How To Clear And Calm Your Mind With Yoga

The list of health benefits associate with yoga gets longer and longer every year, making it one of the most effective practices you can use for your physical and mental health. In terms of its mental health benefits, the power of yoga stems greatly from its ability to calm the mind.

While this act might seem insignificant, studies have found that a calm mind can lead to a reduction in stress, lowering high blood pressure, increasing productivity and fighting off depression. Read on to learn more about the calming powers of yoga, how to introduce it into your workout routine, and the benefits of consistent practice.

Understanding Stress and the Mind

Many people struggle with restless minds that seem to be constantly filled with worrisome thoughts and fears about the future. These thoughts can become the source of serious anxiety and uneasiness if left unchecked. The root cause of these thoughts and feelings often lay in outside aspects of your life, such as fearing you may lose your job or having a family member facing an illness.

These thoughts trigger a chemical reaction in the brain that release hormones that can enhance the negative feelings, leaving your mind whirring with negative thoughts and general anxiousness.

One of the best ways to clear out these harmful thoughts and reduce stress is through a calming practice such as yoga, which helps you to regulate the chemical processes and cope with the emotional side effects.

What Are the Calming Benefits of Yoga?

Yoga’s calming powers come from its physically demanding movements and its close ties with meditation.

First off, exercise has been shown to provide immense benefits to clarity of mind and overall mood due to the release of endorphins.

These hormones cause a sense of euphoria and general happiness, which help to combat negative thoughts by boosting your mood and allowing you to focus on more positive ideas.

Yoga can be incredibly demanding physically at any level, resulting in a strong and steady release of endorphins. Yoga also helps to calm you because its moves initiate a form of meditation that can lead to a greater clarity of mind.

Meditation through yoga also helps you to gain a stronger overall focus, as the moves require a great deal of concentration to perform correctly.

Consistent yoga helps to train your mind to focus on the present situation, rather than worrying about the past or the future, and in turn leads to a calmness that extends beyond the workout.

Choosing the Right Style

Before beginning a new yoga routine, it is important to discuss your current health with a doctor or licensed trainer in order to avoid causing any potential harm.

Some forms of yoga require high levels of flexibility that may be too difficult for beginners. There are also forms of yoga that include outside factors, which may not be ideal for everyone.

For example, Bikram yoga, also known as hot yoga, takes place in a room that is set to a very high temperature in order to enhance the physical and mental benefits. However, this heat level can often lead to dehydration or exhaustion in people not used to such strenuous activity at such temperatures.

Regardless of the style you choose, the most important aspect is to be consistent and put forth an honest effort. You won’t experience the benefits of yoga unless you commit your mind to the experience.

Long Term Benefits of Yoga for the Mind

Staying consistent with a yoga routine can greatly enhance the effectiveness of the process, as you cannot only learn to perform the moves better but strengthen your ability to meditate and calm your mind.

While you can experience the positive benefits of yoga after simply a single session, repeated practice not only helps you to keep your mind calmer for longer but also enables you to achieve a greater degree of mental clarity.

How Medicinal Plants Can Fuel Your Spiritual Evolution

We’re used to thinking of plants as “things” rather than living, sentient beings that are connected in profound ways to the health of our bodies, minds and souls.

But what if plants — with all their health-giving effects and amazing diversity of expression — hold the key not just to our health but to our spiritual evolution?

This idea is not as new as you might think, as it’s been part of ancient systems of natural medicine from Ayurveda to Chinese medicine. Plants affect our life force and connect us physically with the raw energy of the sun.

The fascinating and powerful relationship between plants and spiritual evolution is the passion of Floracopeia founder David Crow, who is brilliant on this subject.

I am excited to invite you to a FREE virtual event with David called, How Medicinal Plants Can Fuel Your Spiritual Evolution: Essential Insights that Unify Natural Medicine, Ecology & Spirituality.

You’ll need to RSVP for your space here.

