Hello dear friends,
I am SO excited to share with you a project that I have collaborated with EV Pictures Eddie Vigil V to accomplish! This is the first of four videos that will be shared in which Eddie and his team supported me in creating resources for my clients to enjoy in the comfort of their own home, (or whatever setting is your preference.) This particular video is the Sierra Sunrise Gentle Yin Yoga, in which we enjoy some juicy yin poses, predominantly a hip opener series that I created. Moreover, this video intends to offer the opportunity to delve deep within our inner self as we explore any thoughts or feelings that may arise as we hold these deepened stretches. In yin yoga, poses are often held for between 3-5 minutes in order to allow the body to find a release and relaxation of the muscles and tension we hold in different areas in the body.
There are many incredibly healing aspects of yoga including improved health and well-being, but another added benefit of yoga is that it prepares the body and the mind for meditation. Through an extended practice of being mindful of one’s movements linked with one’s breath, it is then much less of a struggle to sink into the relaxation of the mind and the body as one and enter into a meditation state.
Breathing deeply benefits the body by lowering the cortisol levels (our stress hormone) in the body, which takes a person out of fight, flight, or freeze [survival] mode. Those who have very shallow breaths will also likely be on edge, because those shallow breaths mean that someone is on guard, or that their anxiety levels are high and they need to remain alert and ready. The body can only handle being in survival mode for so long before some damaging health issues begin happening such as high blood pressure, ulcers, or at an extreme, heart attacks. By simply taking deeper breaths, one is able to signal to the body that it is ok to relax, which lowers the heart rate, creates better digestion, and allows more oxygen to the brain thereby allowing one to think more clearly.
In this class, we prepare ourselves for relaxation and transcendence through a series of asana yoga postures to bring greater blood circulation and opening of the body followed by the meditation of our final and most important pose, savasana, “corpse pose.” While this might be a bit of an alarming name, it is actually quite beautiful, I think. As an existentialist, I truly love the way that yoga offers the opportunity to explore mind, body, and soul principles of well-being. It is important and necessary that we take notice of the breath in our lungs, the blood pumping through our body in accord with our heartbeat, and the fact that we are indeed alive to FEEL this, all of this. I have so many people come through my office door that describe such deep sorrow and despair, so one may ask, why would I want to feel more of that, or feel at all? Yoga brings a sense of peace as we detox the body with the breath, allowing the tension to release, and the areas of our mind, body, and soul that need our attention to receive the acknowledgement that we are internally in need of. Yoga provides the opportunity to let go, to be with, and to appreciate all that is within us now and all that we have the potential to affect with our being as we live our every day. I often use the analogy of trying to push a ball under water with my clients. What happens? The ball pops back up, every time! You can try with all of your might to push that ball down and keep it down, perhaps even putting your whole body over the ball. However, not only is this exhausting, it does not work, so it can be a waste of that energy after a time. Our emotions that we are trying to repress, or the thoughts that we do not want to acknowledge are much like that ball, popping up despite our best efforts to keep it all down, tucked away, out of sight. When we allow for that ball to just be, we are no longer expending the energy, and it no longer pops up in undesired moments. This yoga session allows us the opportunity to be with whatever comes, to acknowledge it, and process it with love. With each breath, you can let it go, working through the tension. Once it is acknowledged, it no longer needs to pull on your mind and your heart with such persistence.
For this class, I ask that you provide yourself with any props that will support your stretches, i.e. pillows or rolled up blankets, that you can tuck under your knees or other joints as needed. If you feel pain, that is the wrong sensation, and a modification is necessary. Give to yourself a deep stretch, but when you know you’ve hit your limit, do not heap on guilt or judgment, just be. Simple as that. Sometimes we can deepen our stretch over time, but sometimes, that is as far as we will ever be able to go. There is nothing wrong or bad about that, it just simply is what it is. This process is about getting to know the many different facets of you, and learning your limits can be an extraordinary gift that will better support you in your every day off the mat as well. This video is meant to help you in your at-home practice, especially if you are unable to make it out for a class or are unable to afford to do so at this time. Let this be a gift you give to yourself, courtesy of the Sierra Sunrise Wellness Group.
Thank you, and I hope you have a beautiful Sunday!
Nora Ann Brucklacher, M.A.
LMFT, CYT-200, RMT, Shaman
855 S. Center St. #101
Reno, NV 89501
P: (775) 224-0703
E: sierrasunrisewellness@gmail.com
