When pain takes over

What happens to you when pain takes over? Can you breathe? Can you take a deep breath from your belly? Can you feel the breath rise up to your chest and collarbone from your belly in one full complete breath?

Do you hold back and protect your breath with short fast inhales held in your upper chest? Are you afraid to let your belly expand when you breathe?

When we are stressed, worried, angry and in pain, we suppress the breath. We hold it back. We protect it and become afraid to let it go.

Taking a deep breath and freeing ourselves of the holding pattern we’ve been in, releases our energy to travel through the body healing deeper than the physical body. We are all energy. We are to be fluid in movement and not rigid. Short/fast breathing creates rigid form and stagnant energy. Regain the flow inside to feel better outside. Start with the breath and the healing will follow. Breath deep and full, long inhale and longer exhale.

Release the pain/stress and tension in the belly and let it flow and move again. Watch the currant of energy build inside your body again.

You are alive, you are beautiful, the pain is not you, it is the part of you to find life in again. Start to live with your whole-self and breathe.

Healing Endo

I am back in the swing of things now. I was on a little hiatus because of a cross-country move and immersing myself in the beautiful Colorado Aspen Valley. I have settled in and am now ready to push forward on growing my healing practice of yoga therapy. If you are in the valley and would like to get together, let me know. If you live in Colorado, the United States, or in another country, drop me a line too! I am trying to expand my horizons as a healer with my yoga therapy and plan to use the internet and all of it’s assets to do that. Whether it be a private therapy session, a workshop or a retreat, drop a line and let’s chat! Let’s all work together to help spread the word on Endometriosis and natural ways of healing the body and soul! Namaste.

Making Doctors Aware

This is a statement that we shouldn’t have to use, right?  Aren’t doctors suppose to be aware of this disease?  Aren’t they suppose to know what the effects of this disease can be?  I was saddened a few weeks ago to learn that someone I care for went to see her doctor only to have her doctor say “there is no way you can be in pain anymore”.  Can you believe it!!!  Outrageous!  The thing that I have learned about woman suffering from this disease is that they reach a point where they stop complaining and hold it all in.  They can be sitting next to you and talking to you, but are living with a #8 pain in their abdomen (on a scale from 1-10).  It becomes daily pain for them and they try their hardest to carry on with “normal” daily lives, but inside they are crying out in pain and asking “why??”.  I do not have endo, and I am extremely lucky not to, so I don’t know what it is like to feel like they do, but I do know that I will never assume that someone who is in pain is lying to me or exagerating it – the truth is that they are probably downplaying their pain instead.  

In regards to the doctor, that was unacceptable and no one has to deal with that.  With that in mind, why don’t we create a community here for woman with endo and if you have a great doctor to recommend, please leave a comment about him/her.  I know women all over the country are looking for great doctors that understand.  

I know I have a recommendation in Chicago for non-traditional medicine – Wahls of Wellness   They have a great practice and have wonderful methods for infertility and healing endo.  Give them a call and talk to them about it!

March is Endo Awareness Month!

This is the time to encourage more people to learn about Endo and raise awareness of this disease.  What can you do to inform others?  Send an email, a letter, bring it up in coversation, organize an event, create a group, start a blog?? Making just one person aware is enough of a start I think.  So go out today and find someone to tell about this disease.  Tell someone your story, or the story of someone you know.  Every bit helps.

Release the energy [MUDRAS]

Stimulate and release blocked energy in the area of the 2nd chakra (below the navel about 4 finger widths in your low belly – also where endo is located)  by touching the tips of your ring fingers together in Hasta Mudra #2.  Focus on your breath for 3-5 breaths.  Notice where the breath naturally flows in the body with the mudra activated. Use this mudra to awaken the area of the 2nd chakra, bringing healing energy in to awaken the dark energy caused by stress and trauma.

To release the mudra, separate the fingers, keep the eyes closed and take 2 deep cleansing breaths.  Notice the effects from the mudra.  To strengthen the energy, interlace the ring fingers together instead of touching the tips of the fingers.  If at any time this feels uncomfortable, listen to your body and release the fingers.

Free the mind [MEDITATION]

Sit in a comfortable cross-legged position.  Draw your breath down to your abdomen releasing any tension in the belly.  Feel the breath flowing in and out through the nose breathing fully and deeply.  Feel the spine lengthening from the tailbone to the crown of the head on each inhale. Continue to listen and feel your inhale and exhale for the next 3-5 minutes, allowing yourself to go deeper inside with each breath.

Poses for Freedom [ASANA]

Always start your asana practice by becoming centered  and connecting to your breath.  Once you feel grounded, you can begin your practice with some gentle warm-ups.  Follow your breath, and feel the body begin to open and release.  A few poses that are wonderful for opening up and freeing the area of the body that holds endometriosis are:

CAT/COW
Begin in table [hands under the shoulders, knees under the hips], [inhale] & lift the crown of the head and the tip of the tailbone up to the sky. [exhale] drop the tailbone, rounding the spine like an angry cat and dropping the head down.  Repeat 8-10 times following the breath.  

BENEFITS
Strengthens the low back and abdomen with a lengthened spine.  Massages the kidneys, adrenal glands and thyroid.  

UPAVISTA KONASANA 
Sit on your buttocks, spreading the legs in a “V” with the feet flexed.  [inhale] lengthen the spine [exhale] hinge a tthe hips keeping the spine in a neutral position.  Each inhale lengthen the spine and each exhale deepen into the pose.  

BENEFITS 
Strengthens the quadriceps while stretching the hamstrings, hips and groin.  Lengthens the spine and massages the kidneys and adrenal glands and improves the immune system, eliminatory health and connection to the 2nd chakra.   

Live life healthy [NUTRITION]

Healthy nutrition is important when living with endometriosis.  A healthy liver is very important and you can help improve your liver by increasing your intake of vegetables – especially  those that enhance liver function (carrots, kale, beets, artichokes, lemons, dandelion greens, watercress and the cabbage family).  Eating onions, garlic and leeks will help enhance the immune system.  

Foods to avoid or decrease are sugar, caffeine, dairy, red meat and alchohol.  Endometriosis has been linked to caffeine consumption in women and the EPA estimates that the 90% of human dioxin exposure is through red meat and dairy products*.

 

RESOURCES:
*Women’s Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Tori Hudson, N.D., McGraw/Hill publishing)

yoga for ENDO

Endometriosis is a disease affecting 5.5 million women in the U.S. alone. It is a painful, chronic gynecological disease that effects more women than breast cancer. It is the leading cause of infertility and hysterectomy and has a debilitating impact on a woman’s life, relationships and career. There is no cure…this is what we are hoping to change by raising awareness and money for more research.

Yoga for Endo was created to help women suffering from this disease.  Check the site often to find resources for endometriosis, yoga postures, helpful tips and community support from people like you.