front of you or down at your sides. You can also use bolsters or blankets to support yourself in this pose. Balasana relieves fatigue and anxiety, and calms both the mind and the body. Close your eyes in this pose and allow the weight of your body to sink toward the earth.
Considerations
If you are in need of grounding yoga poses, avoid doing backbends, since they may further agitate your mind. Also avoid heating series such as quick sun salutations and opt for a gentler practice to help calm your mind. Practice in a dim room and remember to keep your gaze soft and your facial features relaxed. Focus on your foundation and your connection with the ground beneath you, and visualize your energy moving downward.
Sources:
Hatha Yoga Illustrated; Martin Kirk, Brooke Boon & Daniel DiTuro; 2004
Yoga Journal; Find Your Roots; Richard Freeman; http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/2585?print=1
Ayruveda and Asana; Mark Halpern; http://www.satyoga.com/documents/teachings/Mark%20Halpern%20on%20Ayurveda%20and%20Asana.pdf
California College of Ayurveda; Yoga and Ayurveda: Two Sides of One Coin; http://www.ayurvedacollege.com/articles/drhalpern/Yoga_Ayurveda_Two_sides_Coin
Published by Sarena Ulibarri
Sarena has published more than 600 articles on various websites, writing on topics such as education, ethical consumption, music, names, women's health and yoga. View profile
Meditation..........
coming soon
Reflexology..........
coming soon