If you’ve ever marveled at the peaceful beauty of a garden or been grateful for a herb that brought you healing or wondered how to harness the power of essential oils, you’ll be excited by David’s insights into the plant-human connection.  

During this virtual event, you’ll:

• Learn about body-based awareness exercises that will allow you to perceive plant intelligence more deeply.
• Relate to medicinal plants in a more meditative way to connect with their essence.
• Discover breath practices to open a stronger energetic relationship with plants.

For more than 30 years, David Crow has pioneered a path that is about harnessing the power of plants to infuse more intelligence in your body, mind and soul — giving you a more organic wisdom and sustainable connection with life.

He unifies wisdom from many streams of healing practices into a coherent understanding that will show you how to relate more deeply with medicinal plants for rejuvenation, awakening and health.

And as I mentioned, the great news is that this virtual event is free! Register here.

PS – In How Medicinal Plants Can Fuel Your Spiritual Evolution: Essential Insights that Unify Natural Medicine, Ecology & Spirituality, David Crow will help you understand plants in a more multi-dimensional way, so you can harmonize your bodily systems, heal old traumas and experience a more dynamic relationship with life force within and around you.

Dealing With Depression

Depression Debunked

The majority of people personally know someone who is/has struggled with depression. Did you know that depression has been cited as the most widespread mental disorder? It is much more common in women than men and also affects more teenagers than adults – so, chances are that at some point in your life you will know someone who has battled depression. However, just because we know someone who has depression doesn’t mean that we really understand what it is, what causes it and how it is treated.

What are the causes of depression? 

There are two different types of depression: clinical and circumstantial. Below is an explanation of both types of depression to help you see the differences between the two and how the “causes” are different between the two, as well.

Techniques for Massaging Your Baby

Baby massage has so many benefits to not only your baby, but to you as well. It will help you connect with your baby so she (or he) begins to really recognize your touch and your smell.

It’s a great bonding experience, but beyond that it can help your baby sleep better, reduce colic, and improve digestion - all things which lead to a happy baby and parent. It is especially helpful in babies who have a developmental or medical condition. Follow these steps to use this beneficial technique with your baby.

How to Massage Your Baby

1. You will need a warm towel, baby lotion or oil, a light blanket, and a dimly lit room.

2. Lay your baby on the warm towel in front of you on the floor or your bed as you sit cross-legged. Put her legs over yours.

3. Remove your baby's clothing and put oil or lotion in your hands and rub it together to warm it up.

4. Starting by placing your hands on your baby’s shoulders, slowly move down to her feet. As long as baby doesn’t become uncomfortable or agitated you should continue, but don’t continue if it’s upsetting baby.

5. Rub your baby’s stomach. Use slow, steady motions. Place one hand under your baby’s ribs and stroke downward. Massage the belly with your fingertips in a clockwise motion, pressing gently on your baby’s abdomen.

6. Place your hands on your baby’s chest and move your hands outward. Repeat this a few times. If your baby appears cold, cover her with a blanket.

7. Move your hand down from shoulder to hip on one side and then the other.

8. Stroke your baby’s arms and hands. Go from shoulder to wrist and cup your hands around your baby’s hands and rub from wrist to finger tips. Repeat this on the other arm and hand.

9. Now turn your baby over on her belly.

10. Move your hands up and down your baby’s back in a zigzag motion. Massage from neck to bottom with both hands never actually touching each other as they zigzag down your baby’s back.

11. Put your hands on either side of your baby’s spine and massage downward using small circular motions.

12. Using your fingertips, go down your baby’s back in a gentle rake-like motion.

13. Now move onto your baby’s legs. Start with one and rub down to the ankle, then rub your baby’s foot and pinch gently and pull on your baby’s toes. Move to the other leg and foot next.

14. Roll your baby over and put a diaper and clothes back on her.

15. Now you are done and have a happy and relaxed baby!

When doing baby massage, always make sure you pay attention to any cues of discomfort. If your baby gets cold, cover her with a blanket. If she becomes agitated or fussy, then stop. This is meant to be a soothing bonding experience between you and your child.

