ISSUE 13 SEPTEMBER 2021
THE WONDERS OF LEARNING
EXERCISING YOUR BRAIN
YOGA FOR STUDYING
FACING THE FEAR OF LEARNING CRYSTALS FOR ENHANCED LEARNING
Table of Contents 03 04 08 11 12 14 16
Letter from the Editor Tidying Tips The Indian Head Massage The Wonders of Learning Crystals for Enhanced Learning Affirmations Facing the Fear of Learning
18 29 32 34 36 38
Full Moon in Aquarius September Reading with Intuitive Goddess Priya Monthly Movement Realizing the True Value of People Yoga for Studying Exercising Your Brain
Letter from the Editor Dear Readers, We are officially in September! In many ways, I can’t help but feel that this is a fresh start. Of course the start of a new month is a great time to reset, but this month we will also experience a change in season, as well as the beginning of a new school year. For some, this will be the first time in a while that you will be going back or sending your children back to a physical school. While I will say that summer is my favourite time of year, as a kid I remember looking forward to September and going back to school. It meant I got to see my friends, create new memories with them, get new clothes and school supplies, learn new things and I had a new teacher, all of which felt like a chance to learn something new about myself. Now that I am no longer in school I am using all of these new beginnings as an opportunity to reboot and I encourage you to do the same. Take some time to revisit your goals as well as consider any new goals you may have. Prepare yourself for all of the new and exciting experiences coming your way. This is a perfect time to be open to the possibility of anything. This month, Energi Magazine hopes to help you discover an enjoyment for learning and finding new ways to create growth for your mind, body and spirit. Sending love and light, Aria de Lima
TIDYING TIPS Ask yourself, what is your relationship with your home? Are you respectful of your space? Are you respectful of yourself? As it is said, our homes are a reflection of how we view ourselves in life. Steven Covey once said, “Begin with the End in Mind.” This asks you to make a conscious effort to envision what you want in life. We all have 24 hours in a day, and while we all have different lifestyles, creating and following through on ways to keep our home clean and organized will empower us to live more consciously.
1.
Up and Out of Bed
When you wake up in the morning, consider opening your windows, even if only for 5 minutes, even in the winter. Instant fresh air improves the quality of health and benefits natural ventilation. Next, when back in your room for your morning routines, make your bed. Making your bed takes very little time; it can be under 5 minutes. This will give you the feeling that you have already accomplished something in the beginning of the day and since your bed is the largest furniture piece in the room, the bedroom instantly feels put together. Extra tip: Pick a day of the week and that morning strip the bedding and throw it in the wash. Choose that same day every week to help keep it as part of your weekly routine.
2. Tools of the Trade: Simple and Effective Cleaning With any job, having the right tools in place is key. Knowing what you need and where they are housed is the first step to efficiency. When it comes to cleaning, investing in a vacuum that supports your busy schedule makes it easy. I am in love with cordless vacuums. It’s always available for me to grab and vacuum rooms in under 5 minutes. Dust is a big factor of low vibrating energy as it sits on our baseboards, light fixtures, atop of wall art, etc. Start at the top of the room and work towards the bottom as the dust naturally falls. Microfibre cloths are amazing for grabbing dust sitting on tables, decor accents and any place that needs a wipe. Removing the dust first with a dry cloth makes it much easier to clean with a spray next. I love using essential oils that help eliminate bacteria and clean surfaces. Vinegar and baking soda are also amazing cleaning ingredients. Other valuable tools are the squeegee to eliminate mold in showers and are also great for cleaning windows, a scrub brush for tiles, tubs and tough stains, a toothbrush for the smaller areas and lastly, the bucket and mop, with a detachable mop head to throw in the wash. Keep the products you use frequently in an easily accessible place so that you can always do a quick clean when you notice it needs to be done. For example, keep cleaning spray and micro/paper towel under the bathroom sink for a quick wipe down of sink and toilet.
