Life Lessons from the Blossoms

We are all familiar with the saying that life is a journey, but when our need to feel in control of what comes next takes over, we forget. Life is not always logical but rather tropological.

As we watch nature, especially at spring time- we can see a great example of the art of life.  Firstly with the weather: some days are sunny, others are rainy and we have storms, sun showers and rainbows and some days we have all of the above. There is no formula to “order” a specific weather forecast for a specific day.  You also can’t hold on to the sunny days, and we all know that we need those rainy days for nature to survive.  If we hold on to the need for only sunny days, we miss out on the gifts of the rainy days. The same applies to our life. We love the happy moments when we can feel our joy, but we can’t hold on to them.  If we appreciate the moments that we feel that connection to our Light, we can increase our sense of living in the now, deepen our appreciation and create more joy.  Our life is precious, so why waste any time waiting for the other shoe to drop or worrying about things that may or may not happen? 

Life truly is a process and a journey; we have our storms when things happen that cause us to forget the better part of ourselves. Feeling sad and mad is as much a part of living in the moment as feeling happy and glad. It is all about being in alignment with what is and living your life fearlessly.  It doesn’t happen overnight and it takes practice and effort to develop the discipline to be connected to our state of presence. JoyFull Yoga offers us useful tools such as yogic breathing and meditation techniques to develop mindfulness. This gives us the ability to be more present and open up to receive the gifts of our experiences, develop the ability to flow with the challenging moments without getting stuck. What we resist persists, so living life in harmony with the ebb and flow of the events of the day helps us attract experiences that reflect more ease and grace.

It is a simple process but not always easy.  It is about accepting “what is,” not resisting or wishing it to be different. Demanding or creating expectations of how things “should” be is a sure way to create conflict and pain. Fear always spoils the joy of living in the moment. Allowing and trusting the process of our journey becomes easier when we develop a connection to the stillness within. It gives us the strength and ability to allow emotions to flow and surface, without judging them or ourselves, but simply be the experiencer of the emotions without reliving the story.

The art of allowing is demonstrated to us so exquisitely with the blossoms on the fruit trees.

I was admiring the blossoms and suddenly a breeze came along and the petals gently surrendered, letting go of the security and beauty of their flower as they danced alone fearlessly in the wind. For a moment I felt sad to see this beauty disappear, but the beauty of their ease of letting go also moved me. Why hold on to the blossoms? They give way to the fruit and on go the cycle of nature and the circle of life. 

Life is to be lived as it unfolds moment by moment. It is deep and mysterious. There is no formula to understand or figure out. Remember that when you are stuck and feel jostled, the answers will not come from force or might, but by relaxing your mind and allowing the answers and solutions to come and be revealed.

Next time you feel overwhelmed by a situation try this:

Sit, and take a few belly breaths. Relax, then say: ”I am opening up to the opportunity of this experience. I allow the solution and resolution to come into my life now…. (Breathe)  I am grateful.” Let go of expectations of how the answers will come and see what shows up for you.

When you can accept that life is often beyond the cognitive mind’s grasp and stop trying to live only from the intellect, and embrace your feeling nature, your journey will be much more easeful and Joy-Full. Remember to take time to breathe-and smile. www.joyfull-yoga.com; 899-0707. © 2001-2012 Louise is an international inspirational speaker, author, creator of JoyFull Yoga and JoyFull living coaching. She owns JoyFull Yoga LLC in Jacksonville where she offers private sessions and group classes. Email us your questions at info@joyfull-yoga.com

It’s February and all the hearts everywhere inspire me to write about the relationship between our emotional and physical heart.  There is more to a healthy heart than just diet and exercise. A study lead by author and cardiologist Ilan Wittstein, M.D  showed that “sudden emotional stress can also result in severe but reversible heart muscle weakness that mimics a classic heart attack.” The impact of taking time to feel what surfaces in our emotional heart space can empower your life and result in a happier and healthier heart.  Many people don’t take the time to “feel” their feelings or they “stuff” their emotions and that can cause serious health problems, including depression.

