Myofascial release is the term used when referring to the various techniques used for releasing restrictions in the fascial tissues. Each technique involves a gentle application of pressure that slowly allows the body’s tissues to release down to the deepest levels and let go of physical restrictions.
Fascia is a complex network of connective tissue that extends continuously from your head to toe. This web of tissue surrounds and protects every other tissue and organ of the body. Fascia is a fibrous tissue that is extremely strong but is also very flexible.
Healthy fascia is relaxed and wavy in configuration, providing a cushioning of other tissues and structures. It has the ability to stretch and move without restriction. However, when one experiences physical trauma, emotional trauma, scarring, or inflammation, the fascia loses its pliability. It becomes tight, restricted, and a source of tension to the rest of the body.
Trauma, such as a fall, sports injury, car accident, whiplash, surgery or just habitual poor posture and repetitive stress injuries has cumulative effects on the body’s fascia.
We find Myofascial Release Techniques are particularly beneficial in managing chronic complaints such as fibromyalgia, chronic pain, complex regional pain syndromes, whiplash, headaches, carpel tunnel pain, frozen shoulder and plantar fasciitis.
Each technique involves a gentle application of pressure that slowly allows the body’s tissues to release down to the deepest levels and let go of physical restrictions.
It is a mild and gentle form of stretching that has a profound effect on the body, sometimes even incorporating an emotional release.
Responses to treatment vary with each person and the area being worked on. You may feel warmth, coldness, sensations of movement, twitching, tingling, heaviness, relaxation of part or all of the body.
Original article and pictures take www.corespirit.com site
My name is Maggie, I was born in 1990 and I have a tendency to mumble. I also love crystals and the power they possess. The name Mumbles & Things celebrates my mumbling and my love for the things I create. I began Mumbles & Things in October of 2014, to encourage my passion for creating new things, my fascination with nature and my understanding of the connections found between all things. Mumbles & Things has given me an opportunity to learn and grow. It has given me control over my time and my life.
Welcome to my shop, Mumbles & Things! I design, handcraft and sell affordably-priced jewelry. I use only the best quality materials I can find. Most pieces include natural stones and crystals that enhance the well being of the body, mind, and spirit. Everything listed in my shop is 100% handmade by me, Maggie. I collect all the materials, I work the wire, I bead the string. Every piece is cleansed and charged with a personalized affirmation.
Original article and pictures take 78.media.tumblr.com site
“I was so scared of trying acupuncture but was nicely surprised that there was no pain at all. Why is this?”
Even patients who have had previous experience with acupuncture before going to the Pacific Wellness Institute Acupuncture Clinic are often pleasantly surprised at how virtually painless and more comfortable our acupuncture treatments are. There are 4 main reasons why our acupuncture treatments are so painless:
Needles: We use the thinnest acupuncture needles available on the market (0.12 mm in diameter) -they are thinner than human hair! They are also more than 2 times thinner than the needles typically used in most North American acupuncture clinics.
Guiding Tube: We use specially designed guiding tubes to insert the needle. Guiding tubes, which were invented in the 17th century by a talented and blind Japanese acupuncturist named Waichi Sugiyama, significantly decrease the pain and stinging sensation when the needle is inserted.
Our Technique: Technique plays the important role in achieving painless needling. We spend years in training refining our painless acupuncture techniques. Inserting and manipulating thin, fine and extremely soft needles without bending them requires highly sensitive skills.
Needling Depth: We specialize in a superficial acupuncture needling technique. The acupuncture needles are usually inserted less than a few millimeters in depth.
Is painless, gentle acupuncture less effective?
Some acupuncturists believe that in order to produce a significant effect one must insert needles deeper and administer a much stronger stimulation; however, we do not believe this is necessarily true. Many Japanese practitioners clinically observe significant improvement in their patients’ conditions using an extremely gentle superficial needling technique. Furthermore, my scientific study (Tanaka, et al., International Journal of Neuroscience in 1997) indicated that very gentle superficial needling stimulation produces an immensely favorable response in the human physiological system. The study demonstrated that a very small amount of superficial stimulation produces significant responses in the body when applied skillfully with consideration of the patient’s physiological condition. Our goal is to deliver the most effective treatment for a patient’s condition while providing the most comfortable treatment experience.
Is acupuncture only good for pain?