3. Maintaining Clutter: Maintaining our clutter is one of the most effective self-improvement tactics available for us. Clutter is stuck energy and clearing allows your space to flow. With mail, sift through what you need, such as a bill, and place it in its designated area, and for the rest of the mail you don’t need, it can go straight to recycling. Clutter plays a significant role on how we feel in our homes and within ourselves. The room becomes messy and we begin to feel overwhelmed, anxious and helpless. Alleviate this pressure and maintain it throughout the day. Begin by looking back at the room before you plan to leave and see what needs attention; shoes put away, pillows straightened, glasses in the dishwasher, recycling emptied, etc. Clutter bombards our minds with excessive stimuli, making us feel like the work is never done. Set a timer for 5 minutes to clear and clean a room. You will be amazed at how much you can do in 5 minutes and your room will thank you.
4. “The Heart of the Home” - Your Kitchen This is where we are nourished and provided for. There are many busy zones in this room. An untidy and disorganized kitchen makes it challenging to do the tasks at hand. Do a clean sweep, start the dishwasher, clear off counters and clean the stove and floors at the end of the day. Once again, set a timer. For 10 minutes, clean your fridge before going to do groceries. This is the best opportunity to do this, as there is the least amount of food, which makes it easier to clean and see what foods need to be replenished.
5. Energy Cleansing The ancient civilizations and native culture often used space clearing techniques. The methods and tools varied but the intent was the same - to create greater harmony in a living space. If there has been an argument, sadness or depression, the emotional energy is retained in your space. Everything contains energy. Just as we see dust accumulating as a result of daily activities, the same happens on an energetic level. Quick and easy suggestions are opening the window to get in some fresh air, burning incense, bringing in some crystals and diffusing essential oils in a diffuser. Another practice to consider is using the Hawaiian forgiveness prayer called Ho'oponopono. There are four phrases to speak to the room: 1. I love you (name the room) 2. I am sorry (anything you are sorry about; maybe neglecting it) 3. Please forgive me 4. Thank You (This could be anything you are grateful for with the room)
It wasn't a waste of time if you learned something
THE INDIAN HEAD MASSAGE BY: LISA BRENNER
Massage has always played an integral and natural role in Indian life. Starting from birth, infants often receive a daily massage to keep them in good health. After about the age of six they are taught to share a massage with family members on a regular basis. Indian Head Massage arose from this tradition. Women used these techniques as part of their grooming routine, utilizing different oils, herbs and spices to keep their hair strong, lustrous and in beautiful condition. Over time barbers would include an invigorating scalp massage to stimulate and refresh their clients’ hair and scalp. This became known as Champissage. Champi is a Hindi word meaning shampoo. Being ‘champi-ed’ meant having your head massaged. Another form of Indian head massage is known as Shiroabhyanga. Shiro means head and Abhyanga means massage. This treatment utilizes medicated oils that are gently poured onto the forehead, allowing the oil to saturate the hair and scalp. Then, gentle but firm massage is given to the entire head, neck and shoulders, which are areas where tension tends to accumulate. While massage is wonderful for relieving physical tension, it also works on an emotional level too, calming the spirit, promoting relaxation and relieving stress. Receiving gentle, loving, rhythmic touch has a profound effect on the nervous system, leaving one feeling peaceful, calm and rested. Let’s take a closer look at some of the benefits of receiving an Indian Head Massage.
Skin and hair Massaging the scalp improves circulation, stimulates hair growth and helps to spread the natural oils produced by the scalp along the whole length of the hair, allowing them to protect and condition right to the tips. Massage also stimulates the lymphatic system, helping to drain away the toxins that gather in your skin and muscles. Regular sessions can help improve the texture and tone of your skin, leaving it noticeably smoother and softer. Muscular strains and headaches The neck and shoulder area tends to hold a significant amount of tension. Indian Head Massage not only releases the tension in this area but also stimulates the blood and lymphatic system to help eliminate toxins and facilitate healing. Massage around the head and neck also encourages the circulation of cerebral fluid which can help reduce the pain from headaches and migraines. Reduced stress and anxiety This form of massage is very helpful in relaxing the body and melting away stress. It can literally feel like a weight is being lifted from your shoulders! A decrease in stress levels can help improve mood, sleep quality and your immune system. Other benefits include reduced sinus pain, improved memory and concentration, increased energy and diminished eye fatigue and strain. With all of these benefits it’s easy to see why this head massage technique has been around for thousands of years and continues to gain in popularity. If people massaged each other’s head and hair on a regular basis, the world would be a happier place!