In our fast-paced world, it is so easy to get swept up with getting things done. We can always be “too busy” to deal with what is going on in our emotional heart.  One of my teachers, Yogi Bhajan, called this modern world epidemic: “cold depression.”  It happens when people become so busy, so wrapped up with external demands, that they are insensitive to their internal needs and disconnected from how they feel. They have lost connection to their spirit. They don’t know they are depressed, they feel numb rather than overwhelmed by their emotions. Their “busyness” keeps them from feeling depressed.  If they are tired they turn to caffeine or energy drinks. If they want to relax, they rely on alcohol or drugs. If they feel bad about themselves, they push the feelings away by getting busier, so they don’t have time for self-care.  Doing things like volunteer work gives them a good reason not to have time.  There is nothing wrong with being busy, and doing volunteer work is wonderful, as is getting a lot done, but we need to create a balance. 

Making time to tend to the needs of our mind, body and spirit,

on a regular basis, is one of the BEST PREVENTIVE medicines.

Why is it so difficult for so many to be in touch with their feelings? Men have it the hardest. There is a lot of social pressure – if a man shows his emotions, he is seen as a weak person. Women are expected to be emotional, at least once a month.  But getting in touch with feelings isn’t just about being emotional and/or crying. The process I am talking about is allowing emotions to be felt, without diving into the “stories” to reenact the drama. If you have a surge of sadness, you allow it. Don’t try to fix it or figure it out, just give yourself the space and time to reclaim your power to feel.  Again, don’t get into the story to relive a challenging moment. Stay in the moment and let the emotions ease through you. Don’t resist the urge to cry, allow it to pass through you like a gentle rain.  If you are angry, breathe through it, don’t judge it, release it, and don’t repress it.  If it feels too scary for you to face your emotions, get help. Your willingness to feel is not only healing, it’s empowering. It allows the energy in your body to flow and your mind to be clear. It is one of the best ways to keep your stress levels down.

Self-respecting your feelings will allow your life to be inspired and give you the sense of being more supported by the Universe. It will help boost your immune system and improve the function of your nervous system. Start by taking just a few minutes in the morning and at night to breathe, and write your thoughts down in a journal. This simple practice can begin to open the door to your heart.

Here is a great Meditation exercise that can help to clear you mind, release negativity and deepen your connection to your spirit and your authentic self:

7 Wave Meditation:

• Sit with hands together, resting thumbs on your breast bone
• Remembering to breathe slowly and completely; allow the breath to come all the way down into the belly.
•  Slow down the breath to 8 or 10 counts in; pause for 4 counts; exhale slowly for 8 or 10 counts for about 3 to 5 breaths.
• Then vibrate the sound of “Sat” (which means truth), then the sound “Nam” (which means your Name), on your exhale.
• The first sound is long: SaaaaaaaaaT; imagine 6 waves coming up with the aaa sound. On each wave, carry the sound through the chakras, or energy centers, beginning at the base of the spine at the rectum.
• Continue up to the second center, the genitals; the third center, the navel point; the fourth at the heart; the fifth at the throat; the sixth at the brow point at the forehead;
• End the exhale with “Nam” stressing the mmmm sound at the top of your head. Inhale slowly and start the sound again up the spine.

If you are not comfortable with these sounds you can also use “I AM”. Use a short “I”, long “aaaaa” for the first 6 waves and end with “mmmm” for the seventh at the top of your head.

Establish a practice of 3 minutes a day and increase to 5, 7 and eventually 11 minutes…. The power of your intention to take time for your internal well-being will begin to transform how you navigate your life.  As you release the resistance to feeling, you can soar on your journey towards a more Joy-Full heart

Remember to take time to breathe. © 2001-2012 Louise is an international inspirational speaker, author, creator of JoyFull Yoga and JoyFull living coaching. She owns JoyFull Yoga LLC in Jacksonville where she offers private sessions and group classes.  For more information on classes in Jacksonville visit www.joyfull-yoga.com; (541)899-0707  For more JoyFull Living tips, on-line classes and information about Louise visit www.louiselavergne.com

December is an especially great time to do your own personal “year in review.” I can’t believe the year is almost over… there were so many things I thought I would accomplish this year. Realizing I’m about out of time stirs the feeling of disappointment. This year brought me challenges and health crises that created delays. I spent a great deal of this year in my “spiritual cave.” I had to let go at times of the pressure of “getting everything done.” Instead, I gave myself time and space to heal and deal. What a year!!!  The disappointment quickly vanishes as I contemplate all the unexpected gifts that manifested as a result. I realize how much I did accomplished  by staying connected to what was unfolding for me in the moment  rather than what I had “planned.”  I feel deep joy and gratitude. It’s amazing what can happen when we let go of expectations, judgments, and “shoulds”, for ourselves AND from others!

