Tag Archives: meditation

Don’t Hibernate, Invigorate!

December 20, 2017 Katey Hawes Leave a comment

This winter, feed your fire for vigor and vitality.

During the coldest months of the year, it can be tempting to cozy up next to the fire and not venture out again until the weather warms. For many of us, our internal flame of motivation can begin to burn a bit low this a time of year. However, since hibernation is not a natural state for humans it is important that we feed our fire, so that come spring we don’t regret those hours of chillin’ the winter away. The yogic principle of Tapas supports us in cultivating the inner flame that motivates us.

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Weekly Blog, Yoga

Shake Your Soul – The Healing Power of Play in Movement

December 21, 2015 Katey Hawes Leave a comment

By Kathryn Gardner RYT, LMT

Shake Your Soul® – the Yoga of Dance – is a movement practice that relaxes your nervous system, energizes your body, and awakens your soul through a powerful, fluid dance repertoire set to world music.

When I first walked into a yoga dance class at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, I was curious and nervous. A friend had told me I had to try it; she said I’d have a blast and feel worked over and enlivened by the class. The instructor told us not to worry about “getting the moves right” but to focus on the bubbling up of our creative spirit. He talked about feeling the music in the body and moving spontaneously in response to the moves he would offer.

Slowly my nervousness dissolved as the music and repertoire moved from flowing and sweet, through playful and bouncy, to sensual and soulful. My whole body smiled – I was playing like a little girl again. Worries about how I looked, what others might think, that this was a silly activity with no tangible goal – began slipping away.

Lately, the research about the benefits of play has been getting some press. We’re discovering that not only is play necessary for children as they grow and develop, but that adults need unstructured, non-goal-oriented fun as well. Engaging in regular playful activities has been linked to stress relief, increased brain functioning, improved relationships and a deeper sense of joy in life.

Dan Leven, the creator of Shake Your Soul and founder of LIFE Movement, believes that connecting playfully to music and movement brings us closer to our creative spirit, opening up space in all aspects of our daily lives. “Whether you’re teaching a class, writing a business plan, talking with a friend, working with a client, writing an e-mail, being with your children—whatever the activity is, it can be infused with the spirit of creativity.” That spirit of creativity comes from letting go of the thinking, judging mind. It springs from those spaces between our thoughts when we are connecting directly with the present moment.

Shake Your Soul brings the present moment alive. Each class follows a dance repertoire based on the fluids within our bodies that awaken our natural dancer. Dynamic and organic class sequences feel great to the body and free the spirit. As an instructor, my goal is to create a sweaty, sacred space where you are supported to connect with your creative energy, moving between my movements and the impulse of your soul.

As I learned in my training with Leven, Shake Your Soul supports people back into the fullness of body connection. “As we lead people toward their embodied joy, their spirits are welcomed back into the cells of their muscles, organs, and body.”

Looking back at that first class at Kripalu, it’s easy to see how I fell in love with this practice, and I’m grateful to my friend for encouraging me. Those soulful songs gave way to Indian and African rhythms, and the class drew to a close with soft sounds of the flute. Hands on heart, eyes soft, I felt a deep peace. We were connected as a community of dancers, and I was home again – grounded in my body, and joyful in my bones.

Kathryn Gardner, RYT, LMT is a certified Yoga Dance teacher and loves teaching yoga and meditation and providing massage at Posabilities. Learn more about her in the About Us section, and click here to check the schedule for class times.

Meditation, Weekly Blog, Yoga

This summer have the body that you love!

April 29, 2013 Katey Hawes Leave a comment

“Love the life you live, live the life you love.” ~ Bob Marley

Do you want to have the body that you love this summer? The first step is to love the body that you have. Not this summer, not when you drop a size, or when you reach your target weight. Love the body that you have right now, in this moment.

The US weight loss industry rakes in 61 billion dollars annually selling products and programs for weight loss, yet Americans continue to gain more and more weight every year. (http://www.marketresearch.com/) From 1960 to 2000 the percent of Americans at healthy weights decreased by 18%, while the percent of obese Americans increased by about the same amount. (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/). By some estimates, as many as 80% of overweight people who manage to slim down noticeably after a diet, gain some or all of the weight back within one year. (http://www.cnn.com/2011). Clearly the current approach of self denial, punishing exercise regimes, and self judgment that the industry sells are not working. While a healthy diet is beneficial, other important factors to successful maintenance of a healthy body weight include stress management, mindfulness, positive thoughts, and participation in enjoyable activities. Here are a few approaches that you might consider for managing a healthy body weight:

Positive affirmations – Choose a positive affirmation that is encouraging, specific, and focused. Write your affirmation down and read it daily. The American College of Sports Medicine states that positive reinforcement in the form of daily affirmations can dramatically influence your behavior. Some examples of affirmations are:

I enjoy exercising more each day, and I choose to eat only healthy food.
Today, I love my body fully, deeply and joyfully.
Today, my own well-being is my top priority.