P ro duc h e lp t s t o ra is e the next gen e ra t io n g lo b of al c it iz ens
The Wonders of Learning Impossible is possible when you learn to step outside your comfort zone, when you turn your ideas into actions and when you stick to your plans. Impossible is possible because learning is the key. By Chelsey.L.Stailing
CRYSTALS FOR ENHANCED LEARNING By Andrea Sipcic Clear Quartz As clear quartz is an extremely powerful and versatile stone, it promotes harmony within all things spiritual, physical, emotional and mental. This includes clearing the mind of distracting thoughts and mental chatter, as the stone has potent cleansing abilities which positively affect the mind in this way. This allows for a clearer view of your goals and desires. It also has the ability to aid in holding onto information, making it a great option for studying and school work. Clear Quartz is also great to use along with other crystals to heighten their powers and provide a greater sense of focus and concentration. Amethyst This highly spiritual stone is perfect for keeping you centred, focusing your mind and concentrating on the task at hand. Furthermore, it helps to foster peaceful thoughts, allowing you to keep your mind on track and high vibing. As it encourages relaxed thinking and staying level-headed, we also keep away from tendencies to over-complicate and as a result, get overwhelmed. Amethyst is an ideal stress-relieving stone, which is why it is so effective to use during meditation and a great option for work and school related stress and anxiety. It is also very helpful as a sleep aid, which is a key factor in staying mentally focused, clear and driven. Fluorite This one is known as the crystal of the mind or genius stone. It enhances mental focus and clarifies doubts. Its vibrations stimulate the electrical charges in the brain, allowing you to effectively yet effortlessly study and learn. It opens up new ways for your brain to work, tuning into and accessing both the right and left hemispheres, which helps to open your mind to new ideas. Fluorite has a unique ability to bring order from chaos. It helps if you’re getting distracted and improves concentration. It also helps to remove mental or creative blocks.
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Affirmations I approach learning new things with joy and ease I love knowing that learning can be fun and enjoyable It excites me that there is so much to learn about myself I set the pace I learn and grow at I allow my mind to stay open to new ideas and multiple perspectives Accessing knowledge feels empowering and expansive
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FACING THE FEAR OF LEARNING By: Aria de Lima The concept of fight or flight connects to the way the human brain reacts to fear. When you are in a state of fear, do you stand your ground, push through and fight, or do you run away? When we are young, we are less aware of possible dangers and negative outcomes of a situation but as we age this tends to change. Taking on a new learning experience can be scary and oftentimes we let our brain focus on all of the things that could result in failure or danger in an attempt at self preservation. Maybe you are considering learning to play the piano. When you think about it at first, the idea seems simple and exciting. It is when the “what if” questions pop up that the uneasiness begins to set in.
What if you can’t find time to take lessons?
What if classes are too expensive?
What if you are not good at it?
What if people ask you to play for them and you aren’t good?
Before you know it, you're in that horrible nightmare where you're on a stage in front of a theatre full of people, you can’t play your instrument, and somehow you have forgotten your pants. Meanwhile, you haven’t even taken a single step towards even trying. Now you have scared yourself and put yourself in a state of fight or flight. You have created a space of doubt but the truth is the only way you will know is if you try. While there are so many different strategies to overcoming the fear of learning something new, here are some of the ones that often work for me. START SMALL Break the task down into smaller, more manageable pieces. In the case of learning a new instrument, start by getting online and seeing what kinds of classes are available to you. Once you’ve done that, try signing up for just one class and see how that goes. Creating smaller steps helps make the overall task seem less daunting. Addressing each step, one at a time, will allow you to accomplish little goals instead of focusing on the long journey to accomplishing the major goal. THINK ABOUT WHAT COULD GO RIGHT It is really easy to let your brain go straight to focusing on what could go wrong. It can be kind of instinctual in order to try and prevent failure or danger. However, this only helps convince you why you shouldn’t pursue the task. Instead, consider what could go right. For example, maybe you want to try a new sport.
What if the experience introduces you to new friends?
What if exercise helps better your health?
What if you love it?
What if you learn you are actually amazing at it?
GIVE YOURSELF A REMINDER The desire to learn something new often comes when you are looking for further self discovery or when it is a requirement in order to get to something else you want or need. This could be something like learning a new skill to fit a job requirement for your dream job. Regardless of the reason, in the moments where you feel discouraged, remind yourself why you are doing it to begin with. In some cases, you may realize that the reason you started to explore the new learning experience is not enough to cause you to continue. However, if it is truly meant to be, it will be motivation to keep you going and reach your goal.