Joy-Full Living is about becoming less “goal” minded.   I can hear some of you saying: “If I don’t have goals, I’ll never get anything done.”  A goal-driven way of life can become a rushed life, focused only on getting “it” done. I choose a life driven by inspiration. For me it is a creative and transformative way of living. It offers the experience of being connected to the present moment, allowing ourselves to be guided towards goals. Inspiration “creates,” thinking “does.” As I assist my clients with this process of being and shifting from a self-judging, mental way of navigating, to a more intuitive, feeling way, I also get to witness their transformation. Wow! What a gift.

Take a moment and think about what you want…. Now “feel” what you want. It may be the same thing, but when it comes from a feeling place the ride is very different. It becomes a creative process that honors and respects you and your feelings along the way. I am talking about living in Grace. If one chooses to be a human being, inspiration is a good fit. If one prefers to live as a human “doer”, then staying in the head is more comfortable. As a former human “doer” I have come to deeply appreciate living as a human being. For me it has resulted in a life that is more heart centered, where there is more space for Divine help and inspiration. I am less ego driven by the need to accomplish goals to feel better about myself or ignoring my needs in order to serve the goal. With this process I was able to release my expectations for this year and see how much I did accomplish that served me in a profound way.  As I finally began to emerge from my healing inner cave this fall, I allowed opportunities to manifest and open up for me. Things like being appointed the official wellness adviser for the International Corporate Games.

This year, as I look at my own year in review, I really get the impact of my JoyFull Living tools and appreciate the gifts of my daily practice. Living in Grace is a choice and a gift you give to yourself.  Take time to celebrate all the joys and challenges of your year with gratitude, forgiveness and peace.

Louise Lavergne

Wishing you great Joy for the New Year. . Remember to take time to breathe. © 2001-2012 www.joyfull-yoga.com; (541)899-0707 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (541)899-0707     end_of_the_skype_highlighting Louise the creator of JoyFull living coaching  & owns JoyFull Yoga LLC in Jacksonville.

What a wonderful opportunity we have this month with
Thanksgiving just around the corner. It is traditionally a celebration of the
harvest, a time to get together with family and friends, deciding on who will
cook what and making travel plans.  It’s
easy to forget the most important part: taking time to be grateful. Most of us
spend a lot of time focusing on what we don’t have and thinking about all the
things we feel we need to “fix”, such as physical issues like weight loss,
illness, or emotional issues like depression or financial stress. As we focus
on what we are lacking, we close ourselves off to the natural flow of
abundance. Conversely, gratitude opens the door to prosperity and abundance. I love that Thanksgiving is non-denominational
and available to everyone. Saying thank you and
focusing on grateful feelings via prayer and/or meditation is a great way to
relieve stress, and elevate our consciousness. It is one of the core
elements of JoyFull yoga. Since yoga means union, it offers the opportunity to
acknowledge with gratitude all the parts of ourselves, others and the current
circumstances of our life.

Practicing the Yoga of Thanksgiving:

Begin by taking time for yourself. Plan to be
undisturbed for 5 to 10 minutes. Decide to give yourself your full attention…..
Receive it… say Thank you.

Then breathe gently and receive each breath as you
would a precious gift. Slow it down as much as you can, softening the belly to
expand on the breath. Exhale with gratitude. Do this for a few more breaths.
Take time to pause with each inhale, staying focused on the gift and wonder of
each breath. Try to count to 8 or more as you breathe in, pausing for the same count
as you receive the gift of the breath; then giving back to the Universe on the
exhale for the same count.  In this
moment there is no end to the supply of breaths.  Feel a connection to the great abundance of
the Universe.

Now begin to acknowledge each beat of your heart. You
can put your right fingers on the inside of your left wrist and find your pulse
or put your hands flat on your chest.  As
you continue to breathe slowly, stay focused on your heartbeat, acknowledging
the gift of each beat.

Then relax your hands, palms facing up and begin to
think of something you feel grateful for about yourself. … Think about all the
things that are right about you! Acknowledge the gift of you, as you are right now…
the gift of your Life…. Receive the gratitude, then mentally say thank you.

