Go with the Flow
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Go With The Flow
Wouldn’t it be nice to greet each moment, unconcerned with what it might bring? For most of us, while the idea sounds idyllic and incredibly freeing, it also sounds terrifying. To accomplish it would mean letting go…completely. We would have to let go of the fear of losing people and possessions. We would have to give up our investment in how situations play out. We would have to let go of defining our happiness by the having of money, cravings and material things. Sounds pretty scary, doesn’t it?
If the world is simply random, or, worst case, evil, then it would be scary. But I truly believe the elemental make-up of the universe is love and that all things work together for good. And embracing each new moment doesn’t mean we stop setting goals and striving to reach them, or that we stop loving the people in our lives, or stop caring about the world around us or stop driving needed change. It means we love and embrace this life, giving it all that we have, but that we loosen our grip a bit and allow what the universe brings into our life without preference or aversion. That we, as gracefully as possible, navigate each new situation, learning as we go.
Your svadhisthana chakra, right below your naval, is also known as the place of watery things. This chakra is in the area of your bladder and uterus, areas of the body that have a flow to them. Doing hip opening postures that open this area can help the energy in this chakra to move freely. When it is open and clear, you are better able to ‘go with the flow’, embracing whatever changes come your way.
This month, set an intention to do the following:
Take 3-5 minutes each morning to sit, breathe and move before you start the day.
- Sit on the floor or your mat with your eyes closed.
- First, simply notice your breath. Let yourself settle into your breath, becoming absorbed in the sound and movement.
- Next, consider your day and notice any attachments to what unfolds during the next 24 hours.
- Lastly, with each exhale, let go of each attachment. Work to start your day fresh and receptive to whatever comes your way.
Listen to your short yoga nidra recording every other day
Listen to your longer yoga nidra recording once a week
You will likely be doing other wonderful yoga related work – going to studio classes, doing the home asana practices, reading the blog posts – but let the list above be your minimum baseline.
This 19-minute, recorded yoga nidra meditation takes you on a restful journey to a mountain lake. This is an extension of the Nighty Nite meditation, including affirmations and a return back into your body and the space around you. Get comfy and enjoy!
Use this bedtime yoga nidra to help you gently fall asleep. It reinforces this month’s theme: letting go of fears and the need to control, allowing yourself to go with the flow.
The second recording includes soft ambient music.
This is your weekly yoga nidra meditation (28 minutes). It will help you cultivate the intention “I embrace each moment with a receptive heart.” Enjoy!
Reminder: Any poses or breath techniques I cue in an asana practice are merely suggestions. Your body and your doctor know more than I do, so only do what makes sense and is recommended for you.
Your August asana practice:
Props: Mat & two blocks. Have a blanket, bolster and eye pillow ready if you will be meditating after the practice.
Place a small fountain in your sacred space or somewhere in your office. Let the sound and sight of running water bring a sense of serenity and fluidity into your life. Let the mental imagery of driftwood remind you that the flow of life softens our edges and brings out the rich hues and textures within us.
Want to open up your svadhisthana chakra? Try these orange-colored crystals: orange and coral calcite, citrine, orange carnelian and/or orange adventurine. You can simply carry them in your pocket, or incorporate them into a mala or piece of jewelry. If you enjoy essential oils, try some orange, bergamot, cardamom or sandalwood.
Below are other great pages on your svadhisthana, or sacral, chakra and how to bring it back into a healthy balance:
https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/intro-sacral-chakra-svadhisthana – Learn more about your svadhisthana, or sacral, chakra and how it ties to your energies and emotions.
https://sacredhealingjourney.com/second-chakra-svadhisthana – Learn more about the sacral chakra and how to clear it through affirmations, or by focusing on its related colors and symbols.