Full Moon in Aquarius By: Savita Moon Child
Artwork by: Maliha Ali
On August 22nd, 2021 the sun went from the fixed and confident sign of Leo into the practical and down to earth mutable sign of Virgo. We also came into our second Aquarius moon of the year. The first Aquarius full moon was last month, an opening to a new energy. This full blue moon gives us another opportunity to rethink, reflect and reset all our desires and goals that may have been incomplete and needed closing out. The energy of this moon makes that possible, shedding some light and allowing us to release something once and for all. The relationship with our emotions might be more complicated, as the moon in Aquarius has a strong need for emotional freedom. Making yourself a part of a group of people will help us understand our feelings and free ourselves from negative emotions. It is all about frequency and becoming aware of what the full moon is illuminating for us that we may not have been fully aware of and how it can be amended. The Full Moon in Aquarius relates to frequency. It's important to think about what type of frequency we are putting out into the world. If the energy you are putting out is of kindness, generosity and love, you will find the same frequency automatically coming back to you. This full moon allows us to take heed and become aware of the type of frequency or energy we are putting out, meaning our actions, our thoughts and our words. Aquarius is an air sign, ruled by thoughts and communication, making it a strong indication to be wary of. Are you aware of what you are thinking? Are you checking your vibe in that present moment? How are you feeling? Can you change how you are thinking at that moment? The Aquarius moon is also about realigning with our souls’ purpose and having a deeper trust in ourselves, in life, being alright with not fitting in, feeling truly comfortable in our own skin, doing what we absolutely love and being ourselves
unapologetically. This can be healing, listening, supporting, creating, inspiring or just simply offering out our heart and soul to the world. Aquarians are natural visionaries and humanitarians of our world and do not shy away from being of service. This moon will help lead us into our full potential and power to heal, prioritizing community over self and making changes in only the best way we can. What are you passionate about? What do you do that makes your heart and soul sing? What one thing would you do, if you could every day for the rest of your life? Another positive is that the full moon makes a sweet and close conjunction with the planet of fortune and expansion, Jupiter. This is a beautiful aspect as again it is about being the sign of community and collaboration. Jupiter conjunct the moon creates more opportunities to come together with people, be it online or in the physical to heal, create and make a change. We are so much stronger together, so use this as an opportunity to get our desires and things we are passionate about done successfully in a collaboration. This is a ‘bigger picture’ moon; a ‘I can visualize my future’ moon. Aquarians embrace the future rather than being apprehensive about it, so go with it and embrace all that this Jupiter conjunction is bringing along with it, which usually smells like luck and success. This can also mean embracing some discomfort and change, as Aquarius will want to break free and rebel against anything that may hold us back. The energy of this moon will have us yearning for freedom, which indicates that it is a good time to make some big changes in our life and in our world. It’s a time to let go of old beliefs, finding out what makes us tick and makes ‘us’ us. If we do feel a little uneasy with the big changes the Universe has in store for us, don’t worry! We have a wonderful trine (where three planets harmoniously support one another) from Uranus to Mars and Mercury in Virgo. This energy will allow us to ground ourselves comfortably, so try to do whatever it takes
to be present in your physical body. Remember to breathe and connect to Mother Earth and trust that we are being guided. To reiterate, this Aquarius full moon is about the greater vision and our contribution to the world and the people around us. It will enable us to take what is in the heart to heal, create, inspire and share it with the world and overcome and release any stagnant
energy that no longer serves us. It will be a time of illuminating some truth guiding us to make clear and concise choices. It’s about our freedom and our growth towards our desired paths. May this full moon bring you all an abundance of light, clarity, freedom and release. Love and Light, Savita Moon Child.
Ways to use this moon… 1. Connect your head and your heart. 2. Activate your activism. 3. Embrace belonging without fitting in. 4. Let it go. 5. Prepare for change. 6. Ground yourself.
Try some of these affirmations at this full moon: I am committed to helping others and raising the vibration of the Universe. I am unapologetically myself. I choose to shape my future in a balanced way between comfort and challenge. I know what I need to do to find freedom. I know myself; I trust myself; I know what I want out of life.
