Everything is made up of Energy.
You are energy.
The cup that is holding my tea is energy.
The rock in your garden is energy.
Emotions are energy in motion.
E-motions.
Emotions are vibrations, one person's reaction to something another person says or does can spread to other people. We've all heard of empaths or people who are extremely sensitive. We all possess this ability; some people are just more attuned to it.
Therefore, if you are around a person who is upset about something for a long time, it is likely that their reaction will eventually trigger your own subconscious, and your particular unresolved issues will manifest as a vibrational match to their emotion.
At the end of every month, my Kula (community) receives a newsletter (opt-in to be added to the list!) from me. It usually has "things you might have missed" and "here's what's new" content. But sometimes, I give them a deeper dive into the course I'm creating or what has been going on in my life - behind-the-scenes content, if you will.
This past month the email was about emotions and the darkness.
Mentally & emotionally, I was struggling and no one knew. Why? Because most people who are battling inner demons look fine on the outside.
I showed up for my students. Taught my classes. I greeted them with a smile and still interacted with them like I always do. Asking mindful inquiries, remembering something they told me the class before and asking how it was or went.
But inside, I was sinking into the darkest depths of the unknown.
I just wanted to be at home, under the covers, hiding.
I was depleted, drained, angry and most of all, picking up the pieces of my broken heart. My body became stuck with the true depth of my emotions and started making me sick.
Have you ever thought about how your body responds to every emotion you experience? The rhythm of our breath is different when we are happy or relaxed from when we are excited or angry. When we are anxious or nervous, our body temperature or sensations can appear as "butterflies" in the stomach or as sweaty palms (and armpits). In order to process our emotions, our brain sends these signals to our bodies. If you frequently avoid experiencing those sensations, you may be attempting to bypass the brain's natural processing system.
Our feelings are actually kinetic energy. We end up storing our emotions in our cells when we discover ways to prevent energy from moving through our bodies. Dissociation, addiction, perfectionism, self-judgment, and criticism of others are some of the ways we learn to avoid our emotions. Unprocessed emotions eventually begin to manifest as physical signs or conditions.
Through working on the process I created for my course, Heal Yourself from the Inside Out, feeling my feelings and journaling, ALOT! Hello, 5 notebooks in 2 months and 10 pens...I was able to pull myself out of the darkness.
I'm doing much better, thanks for asking. Healing is a journey and I'm still working through it.
Some other modalities that helped were sticking to my yoga practice (movement, meditation and pranayama), self-Reiki treatments and honouring my body and mind with rest and wholesome nourishing food. My therapist also should take some credit here too, but really I did the work!
Yoga gives us the wisdom and awareness to be in charge of our own health, rather than depending on something outside of ourselves. This ancient way of healing transforms our unpleasant feelings, negative thoughts and tendencies by raising our vibrational frequency. Just like we brush our teeth and shower every day, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar; an Indian yoga guru and spiritual leader, says, "we must also practice daily mental hygiene".
The easiest way to begin the journey is to acknowledge the challenging feelings you may be experiencing and literally sit with them. After some movement of the body, sit and breathe deeply through the nose. Observe your body, your breath and how you feel. I always had my journal close by for these moments so I could get it out on paper, release it and work through it.
Release judgement. You are not here to judge yourself. You are here to learn from yourself.
The more challenging it is for you to sit and breathe, the more critical it is for you to commit to the practice.
Committing to your personal yoga practice isn't about "finding the time". It's about making the time so that you can heal yourself. Love yourself. Be with yourself.
The ras (life's juice) is brought forth by feelings. Life without emotions would be lifeless; It would be harder and harder for us to find a deeper connection with both ourselves and other people. We can appreciate the beauty and lessons of feelings when we learn to see them as waves in the ocean, coming and going to play their role without becoming attached to them.
The days when you don't have time to get on your mat...are the days that you need yoga the most!
Since the beginning of this year, I haven't missed one personal meditation practice. Even on the darkest of days, I still found the strength and willpower, (hello Solar Plexus Chakra!) to do the inner work.
So, I leave you with this. Be gentle with everyone you cross paths with. We are all fighting an internal battle that we can't see on the outside.
Love & Light,
Tal
PS:
If this resonates with you, I'd love for you to check out Heal Yourself from the Inside Out.
My 12-week course of self-discovery launching later this year. You will get clear about what you really want in life and actively let go of everything that doesn’t support You. <3
*Disclaimer: This Disclaimer forms a binding agreement between you and Chantal Croucher also known as Yogatation, a Sole Proprietorship operating out of Ontario, Canada. In continuing to watch this video, read this blog and practicing yoga with me, you release me from any liability related to any injuries or issues which may arise from the risks of practicing yoga through this video. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS IN PARTICIPATING IN THIS YOGA CLASS. These videos and blogs are posted for educational and informational purposes only and are not tailored to you specifically in any way. Please ensure you are practicing in a safe space and consult a medical professional before your practice. Lastly, please note that the techniques and approaches to yoga contained in these videos are simply my teachings and I make no representations about their efficacy nor do I promise any results.
Namaste and enjoy the practice.