Many people, including some medical professionals, assume that acupuncture is a method of temporary pain-relief only. This misconception may have resulted from acupuncture being popularized in North America since 1978 as a form of analgesia. It is true that acupuncture is commonly utilized as a form of pain control, especially when performed by physicians, chiropractors, or physiotherapists. The main concept of acupuncture as practiced in China or Japan, however, is to harmonize internal body systems and address the cause of illness. Therefore, temporary relief of pain is only one aspect of acupuncture.
Acupuncture is a safe and effective method to deal with a variety of health conditions other than those causing pain. The WHO listed a variety of health conditions which can be treated by acupuncture, including organic illness. This is because acupuncture helps to regulate our physiological functioning. Acupuncture primarily affects our nervous system, which controls our entire visceral function.
How does your treatment (acupuncture) differ from anti-inflammatory pain medications (NSAIDS)?
NSAIDs may potentially have several well-known detrimental effects in your system such as gastric irritation and liver damage while acupuncture has virtually no side effects. In terms of the action on your muscle and joint pain, acupuncture works in a completely different manner than medication does.
Most pain-relief and anti-inflammatory medications provide excellent short-term pain-relief by blocking the production of pain-causing substances called prostaglandins. In addition to inducing pain, however, prostaglandins are vasodilators which help enhance circulation. By inhibiting the production of prostaglandins, there will be decreased sensitivity to pain but blood supply to the muscles and joints will also be decreased, thus creating problems and prolonging true recovery.
On the other hand, our acupuncture procedure produces the complete opposite effect. Except in a few very acute cases, we attempt to enhance blood circulation, especially in the area that there is pain or discomfort. This desired action can be achieved by regulating the autonomic nervous system (which is responsible for internal organ system functioning, regulation of blood circulation and production of relaxation effects) using specific acupuncture techniques. When circulation of the tissue improves, muscle relaxation occurs and in many cases immediate pain reduction follows. However, when circulation improves, the pain in the affected area occasionally intensifies, and is then followed by repair of tissue and muscle relaxation.
Here is an analogy that somewhat explains this healing recovery pain. If you have been sitting for a long time, your legs start to get tight and feel numb. This, as you know, is due to poor circulation (ischemic pain). There is some discomfort at this point, but it’s not very intense. Most of the discomfort occurs when you get up and start to walk around and blood flow is re-established (recovery pain). In some cases, it is necessary to go through some discomfort in order to get complete relief. Proper circulation in the tissue is important not only for blood to nourish the tissue but also to enhance the elimination of muscle fatigue and pain-causing substances (e.g., lactic acid) thus creating healthy tissues. On the other hand, tight muscles with poor circulation are fatigued easily and more prone to injury.
What if I am Healthy?
Any prescription for good health must include prevention, not just treatment of disease. Acupuncture has been traditionally used as a preventive medicine. Recent research has now verified that acupuncture stimulates immune functioning which increases your resistance to bacterial and viral infections. Acupuncture also increases overall vitality and energy. Many people find that regular monthly acupuncture tune-ups are the best medicine to feel “in sync” and to ensure continued good health.
“An Excellent Doctor Treats a Patient Before Disease Arises” – Bian Que (Known as the King of Medicine, 4th C. B.C.)
Do I need to believe that acupuncture will work in order for it to be effective?
Significant results have been obtained when acupuncture is used for very small children and animals, both groups being less likely to be affected by the degree of their beliefs. These studies suggested that acupuncture produces a significant physiological response regardless of your belief or faith in acupuncture. However, I cannot emphasize enough your role in your recovery. If you maintain a positive attitude with a firm belief in the treatment you are receiving and have a desire to recover, it can only help.
The powerful synchronizing effect between the action of acupuncture and your attitude makes sense since the cure comes from your own body, regardless of the form of therapy you receive. Even western medical practices are beginning to recognize the importance of the patient’s attitude towards treatment. Consequently, a growing number of modern hospitals are incorporating hypnosis or psychotherapy as a routine part of pre- and post surgery conditioning. It certainly works.
Is there any scientific proof that indicate acupuncture works?
In recent medical practice, the doctor’s personal preference or belief has played a diminishing role in selecting the medical procedure for their patient. Instead, much more emphasis has been placed on evidence from rigorous research. This is called evidence-based medicine (EBM). This trend has also influenced the practice of acupuncture and over the last decade, acupuncture has been put through serious testing according to western scientific research standards.
