conscious yoga + wellness newsletter: february 2020
current thoughts:
Hello, Jesse here! I hope you are enjoying the second month of 2020 and waking up to a dusting of snow on the ground. I've been waiting for the peaceful sound of snow falling and I'm glad it's finally made its way here. I just wanted to take a moment to thank you again for being on this journey with me. This past year has been an exciting, scary, wild and life-changing ride; I am so thankful for your continued support.
This month I wanted to talk about some words I use quite frequently and how they’ve influenced what I share through CY+W. As a healthcare provider, I’ve watched the field grow, change and mold over the past 10 years and experienced many changes along the way. However along the way I’ve also grown, changed and molded as well! The following words have really stuck with me and are on my list of most meaningful words at the moment:
CONSCIOUS - aware of one's own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings.
RESTORE - a return to an original state after depletion or loss; to bring back to a state of health or vigor.
HEALTH - the general condition of the body or mind with reference to soundness and vitality
Combining these words truly defines the foundation of Conscious Yoga + Wellness: creating a safe space for seeking individuals to begin to build better awareness of the general condition of their bodies. To provide a collaborative environment where we begin to explore the thoughts, sensations, movements and surroundings of the physical and energetic body. To assist clients in learning various tools and techniques to help restore the vigor and wholeness that is already living inside.
When we allow ourselves time to tune into our consciousness, we begin to create space for slowly restoring our remembered wholeness, and through these connections our general wellness will improve.
monthly restorative practice:
The past few months I’ve started to explore other avenues of a restorative practice and how that might look different for each person. Here are a few different ways you may begin to introduce a restorative practice into your routine.
Develop a grounding practice: This can be as simple as feeling the soles of your feet and where they make contact with your socks, shoes, or the ground. When we are able to tune into the area of the body that connects to the earth, we can explore what it might feel like to be grounded within ourselves. These little connections can start to make a big difference in how we experience sensations in our lives. Even during long periods of time where you’re in the car or seated in a desk, see if you can take a moment to scan down the feet to find your heels, big toe mounds and pinky toe edge of your feet; then tune in to what you experience.
Develop a breathing practice: While there are a plethora of breathing (pranayama) practices to explore, I recommend starting by noticing the breath as it moves into and out of the body. Notice what it feels like to take a breath in and how it feels when you release the breath out. Over time see if you can then notice the quality of the breath and if the length of the inhale is equal to the exhale. Create 2-3 moments throughout the day to become more consciously aware of your breath and how it supports and nourishes the body.
Develop a movement practice: Creating physical movement in the body is one of the best ways to heal and begin to reconnect to our energetic self. This doesn’t have to be challenging or extensive by any means however it is really beneficial to be mentally connected to the movements you are performing.
Here is a routine to try out:
20 body weight squats to a chair- Stand with your feet about hip distance and place a sturdy chair that sits at about mid thigh height behind you. Take an inhale and as you exhale begin to lower yourself down until your hips barely touch the seat. Inhale press through the soles of your feet to come back to your standing position.
20 body weight hops- Stand with your feet hip distance apart. Inhalehop both feet off the ground at the same time as high as you can. Exhaleas you meet the ground again, feeling the soles of the feet making firm connect below.
10 breaths balancing on each leg (3 rounds each leg)- Stand with your feet hip distance and transfer your weight to the left leg. Hover the right foot off the ground and see if you can balance here for 10 breaths or 20 seconds; inhale/exhale = 1 breath. Repeat on the opposite side.
20 arm circles backward- Come to standing with your feet hip distance apart. Place a slight bend in your knees and take your arms straight out to your sides with the palms facing forward, thumbs up. Begin to make backward circles with your arms, starting small and progressively getting bigger with each breath. Inhale to take the arms up and back, exhale to take the arms down and forward.
Try out these techniques and use them as a way to re-establish conscious connections within the body. As you move through the grounding, breathing and movement practices notice how your body feels when you move it in various ways, scan the body from your head down to your feet and notice any sensations you may experience. Even the smallest of movements can create new connections within our physical and energetic body. Try it out and let me know you feel afterwards!
workshops and class schedule around the city:
NEW SERIES STARTS 2/27/20! Yoga for Wellness- 6 week series: Thursdays from 6-7p at Step by Step Wellness in Westerville
NEW Stabilize + Mobilize: Monday mornings from 6-7a at Centered Yoga + Wellness in Worthington
Monthly Restorative Yoga: Sunday February 16th from 12-1:30p at Step by Step Wellness in Westerville
Bi-weekly Restorative Yoga: Tuesday February 11th and 25th from 7-8p at Centered Yoga + Wellness in Worthington
Move Better, Feel Better: A functional mobility workshop on Sunday February 23rd from 1-2:30p at Fitness Evolution in Clintonville
If you are interested in booking private therapy, craniosacral and/or private or small group yoga sessions, check out the calendar for weekly office hours or email me today!
additional services offered:
It has been a joy to continue offering services focused on preventative and restorative health. Reach out to learn more about the restorative health services offered throughout CY+W are:
Craniosacral Therapy
Resolve
Unlock
Restore
Building a relationship with clients and working towards their holistic and personalized goals is so important to me. I’d love to work together and create a sustainable routine that supports you in remembering your wholeness. Follow this direct link to learn more about each service I offer through CY+W. Also, I am now offering session packages as a way to create a holistic plan of care over a set number of sessions to allow time to focus on developing a treatment approach that meets your needs. To learn more about these offerings, click here.
For more information or if you have additional questions, please email me at jesse@consciousyogaandwellness.com or visit my website for more details: www.consciousyogaandwellness.com.
As always, reach out with questions or things you are looking to learn more about! Thanks for reading and being here :)
Xoxo
Jesse