Today I did my long run of the week, 9 miles.  I'm building up one mile a week and have started doing 1 or 2 of my weekly runs on a treadmill.  Well treadmills bore the crap out of me.  Especially 9 miles on a treadmill,  (I might as well express myself freely here right!) and I found my mind wandering.  

My mind really started wandering at about mile 4 or 5.  I had had a cramp in my side for a few miles and I think I was trying to escape the discomfort by being in my head.  I also was periodically feeling like I needed some replenishment and even getting a little light headed.  (I listened to my body and gave it some water here and there as well as a bite of a cliff bar mid run.)


I needed to change something if I was going to last for 9 miles.  I remembered how part of the benefit of savasana after an asana practice is that it is a time for your mind to rest so that your body can use all of that energy for healing.  Mental energy is energy used by your mind that could otherwise be saved for your body.  At that point I consciously directed my awareness into my core, and 1st and 2nd chakras.  I thought about and felt my body being energized through the first chakra, and the 1st chakra taking in energy from the earth.  Any time I started feeling a little less energized or light headed I was reminded to stop thinking and come back into my body awareness.  With the help of this awareness, I was able to make it through my 9 mile run strong.


Yoga has given me so much body awareness that comes in so useful in other areas of my life.  Yoga gives my body more flexibility to help prevent injury in other activities, it teaches my body to find peace in my breath even in physically challenging circumstances,  and yoga helps me be more aware so I can find more enjoyment in staying physically, spiritually and emotionally open.

Sankrit Name: Manipura
Color: Yellow                        Vowel: Oh
Location:  mid-belly
Associated Muscles/Organs:  Core muscles, intestines, stomach, pancreas
Crystal: Citrine (fyi....citrine is one of the few crystals that will not hold on to negative energy and does not require cleansing.)
Yoga poses:  core strengthers- boat pose, plank, warrior III, ardha chandrasana, nali cria, udiyana bandha

Highest Truth:  Honor Oneself



If your third chakra is balanced (that balance may change day to day) you will feel mental energy and alertness.  You will feel determined to accomplish your goals.  A healthy and thriving third chakra will come from honoring your self and your wishes, having integrity and living the way that you truly believe is best for you.  This type of healthy relationship with yourself creates a positive self image.


Signs of a less healthy third chakra would include negative self talk, ongoing addictions that you really wish you could quit, an unhealthy weight, looking for others approval (only yours and Gods matter!), fear of how others perceive you.  


The empowered third chakra allows you to stand up for what you know is best regardless of how others may feel about it.  When speaking of the third chakra, Carolyn Myss reminds us to, "[NEVER] NEGOTIATE YOUR SOUL/SPIRIT TO ANYONE!"  Honor yourself!


Just before my last baby was born I was being taught about service and actually I still am.  In a church class the women were discussing service and how important it is for our spiritual well-being.  I was totally overwhelmed with my life at that time and realized, while it is true that service can do trans formative things to people, YOU are the most important person for you to serve!  If you are depleted in any way, you are not much good to the people around you and you must do what is best for you.... without feeling guilty about it! 


I think there is an important lesson in this for many, many women who try to be everything to everyone.  When you feel like you have enough time and energy to reach out to people around you, wonderful!  Reach out and bless people!  Find and even search out people whose burdens you can lighten.  When you're lucky just to take care of yourself and your family or work or school, honor that!  Honor you, because you are no less important than all those other people you want to help.


Think of a way you can feed your spirit TODAY!  Do some yoga, do some breathing, some meditating, take a walk or hike outside, sit down with your favorite book, play your instrument, make YOUR favorite dinner....nurture YOU!    


NAMASTE!

Sanskrit Name: Swadhisthana
Color: Orange
Location: low belly
Associated Organs/ Muscles: sexual organs, stomach, pancreas, spleen, gallbladder, liver, kidney, upper intestines, hips, lower back
Vowel: oo
Yoga poses:  cat/cow, horse stance (a wide legged squat) with pelvic motion, wide angle pose, pigeon, double pigeon, backward and forward bends
Symptoms of Overactive:  Overly emotional, sexual addiction
Symptoms of closed: Being out of touch with your feelings, resisting change, pessimism 
Highest Truth: Honor One Another


The second chakra deals with our relationships with other people.  It also deals with our need to control things in our lives and how able we are to just let things go.  When we think negative thoughts about someone that pollutes our second chakra.  If we have had any negative (or positive) sexual experiences those are stored in the second chakra.  The second chakra also relates to our personal creativity.  Do we allow it and nurture it, or do we stifle it?  It relates to our feelings in general, are we in tune with them, do we bury them?  How do we feel about our personal finances?  This specifically affects lower back pain.


In yoga, past feelings stored chemically and energetically in our muscles can be spontaneously released.  Sometimes while in a pose, a rush of unexpected feelings can arise.  I've had several experiences with this and most often, for me,  it is in poses that cleanse the second chakra.  Once in my room I was in baddha konasana (wide angle, or kobbler's pose) and I felt a sudden urge to cry along with a physical heavy sensation radiating out from my hips.  I resisted the urge to leave the pose and hung in there and allowed it, without trying to define what specific thing I was clearing.  It was not tons of fun but I was glad that I was ready to release something negative, dark, and heavy from my system.

Chakra Balancing Specifics: Visualize a true orange, radiant ball in your lower belly.  If visualizing does not come easy to you try toning, "oo " aloud while allowing the region of your lower belly to feel light.  Feel all the gunk releasing and LET IT GO!- a big benefit to this chakra.  

You can also go lay on your back, with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor, and feel yourself breathing the good into your low belly as you inhale, and pressing out what you no longer need, from that region, as you exhale and lift your hips into bridge pose.  On the next inhale, lower your hips, again breathing the good into your belly.  Use this idea and apply it to any yoga pose or stretch for this chakra.

For a mantra meditation, chant honor one another.  

I have a 3 year old that is a very picky eater.  Recently, I had a conversation with him about how God made his body and that the foods that are best for his body are the ones God made.


I was thinking on that yesterday and about the vibration of foods.  This is not a new train of thought for me.  I spent years as a vegetarian, more years as a vegan, and 2 years as a raw foodist, only now to have a pretty typical (but definitely on the healthy side) American diet.  You can probably imagine I have a lot to say on the topic of what foods we put in our bodies, and I know at some later point in my life I will end up eating different than I do now, because the knowledge that I have will take me back there.  


All foods have a vibration right?!  So looking at food in a vibrational light, "God foods," straight from God and unaltered with chemicals, have the highest vibration.  When what we put in our bodies has a high vibration, it raises OUR physical vibration, and our energy level, which turns out to be of a lot of assistance emotionally and spiritually.  The more God food you eat, the better you feel.  


I have books more to say on this topic, but for now, add more  fresh, loving  God foods to your daily diet and listen to the signals your body gives you!


Heal, Strengthen, Renew!