In 1997, the US National Institute of Health conducted a large conference where panels of expert scientists discussed the efficacy and safety of acupuncture based on current evidence. Following the meeting, NIH issued a report entitled the “NIH Consensus Statement of Acupuncture”, which acknowledged the effectiveness of acupuncture in a variety of health conditions. Furthermore, they recommended US insurance companies cover acupuncture for treatment of some recommended conditions. A research published in the International Journal of Neuroscience was one of the studies reviewed by the NIH and contributed to this positive outcome (Tanaka et al. 1997).
Do you use disposable needles?
Yes, we have been using only disposable needles since the opening of our practice in fall 1990. Each needle is discarded into a medical hazard container after single use.
Are there different grades or qualities of needles?
Yes, there are a number of different grades of disposable needles. We use only the highest quality needles on the market. They are manufactured in Japan. The average cost per needle is approximately 5 times more expensive than common brands. High quality pre-sterilized needles are guaranteed for 100% non-contamination. Additionally, the ultra-fine needle tips provide smoother insertion, ensuring much less discomfort during treatment.
Are there any side effects of acupuncture?
As with any medical treatment, there is a chance of developing unfavorable reactions after acupuncture treatment. Adverse effects of acupuncture reported in the literature include infection, nerve damage, fainting, and puncture injuries to vital organs. These complications, however, are exceptionally unusual, especially under the care of qualified acupuncturists. Tiny bruises around needling sites are not very common but occasionally occur. These usually diminish completely within a week. Compared with medical and pharmaceutical intervention, acupuncture is considered an extremely safe treatment with minimal chance of any complication.
I have tried acupuncture somewhere else before and did not feel any improvement.
It is true that not everyone responds well to acupuncture, however, it is important to remember that failure to respond to treatment from one acupuncturist does not necessarily mean that your condition cannot be helped by acupuncture. As indicated, currently in Ontario, acupuncture is provided by various individuals with a wide variety of educational backgrounds. An acupuncturist from the Pacific Wellness Institute has qualifications and extensive experience in not only acupuncture but also in a wide range of alternative therapies and applied physiology fields. Therefore he can, in many cases, offer unique insight in a variety of health conditions that previously were non-responsive to conventional medicine or other alternative approaches.
Does all acupuncture work the same way?
When we discuss acupuncture it is important not to generalize the effect and response from acupuncture treatment just like medication (for the most part, medication does provide an expected reaction from targeted populations). Physiological response from acupuncture varies greatly based on various factors such as practitioner’s skills. In fact, experimental studies indicated that an acupuncture needle inserted in the same point produces a different reaction depending on a variety of other factors such as depth of the insertion, amount of stimulation, and position of the patient. A unique acupuncture system utilized at the Pacific Wellness Institute is designed to relieve your symptoms and address the root cause of the problem simultaneously in the most effective and timely manner possible, which is based on the acupunturist’s extensive research and clinical experience.
I live very far away. Do you offer consultation over the phone or internet?
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide any specific health advice over the phone or internet. Oriental medicine has never been intended to be used in that type of format throughout the thousands of years it has been practiced. Consultations and assessments provided in clinic are very important in order to deliver accurate diagnosis and safe, effective treatments. Much more than Western medicine, Oriental medicine relies on information obtained through interpersonal face to face evaluations, which include palpation of points, pulse diagnosis, observation of skin color, tongue etc. If you are unable to come to our clinic in Toronto, we recommend that you see a practitioner in your local area.
Click here for resources and tips to find an acupuncturist in your area.
Original article and pictures take www.acupuncture-treatment.com site
More Studies Confirm that T’ai Chi and Qigong Heal and Prevent Disease
Centuries’ worth of anecdotal evidence attests to the medical benefits of qigong and t’ai chi, two closely related Chinese health and fitness practices. And now the clinical evidence Westerners like to see is piling up as well.
What are t’ai chi and qigong?
T’ai chi is better known in the U.S. than qigong is. “But t’ai chi is actually a form of qigong,” says Francesco Garripoli, president of the Qigong Institute and producer of the PBS-aired documentary Qigong: Ancient Chinese Healing for the 21st Century. “It came out of several families of qigong practice — that’s why they go together.”
Both practices look sort of like karate in slow motion. They combine gentle, meditative physical movements and breathing techniques that help stimulate the flow of qi or chi (life force or vital energy), promoting better physical, mental and emotional health. For thousands of years, people in China have been practicing qigong (chee-gung) to improve and maintain their health and well-being.
There are thousands of styles of qigong and t’ai chi. Some focus on overall health, but practitioners can also prescribe forms or specific qigong exercises to detox or heal specific organs, muscles or parts of the body. “Some families in China historically would pay a lot of money to some master to get their own qigong forms,” says Garripoli.