Check out this video on stretches and massage for better sleep and digestion from Psychetruth:

And of course, we just had to share with you this very precious video of a newborn baby getting her hair washed:

... and this one, just for good measure! We've watched it many times, and find it so incredibly soothing. This is the bain plaisir, or pleasure bath.


 

Alternative Therapies for Pain from Arthritis and Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia and arthritis are medical conditions that are both associated with pain that can be chronic and debilitating. While fibromyalgia involves flu-like, muscle pain throughout the body, arthritis involves joint pain and inflammation.

Both diseases have no exact causes, and medical treatments range from palliative to preventive approaches.

Both conditions typically lead to debilitating pain and can truly affect the quality of one’s life.

Conventional Medicine Versus Complementary Alternative Treatment Methods

The problem with using conventional medicine is that the effects are usually limited. Because both of these conditions are incurable, the aim of medications and treatments are often symptomatic and temporary only.

On the other hand, using alternative medicine provides long-term and reliable results, which do not just address the symptoms, but prevent them from reoccurring as well.

The following are some of the popular alternative treatments used to relieve pain associated with fibromyalgia and arthritis and these are the perfect complement to conventional medicine.

Acupuncture

Traditionally practiced by the Chinese, this ancient method of treatment has been adapted by Western practitioners and is now a popular and widely accepted form of alternative medicine. Acupuncture is based on the concept of “chi”, which is believed to be the body’s life force.

The chi is supposed to travel along the body’s natural pathways known as meridians, found in certain points of the body. Any pain, discomfort or illness a person manifests is believed to be caused by blockages in the chi’s natural flow throughout the body.

The goal of acupuncture is to remove these blockages and let the chi flow freely, thereby allowing the body to heal itself from any illness or pain.

Acupuncture is done by inserting very thin needles through the skin, targeting specific “acupoints” where blockages are suspected. Acupoints to be penetrated depend on the nature of the disease and the area where pain is felt.

Chiropractic Treatments

Chiropractic medicine is based on the concept that all body parts are aligned from one specific point- the spine. When the spine is in its natural and correct position, the body is able to heal on its own and free itself from diseases and pain. On the other hand, any misalignment within a specific body part can cause an imbalance with the spine and the rest of the body, causing various types of pain and maladies.

Chiropractic care typically involves spinal manipulation, in order to align the vertebrae back to their original position. What most people do not know is that after an injury or illness, any misalignments with the bodily structures are still present, despite the symptoms disappearing. 

The truth is that, the symptoms may be gone temporarily, but the actual problem is left unresolved. While conventional treatment may mask the symptoms of arthritis and fibromyalgia, chiropractic can promote long-term relief for pain by restoring the spine’s natural alignment.

Massage

Therapeutic massage can provide warmth to the muscles and increase blood flow, promoting relaxation and pain relief. It is very important though that the therapist knows which areas are affected to avoid aggravating the condition.

Nutritional Counselling

Much of the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia and arthritis can be triggered by the food you eat. The goal of nutritional counselling is to help the sufferer work out a new dietary regimen that aids in the relief of pain and progression of the disease.

For example, if you have arthritis, you will be advised to avoid food that triggers inflammation, such as:

·         Dairy products

·         Alcoholic drinks

·         Fried food

·         Grilled, processed, and pasteurized food

·         Food high in sugar, salt, and preservatives

Alternative medicine focuses on treatment that is non-medical and non-pharmacological. It involves a natural approach that is meant to aid the person suffering from fibromyalgia and arthritis during a usually lifelong battle with these diseases.

Herbalism

Another very viable natural healing method for the pain experienced in arthritis and fibromyalgia is herbalism. There are numerous herbs that are known to be effective in helping to alleviate pain. Make sure to take care when using herbs and consult a professional expert herbalist of a Chinese medicine doctor.