Acknowledge the gift of what is right in your life
now, starting with the opportunity of this moment. Breathe in gratitude, then exhale,
mentally vibrating thank you.

Now, as you bring your attention to a challenge in
your life, be willing to open to the gift of this struggle. Be willing to have
it be revealed to you … Don’t look for answers, just be willing to receive with
no expectations of when.

Now, acknowledge the gift of the people in your life.
Breathe in gratitude, then exhale, mentally vibrating thank you.

Acknowledge the gift of the great beauty of our
Valley, the air, the rivers, the mountains etc… Breathe in gratitude, then exhale,
mentally vibrating thank you.

Begin
your gratitude affirmation: (either the one below or your own)

“I
now acknowledge all the gifts in my life: the gift of life itself, health and well-being,

The gift of love and
support of friends and family and the kindness of strangers,

I now acknowledge the
gifts of the beauty of nature all around me–mountains, rivers, trees,

I now acknowledge the gifts
of the strength I’ve gained and am gaining from all the challenges in my life,

I am grateful for the
opportunities to serve and make the world a better place.”

Now experience a healing
energy returning to you from nature…blessing you…energizing you.

“I receive the abundance of the Universe in all
areas of my life, that I may in each moment, each day, feel better and better.”

Allow yourself to let
go of any resistance or tensions in your body. Begin to feel the joy in your
heart and open up to accept and embrace the gift of NOW, the gift of Joy-Full
Living. Remember
to take time to breathe. © Louise Lavergne 2001-2011 www.joyfull-yoga.com; 541-899-0707 Louise
is a JoyFull living coach, Motivational speaker & owns JoyFull Yoga LLC where she teaches Yoga, Meditation and offers Sound Healing sessions in Jacksonville.

From that place you enhance your powers of attraction for relationships and situations that support your true happiness and release the flow of abundance in all areas of your Life .
This workshop is for all those seeking abundance and balance in their lives .

Sugested donation $15 Email joyfullyoga@gmail.com or call 541-899-0707

This one is called a SuperMoon – very close to the Earth, amplifying the Moon’s  emotional and psychological energy even more so than a regular Full Moon, so be sure to stay grounded, breathe, and be aware.

The focus of this Libra full moon is relationships – the ultimate mirror. What are your relationships reflecting back to you?

With the Aries Sun and Libra Moon you have to opportunity for the rebalancing of the masculine and feminine energies within you – sometimes called Yin and Yang. We all need both to feel balanced and whole.

At its highest expression, the Sacred Masculine takes courageous action with integrity for the greater good and the Divine Feminine embodies compassion, peace, harmony, intuition and the energy of Oneness.

This next sound healing will assist you in finding the balance within yourself. As we balance the two hemisphere of the brain we are able to have access to clear intuition with the ability to take productive actions. IF you have been feeling a little confused or overwhelmed or have been feeling a lack of energy, or even more challenging is the Aries energy making you want to “do” something  to no avail…don’t worry , you will soon be able to gain greater clarity and take action. This has been transformative, sacred time – not so much action time- this requires us to go deepe with awareness. Slow down and take some quiet time and gentle care of yourself. (Mercury will be direct after the 21st)

THis is a great time to practice yoga and meditation… They are  powerful tools to assist you in your transformation.

Hope to see you Monday night 6 pm.

Namaste

Louise

JoyFull Living by Louise Lavergne
A Happy Heart is a Healthier Heart

Valentine’s Day is not just a good occasion to eat chocolates; it also offers us the opportunity to think about the connection between our emotional hearts and our physical hearts.

People who are usually happy and enthusiastic are less likely to develop heart disease than those who tend to be glum, scientists say… and boosting positive emotions could help cut heart health risks. (As reported by Kate Kelland; London; 2010.)

Karina Davidson, PhD of Columbia University Medical Center led this research. Her findings suggested it might be possible to help prevent and decrease the risk of heart disease by enhancing people’s positive emotions. “Participants with no positive affect were at a 22 percent higher risk of… heart attack or angina …,” Davidson wrote in the European Heart Journal.