The healing power of qigong and t’ai chi
These ancient approaches to fitness and wellness have brought positive health changes to people all over the world. Many have testified that qigong cured them of chronic pain, improved their balance and focus, boosted their immunity, helped them manage stress, fought cancer, lowered blood pressure or relieved insomnia. The New York Times even published an essay recently by a woman claiming qigong helped her regain her health after a stroke.
“I suffer from a lot of headaches, mostly caused by tension in my neck muscles,” says Cathy Bueti, a 39-year-old breast cancer survivor from Brewster, N.Y. “Doing qigong instantly loosens my muscles and helps relieve the headache pain. I also suffer from panic attacks, which increased in frequency after my cancer experience. When I perform the qigong exercises, it makes me feel calm and returns me to the moment, which helps me break out of the panic and anxiety.”
Studies confirm the medical benefits of chi practices
With so much anecdotal evidence of qigong’s benefits, it’s not surprising that formal studies have been done as well — more than 2,000, according to the Qigong Institute, which maintains a database of such research.
“There is enough research to convince the general public of the benefits of qigong and t’ai chi, validated by systematic reviews of literature on these modalities,” says Dr. Kevin Chen, associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine Center for Integrative Medicine.
Highlights of recent studies include:
A review of clinical trials of t’ai chi and qigong in older adults reported in the March 2009 issue of the Western Journal of Nursing Research notes that qigong improves physical functioning, limits fall risk, alleviates symptoms of depression and anxiety, and lowers blood pressure in older adults. Last year, that same journal reported that qigong improved the physical health of middle-aged women.
According to the February 2009 issue of The Journal of Nursing, “evidence-based research supports the argument that qigong improves cardiovascular-respiratory function and lipid profile, decreases blood sugar, and relieves anxiety and depression.”
Meanwhile, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), part of the National Institutes of Health, has funded many studies related to both practices, linking t’ai chi to improved sleep quality in older adults, increased immunity to shingles virus in older adults, and healthy bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.
Clinical trials are underway investigating the use of t’ai chi for fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis of the knee and rheumatoid arthritis.
Researchers are studying t’ai chi’s benefits for cancer survivors and patients with bone loss, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other conditions.
How to choose between qigong and t’ai chi
“Different people like different things. That’s why there are different flavors of ice cream,” says Garripoli. For people who like structure and want to learn a structured sequence of forms, there’s tai chi. It tends to be taught in a committed way over a sequence of time, targeting discipline and focus. For someone who doesn’t have that kind of time commitment and is more health-oriented, there’s qigong. “With qigong, people can take a few classes and walk away with something valuable,” he says.
Tips for getting started with qigong or t’ai chi
If you’re the kind of person who wants flexibility and the ability to exercise in the privacy of your own home, a DVD is probably your best bet. Gaiam has produced several award-winning instructional qigong DVDs and t’ai chi DVDs with beautiful production quality and easy-to-follow how-to’s; and others are available through the Qigong Institute, the National Qigong Association and the American T’ai chi Association.
If you prefer the social interaction and expert face-to-face instruction, you can take a class. Check out local martial arts schools, health clubs, recreation departments, community centers and/or YMCAs. Observe a class and meet the instructor before signing up, and be sure to discuss any physical limitations or health concerns you might have prior to beginning.
Original article and pictures take www.corespirit.com site
What is Shiatsu? Over 5000 years ago, India and China placed emphasis on massage using hands for therapeutic purposes. Shiatsu is a Japanese “finger pressure” healing therapy based on ancient Chinese medical practices.
There are several styles of Shiatsu that arise from various founders of Shiatsu – one of whom is Shizuto Masunaga, who created meridian based shiatsu or also called Zen Shiatsu.
In the ancient oriental healing arts, ‘meridians’ are thought to be the pathways for the circulation of Qi (energy) which exist in everyone. The central concept in oriental medicine incorporates the belief that all physical problems are a result of an obstruction in Qi flow. Restoring circulation can ‘cure’ disease. Meridian exercises integrate the body and mind and are designed to strengthen Qi in their corresponding meridians. They also aid in creating body awareness. In doing these exercises one can learn to release tension and increase flexibility in order to increase Qi circulation, therefore, balancing basic body function. Shiatsu Master Shizuto Masunaga said, “The most important feature in life is not the external form but the internal dynamics which create and sustain the form.