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www.SavitaMoonChild.com @savitamoonchild @savitamoonchild savitamoonchild@gmail.com
U
The Universe
Thank you for connecting with the Universe I am ready to put my desire out to you Universe What is your desire? I am ready for you to bring me my soulmate Hello! Are you there? Read
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"Emotional Healing Leads to Emotional Freedom" ~Chris Lee, Author
Do you know your ayurvedic body type? Take this FREE 3 minute quiz to find out! Discover your real personality type - your own unique combination of Doshas that no one else has! Uncover the hidden cause of physical and mental discomforts. Learn about your 'Prakruti' to understand why you face certain problems in your life as well as how to rectify your 'Vikruti' or 'Personal imbalance' through natural ways. Understand and others around you react the way they do and how you can minimize the negative elements in your relationships. Learn how you can use this discovery to feel better, get healthier and live a much happier life.
The ancient Indian "science of life" called Ayurveda explains that human beings, like the Universe, are made up of each of the five elements: Air, Space, Fire, Water, Earth and the Soul
Because we all have all of the elements in out bodies, we all have each of the doshas as well. But every one of us is born with a unique, individual balance of these doshas. So, no two of us are alike!
These elements. in their biological form are known as the Doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
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Every activity and function of our mind and body is dependant upon the balanced or unbalanced state of our doshas. It is these Dosha's constituting your biological set-up that play a role more critical that you can imagine.
Noah de Lima @intuitivemillennial noah@living365wellness.love
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September Reading with Intuitive Goddess Priya Card: Aiyana Vision - Way of the Divine Feminine Revealed The message from the Guides for September is that the energies of the month are calling for and supporting you to undergo deep self-reflection in order to connect and strengthen your level of self-awareness. It’s time to allow yourself to get very honest and true with what is really driving you as you move through the days of your life towards your goals and relationships. September, the Guides say, is a month to connect to your feminine energies regardless of your gender association. This involves allowing yourself to be vulnerable, compassionate and most importantly, authentic. It is a time to “get real” and drop any “b.s.” or excuses that you have been hiding behind or covering up. Being supporting and encouraging towards yourself during this process of self-revelation will benefit you far more than any form of negative self-talk, criticism or punishment. Depending on your self-determined state of readiness, you will begin to recognize and have more understanding of your patterns, your cycles, your passion and your purpose. During this time you may find it necessary to move onwards from some of your existing relationships and lifestyle choices. Take time to be aware of how you feel and function in each of your relationships, daily routines and interactions and observe any fluctuations in your energies, such as increases or decreases. Use these observations to adjust the way you engage in these areas, while setting an intention to make these adjustments from a place of love and wisdom rather than fear and negativity. By connecting to, uncovering and revealing your truth, you will increase the peace, ease and flow that surrounds you, even if the truth prompts an admission of something undesired or the need for personal transformation. Cycles always come to an end before a new one can begin. Card Deck: Earth Warriors Oracle Author: Alana Fairchild Artwork: Isabel Bryna Publisher: Blue Angel Publishing
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Monthly Movement By: Tanya Mouland
KNEE HUGS Knee hugs is an effective and easy-to-do exercise from Vision Gym1 to organize the core postural muscles to release visual over or under-focus. This movement re-establishes kinesthetic awareness of any tension in the hips, helps release it and at the same time frees up the visual system for appropriate use and focus. How to do Knee Hugs: 1. Lie on your back on the floor. 2. Using both arms, hug one knee in as close to your chest as possible. 3. Other leg remains straight and relaxed on the floor. 4. Imagine your eyes and your hips are connected. 5. Full belly breathing as you release tension in your hips and hamstrings, lengthening the muscles in this area. 6. As hips and hamstrings relax, so do your eyes. 7. Hold for 4-5 full breaths or 20-30 seconds. 8. Repeat with the other leg. Variations: Can also be done sitting. Benefits: 1. Improves eye-body coordination 2. Increases balance and coordination by releasing tension in the hips 3. Releases over-focus and stimulates under-focus 4. Helps counteract the impact of sitting for extended periods of time Submitted by Tanya Mouland Licensed instructor and consultant in Brain Gym®, Blomberg Rhythmic Movement and Movement Exploration 1 Vision Gym are the exercises from Visioncircles, a course in the Brain Gym® program. Brain Gym® is a registered trademark of Brain Gym® International dba Breakthroughs International. Dennison, Gail. and Paul E. Dennison. Vision Circles Handbook. Ventura, CA: Edu-Kinesthetics, Inc, Ventura, CA. 1993.