Over 10 year period, Davidson and her team followed 1,739 men and women who were taking part in a large health survey in Canada. “Trained nurses assessed the participants’ heart disease risk and measured negative emotions like depression, hostility and anxiety, as well as positive emotions like joy, happiness, excitement, enthusiasm and contentment,  collectively known as a “positive affect,” she explained. Those with “positive effect” had lowered their risk by 22%.

One of the reasons for this is that positive emotions help lower stress levels. Stress is one of the major causes of heart disease. Practicing positive thinking with affirmations such as “Every day in every way I am better and better” and taking time for self-care routines like yoga, walking and meditation are great ways to keep your heart both happy and healthy.

For Valentine’s Day, why not share a JoyFull yoga class with a friend or partner. The class offers tools to cross over the turbulent waters of stress to arrive together at the end of a class to a peaceful, joyful inner place.

Here is a simple and effective yoga exercise to practice at home with a partner to improve communication and ease tension:

• Start by sitting back to back, if using chairs sit sideways with the back of the chair at your side, so your backs can lean on each other. You can also hold hands to deepen the exercise if that feels comfortable.
• Begin taking slow deep breaths as you lean on each other. You may find that after a short time your breathing is synchronized.
• After a few moments, if it feels good to you, take turns leaning back and forth very slowly, giving each other a chance to stretch forward a little more each time.

This month our Sound Healing and Guided Relaxation class (Feb 11 at 9:30 am and Feb 21 at 6 pm) will offer you an opportunity to awaken more joy & peace for a happy heart and to feel more enthusiasm for your life. (Call or email for more info and/or to RSVP).

 Remember to take time to breathe and say I love you, from the heart.

. © Louise Lavergne 2001-2009  www.joyfull-yoga.com; 899-0707 Louise is the owner of JoyFull Yoga LLC in Jacksonville where she offers group and private sessions. She is the yoga provider for Triune Integrative Medicine in Medford where she works with patients of Dr. Robin Miller.  She is also a Motivational speaker.  She has been practicing and teaching yoga and meditation for over 20 years.

The impact of our thoughts and prayers are greatly enhanced during a New Moon Solar Eclipseand at the beginning of a brand new year…  How perfect it is to finish  the year and energize our intentions for 2011 .

We started a powerful process at the New Year’s Eve Meditation to prepare for this .. Enjoy the energy this brings for you and set your intentions for the new year NOW again…

 Forgive and let go of the past as you enter into this New year. Be who you are, fully integrated with your soul purpose.. breathe in the NOW… see what happens as you look forward more and backwards less….

Dwell in Peace

Dwell in Light

Dwell in  Love

Namaste

Louise

The Winter Solstice is a celebration of the re-birth of the Light.

This year, the actual moment of the Solstice comes at 3:38 pm PST. I invite you to take the time, in the days before, or the day of, Tuesday, December 21st, to take a few moments to do a meditation in which you ask to be cleared of any and all things that are not serving you and /or are blocking the airwaves of your life. This is the most powerful time in which to let go of what no longer works for you in your life. You don’t have to be specific, let go of anything that you are carrying around that no longer supports who you are. Just ask the Universe, God or Spirit to remove all impediments to your happiness.

This is a wonderful time in which to send a wish or prayer out into the Universe, envisioning yourself happy, healthy and prosperous. Open your heart to receive the blessings of the Universe, allow it to assist you in fully opening your heart, mind, and physical body to successfully merge and align with the new energy. This will help you realign with who you are, as to why you are here.  Realigning with your true purpose here on Earth also means realigning with the essence of who you are: Love, Joy, and remember that you are a spiritual being!

On this day we will also have a total eclipse of the Full Moon. Eclipses bring changes, and their influence is considered about 10 times that of a normal full or new moon.  If an eclipse occurs on your birthday, the changes in your life may be stronger but all of us are being pushed to change in some way… We often resist change, even when it’s positive. But, change brings opportunities to grow emotionally and spiritually.

SPECIAL YOGA and MEDITATION CLASS with Gong relaxation

TO ASSIST YOU IN THIS SPECIAL TIME: Tuesday December 21 at 9 am and 5:30pm

Class is almost full so please reserve your space  (if you haven’t yet):

Email: joyfullyoga@gmail.com    suggested donation $12 or any amount you wish to donate to support JoyFull Yoga is gratefully accepted. Happy Holidays to you and your beloveds