A few things to keep in mind while doing these exercises:
1. The stretches are best done in a peaceful/ calm atmosphere.
2. The focus should be on the slow quiet out breath without effort (like air leaking out of a balloon).
3. When breathing in during a stretch be aware of the lines of tension that will occur along a meridian – detecting Qi flow obstruction.
Lung / Large Intestine = exchange and elimination
The Lungs take in the Qi of nature and the Large Intestine eliminates unnecessary substances. Meridian imbalances often start to occur during depression and grief. This deceased zest for life usually leads to lack of physical exercise that promotes insufficient Qi intake and elimination.
Decreased exercise often causes constipation, chilled limbs due to poor circulation, chills in the lower abdomen causing diarrhea, respiratory tract disease, excessive sighing, heaviness in the head, back and shoulder stiffness.
The Large Intestine meridian is supposed to clear Qi obstruction. Imbalances here often include: lack of motivation, with-holding emotions, difficulty in psychological release usually paired with shallow breathing. A release of gas can be a symbol of emotional release.
Lung / Large intestine meridian exercise:
Stand with feet one shoulders width apart (knees unlocked), and link your thumbs behind your back. Breathe deeply into your belly and as you stretch your fingers out – imagining your body filling with energy to your fingertips. Bend into the illustrated position as you exhale. Relax and keep the fingers stretched out. Focus on letting go of all tension and thoughts for another cycle of breath in this position. Feel your body letting go – the stretch will deepen naturally. As you breathe in once more deeply into your belly imagine your body taking in new energy, as you breathe out you ‘let go’ further. Once more, breathe in deeply again slowly coming to an upright position as you exhale.
Perhaps for the first time leading research and medical institutions in the US-Harvard University, Scripps Clinic, University of California San Diego, Mt Sinai University , University of California San Francisco and Duke University -are collaborating on a project to study ayurveda’s healing powers.
Called the `Self-Directed Biological Transformation Initiative (SBTI) Research Study’, the study is being conducted at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing in California. The center, run by wellness expert Deepak Chopra, had earlier conducted a smaller study to examine the effects of meditation and yoga on gene expression.
“The findings from the older study showed that a week of meditation and yoga practice led to an increase in expression of genes that support rejuvenation of the body , a reduction in expression of genes associated with the stress response, and a large increase in telomerase levels (an enzyme that helps maintain structural identity of genes),” says Chopra.
In the SBTI study , researchers will be analyzing the impact of ayurvedic treatments on participants’ genes, certain hormones as sociated with metabolism and mood change, bacteria present in the gut and on the skin, inflammation markers, weight, stress makers etc. “The body’s healing system is still little understood because of the complex inputs -thoughts, emotions, diet, stress, exercise, immune response -that affect healing. The picture is further clouded when isolated findings overlap or contradict one another. In the context of ayurveda, therapies and practices aren’t done in isolation. Instead of focusing on local symptoms, the diagnosis is systemic.Only now is Western medicine beginning to understand that a blanket condition like `stress’ or `inflammation’ connects many diverse disorders, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes,” says Chopra.
Ayurveda is widely practised and followed in India. There are 2,458 ayurveda hospitals running in India under the government’s directorate of Ayush (Ayurveda, yoga, unani, siddha and homoeopathy). However since there have been few scientific studies on the safety and efficacy of the system in the West, it is often perceived as a pseudoscience there. Dr Rudolf Tanzi, a professor at the Harvard University and a co-researcher at the SBTI study , says that this perception is now changing.
“Any scientist of worth will admit that most of time we are wrong. Just look back at science 100 years ago and ask how much is still correct today. Why would this not continue to be the case 100 years from now? Thus, it makes sense to look back to ancient remedies and wisdom, for example, as prescribed in ayurvedic medicine. So far, the results ranging from the effects of meditation on beneficial gene activity to ashwagandha on Alzheimer’s pathology are certainly looking sufficiently promising to continue,” says Tanzi who specializes in researching gene mutations linked to Alzheimer’s Disease.
The study also has the potential to throw light on which brain-function related genes and chemicals are turned “on” or turned “off ” by an ayurvedic diet and lifestyle.”That type of information can help us not only better establish how ayurveda works at a cellular level but also how best to integrate it into a modern healthy lifestyle,” says Dr Murali Doraiswamy , professor at Duke Institute for Brain Sciences and coresearcher on the study .
Original article and pictures take www.corespirit.com site
I have been teaching meditation for the past twenty years. I have seen vata or ‘air’ body type people feel ashamed that they couldn’t stop fidgeting. I’ve seen pitta or ‘fire’ body type people be enraged that their mind would not be silent. And I’ve seen kapha or water body type people fall asleep while meditating.