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REALIZING THE TRUE VALUE OF PEOPLE BY: CHRIS LEE The announcement blared over the loudspeaker, startling the entire classroom. “Christopher Lee, please report to Dr. Dawdell’s office immediately!” I sat for a moment processing why the assistant principal was paging me to come to his office. I had a wellearned reputation as a class clown and prankster, but I couldn’t think of what I must’ve done to be summoned via public announcement. I stood to walk out of the classroom. My homeroom teacher, Mrs. Knott jabbed, “I don’t know what you did this time, but you better take all your stuff; you’re probably not coming back.” I had been called to the principal's office on several occasions, but never over the loudspeaker. I gathered my things and unwillingly made my way to the school office. Dr. Dawdell asked me to go into a conference room. When I walked into the room, there was a woman sitting there that I did not recognize. Seated beside her was Mary. I had been mercilessly teasing Mary every day. She was a tall, gangly ginger with long red hair, freckled fair-skin and large teeth. She always laughed at my teasing, so I never thought much of it. Mary’s mother, however, said that she would come home in tears every day. She had gotten to the point where she dreaded even going to school. I thought that her laughing was consent and agreement with my rude, immature quips. In actuality, Mary laughed mostly in hopes that I would stop. I felt a strong urge to “right” this “wrong.” The next day at lunch I sat by Mary. She tensed
up and immediately started gathering up her lunch bag. I tried to convince her that I came in peace, but she left anyway. Eventually, after several days, I regained Mary’s trust and we began to talk. I was surprised to find out how much we had in common. Both of our grandfathers worked for Ford Motor Company, we both liked pizza and we both had little sisters. I don’t think that I ever fully gained Mary’s trust, but I could tell that she appreciated not being picked on. Befriending Mary after bullying her provided one of the most valuable lessons that I learned during my school years. I had not really grasped how my words affected others. In my young mind, bullying was something physical. I learned that words can be just as painful - if not more painful than physical harm. When I got to know Mary, she became a real person to me, with her own struggles, hopes
and fears. It changed how I looked at everyone from that point on. I realized the value of compassion. A random act of kindness or even something as simple as a warm greeting could go a long way toward helping someone make it through the day. With all of the term papers, mathematical equations and history facts (sure, school teaches us book smarts), the most valuable lessons that I learned during the most sociable years of my life were the character lessons and friendships that I developed.
Yoga for Studying By: Premadasa Gangadeen
Many years ago before establishing a personal yoga practice, an elder in my family shared with me a tip on improving my study technique. At the time it sounded too simple to be true or effective to me. However, once I put my reservations aside, it proved to be an essential tip not only for study, but for great life reflection and improvement. Before I reveal this life-changing technique, I’d like to provide a brief and high-level overview of the third, fourth and seventh limbs of ashtanga yoga philosophy - asana, pranayama and dhyana respectively. Simply put, asana is a direct reference to a posture that the consciousness/ awareness of an individual can literally sit in to find a sense of ease. There are numerous studies and information available in addition to my previous articles detailing the many aspects and benefits for the body, mind and spirit regarding yoga postures and practice. Pranayama is the conscious regulation of one’s breath to harness, process and bring benefit to one’s life energy and experience. Considering that the breath is the link between body and mind, it is paramount to ensure that we observe its practice regularly. Dhyana or meditation is the tool used to observe, train and feed the mind for greater effect on the body and breath by revealing to us our true nature. Meditation is naturally inherent in all living beings and there are countless techniques available for all aptitudes and ages. So what is this simple tip? It’s called consolidation. Initially the technique that was originally shared with me involved how to prepare for an examination. Once the exam material has been gathered and organized, the next step is to check for any opportunities to simplify the organization of the information that is about to be tested. Before actually studying in the evening, I’d perform some form of light exercise of up to one hour, then a cool down and cool shower, followed by a light meal and then to the seat of my desk to resume my study practice.
After about 60-90 minutes it would be straight to bed without reading anything else or watching a screen. The material that would be tested would be the last ‘input’ for the day so that while the body rested, the mind could consolidate the newly studied information for greater recall in the morning. The preceding exercise and meal was meant to put the body at ease to make for minimal distraction whilst studying. I can attest to this technique from personal practice during my college training as being highly effective and accessible. I highly encourage the above for all to try for themselves. Through the lens of yoga, I made my own adjustments to the above for even greater success. However, my adjustment required greater dedication to the topic of study to make it an allconsuming daily practice. One has to live and breathe their topic of study in order to get inside of the concepts to then embody it in the world to then naturally speak to it. Try to make the entire process as fun as possible to reduce any internal or external resistance to the study material. For greater study, I made my adjustment to insert the practice of asana, pranayama and dhyana in between study periods of 60-90 minutes. For example, I would study then practice asana to embody the study material. I would then study the same material again before going into a pranayama practice to literally breathe the material in and out of my body. (The process of reflection felt stronger to me at this point.) I could then choose to study some more before going into a meditation or simply go straight into meditation after pranayama. If it happened to be in the evening, my meditation practice would merge into a yoga nidra practice and following that, I would retire for the night. It was during those times that I felt that the technique was at its strongest for me. I’d love to hear your thoughts, feedback and experience on the above if you’re willing to share. Please feel free to reach me at premadasa@playuyoga.com. Om Shri Gurubhyo Namaha Salutations to all of the Gurus
For yourself, try implementing some of these strategies into your routine and see what works for you. As I did, you’ll most likely adjust your approach; however I’d like to highlight a few points for greater effect: Keep it simple - whether it’s the study material or your practice, simplicity is best as you’ll maximize your time and energy for optimal efficiency. Don’t skip any steps - yoga practice is integral for living in the high vibrations of awareness and your study will ultimately be of benefit to yourself, your family and community, so treat it as though it’s your life’s purpose and for the greater good. Have fun!
BY: ANDREA SIPCIC
EXERCISING YOUR BRAIN
The importance and benefits of regular physical exercise is something that we hear people discuss often. While conversations about mental health are becoming more and more common, it is important that we also talk about the way that we actually exercise our brains. Practicing things like memory building, problem solving and analysis help keep our minds sharp. While one of the known advantages to exercise is the way it positively affects our brain (and it really is amazing for it), it seems that there is not a whole lot of emphasis on the different ways to use our brains and keep it in shape, which seems kind of silly considering we use our brains for everything that we do. There are many different activities and ways to use and exercise the brain. Here are a few fun and enjoyable activities to help keep your brain active and strong.
Puzzles Whether it be jigsaws, word puzzles or sudoku, puzzles are considered a whole brain workout. Here we are engaged in a mental hunt for something, like a detective in mystery stories or a scientist uncovering a new discovery. This hunt itself is what stimulates different areas of the brain in a fun, engaging way. Learn Something New Take up a new hobby, learn a new language, or even just learn about something that has always interested you. With this you are exercising the brain in new ways, improving cognitive functions like memory, attention to detail, concentration and problem solving. Ensure it is something that you are genuinely interested in so you have a natural desire to learn about it. Dance Considered one of the most fun ways to move the body, you may never have thought that dance has as many benefits as it does, including mental. Aside from improving your mood, dance can ease depression and anxiety, enhance spatial awareness, improve memory and help develop new neural connections. Studies conducted by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2003 and North Dakota’s Minot State University in 2012 depict the many enhanced benefits to brain health that dance promotes, especially compared to other forms of movement. Read Seemingly simple and often underrated, reading is a classic when it comes to strengthening your brain. You’re actually engaging more than a few brain functions when reading, such as phonemic awareness, visual and auditory processes, comprehension, fluency and more. It also maintains your brain focused and concentrated and improves memory. Play Games Apart from some of the classics, now there are so many different, fun games that have been created with brain function and use in mind, especially online. There are many websites, programs and apps available that target all/most areas of the brain; Luminosity, Elevate, Peak, Braingle and Match 3D to name a few. These help you work on focus, memory, problem solving, mental agility, language, attention and more cognitive functions. Switch it up A great way to shake things up is to, from time to time, use your non-dominant hand to carry out certain tasks. For example, brush your teeth, write, or control the TV remote with your left hand if you’re right-handed. This simple task strengthens neural connections in the brain and activates the non-dominant brain hemisphere.
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