According to Yoga philosophy there are three stages of meditation.
Dharana – keeping the mind on one thing
Dhyana – being in the moment
Samadhi – a state of being absorbed in the one – there will be no thoughts or experiences of the external world in samadhi
It is important to understand that there are deepening states of meditation and experiences vary. There are people who are naturals at it and there are people who will need to gently build up to it. There may even be fluctuations day to day in the depth of practice.
Be kind to yourself and accept where you are each time you come to your meditation practice. You are where you are and that is absolutely perfect. Be in the moment.
As you develop your practice you must be compassionate with yourself. I have always told my yoga students that telling the body what to do and having it respond is easy. Trying to direct the mind is a lot more difficult because it is not physically tangible. You need to learn a new way of training when you work with the mind.
Understand that meditation is not a fight, competition or punishment. You will progress each time you meditate, even if you cannot see the progress. You also need to understand that meditation is not a one-style fits all. Your dosha type or Ayurvedic body type, the amount of sleep you had the night before, the condition of the room, trauma, and your emotional state all play into your ability to meditate. Today, let’s look at meditation for each dosha type.
The five elements call for individual meditation regimes. That is pure nature and there is no sense adhering to a type of meditation that is not right for your dosha type.
Meditation is meant to help you feel relaxed, connect to spirit and be in awe of the beauty that is around you. It is a way to gently tug off layers of the mind so that you can sit in the moment and receive inspiration, grace and inner peace.
Here’s a break down, dosha by dosha, so you can find the meditation style that’s right for you. When that happens there will be no fight with your daily practice. You will feel excited to meditate and you will quickly begin to live a life that is mindful and in a state of flow.
Meditation for Mobile Vata Body Types
Vata or air dosha type is mobile, changeable, dry and rough. This means that sitting still for ten minutes might feel like ten hours. For vata types, keeping your hands still without fidgeting will pose a major challenge and your joints might feel stiff quickly.
The secret for keeping a meditation practice interesting for the vata person is to take support for the spine. Sit in a chair or sit on a block near a wall so you can rest your spine. Do not force your body to be still at first. Understand that you may need to shift now and then and tell your body and mind that you are practicing stillness. Gently, with the use of the breath, extend the spaces between fidgeting.
You can also build a practice based on movement. Walking Meditation, meditation through dance, yoga or martial arts are all ways you can blend your breath, body, mind and heart so that all of you is engaged, in the moment and flowing with spirit.
Meditation for Fiery Pitta Body Types
Pitta people tend to be perfectionists. Meditation is not something we can approach as a conquest. So the biggest challenge for pitta people is to let go of judgment. The second biggest challenge is to let go of the idea that sitting around doing nothing is a waste of time. I have found that guided meditation helps pitta people because it keeps them actively “doing” something as they meditate. Or picking something like the breath, a mantra or a sound to connect the mind with can also help with focus and be measured tangibly. Gradually, the focal point can be dropped in order to enter a state of dhyana or flow.
Meditation for Mellow Kapha Body Types
Kapha people do not often have issue with the ‘being still’ part of meditation. They often procrastinate to get to the mat and then fall asleep once they are there. The trick is, if you are a kapha person, do not lay down to meditate. If you find that while sitting you are falling asleep, end your practice. Once you figure out how to fall asleep while sitting up, meditation will turn into nap time. For kapha people, I like to start with one of my favorite techniques:
Meditation on Now
Sit yourself down in a place with different sounds – yup, silence is NOT what we are looking for during this meditation. I suggest a shopping mall, the park or forest – anywhere there are different types of sounds.
Sit with your eyes closed.
Relax your body.
Deepen your breath.
Now ask yourself this question, “When is now?”
Keep posing this question to your mind.
This meditation helps keep you alert and massively assists with keeping you in the moment. Kapha people can wander into imagination, day dreams and sleep so this keeps the mind alert while bringing it back to one question – the real question that we seek to find the answer to as we meditate.
I wish you a beautiful experience with your meditation practice – and remember it IS a practice so be compassionate and do not judge yourself if you have ‘off’ days.
If you feel you need to change your routine to keep you engaged you can try any of the methods suggested here irregardless of your dosha type.
I wish you joy and blissful meditating!
Original article and pictures take ayurvedanextdoor-ayurvedanextdoor.netdna-ssl.com site