(http://www.acsm.org/access-public-information/articles/2012/01/09/finding-the-motivation-for-exercise-and-fitness-within)

Eat nutrient dense foods – A high nutrient density (HND) diet emphasizes a liberal intake of vegetables while intake of animal products, as well as processed foods and oils, are minimized. Foods are grouped into four categories: unlimited, limited, more limited, and off limits (as much as possible) based on their micronutrient levels per-calorie density.

Unlimited — All raw vegetables, green vegetables (steamed or frozen), beans/legumes (canned or cooked), fresh fruit, bean sprouts, eggplant, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, cauliflower.
Limited (1 serving daily) — High starch vegetables (potatoes), grains, breads, cereals, dried fruits, nuts, seeds.
More limited — Fat-free dairy (12 oz maximum per week), animal products (12 oz maximum per week); and
Off limits as much as possible — Fruit juice, sweets, white flour, cheese, oils.

(http://www.nutritionalresearch.org/sites/ntr.civicactions.net/files/research/weightloss-HND.pdf)

Practice mindful eating – mindful eating or mindfulness-based weight management programs are recent arrivals to the scene; a growing body of research reveals how this approach can promote weight loss and improve health. An example of a mindful eating program is Mindful Eating and Living (MEAL) at the University of New Mexico Center for Life Integrative Medicine Specialty Clinic. The MEAL program incorporates sitting meditation, gentle yoga, and walking meditation at every meeting, as well as discussions about mindful eating. (http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/ampmindfulness-weight-loss)

Practice stress reduction techniques – When we are stressed our bodies produce increased levels of cortisol which is a hormone which encourages us to eat more and for our fat stores and excess circulating fat to be relocated and deposited deep in the abdomen, which left unchecked can develop into or enhance obesity. Here are a few stress reduction techniques that might work for you:

Deep breathing
Use visualization to picture yourself relaxed
Meditation

Find a physical activity that is enjoyable for you – If you read enough articles you will find that there are many opinions and plenty of evidence that supports many different types of activity for healthy weight maintenance. The best advice is to find an activity that feels good to you and that you enjoy, and make it a regular part of your life. The perfect exercise is the exercise that you will enjoy enough to do on a regular and ongoing basis.

So, nourish yourself with unconditional love, fresh, delicious nutrient dense food, and enriching activities that make you happy, and reap the benefits of loving your life and your body!

Katey Hawes, owner and founder of Posabilities, Inc.., is a physical therapist, registered yoga teacher, and yoga therapist.

You may find her at Facebook.com/posabilities4u, Twitter @Posabilities4u, and Google+.

Newsletter

Spring 2013 Newsletter from Posabilities

March 22, 2013 Katey Hawes Leave a comment

Welcome Spring!

Equinoxes occur when the axis of rotation of the earth (i.e., the line from the N to S poles) is exactly parallel to the direction of motion of the earth around the sun. This happens on two days of the year, the spring and autumn equinoxes. This means that day length is exactly the same (12 hours) at all points on the earth’s surface on these days (except right at each pole, where it will be about to change from permanent light to dark, or vice versa).

Equinox is the exact point between winter and summer, a moment of balance, perhaps practice some balancing poses to tune into the Earth. After a long winter’s rest the light is returning and you can hear the chick-a-dees singing their spring song as the ground thaws and the mud makes ready for new growth. In Chinese acupuncture spring is a powerful time of energizing and breaking through into action. It is a good time for spring cleaning both in your house and external life as well as time to do an inner cleanse of poor habits of eating, thinking and acting.

Reflect upon the thoughts and goals you had during the Fall Equinox and for the New Year. Consider the lessons and experiences of the past six months and decide what is hindering progress with your goals. Ask yourself — What important seeds of truth need to be revealed this spring, in order for me to truly know myself so that I may blossom into my essential being?

It’s time to awaken from winter’s hibernation, inactivity and self-introspection and put thoughts and plans into action! It is a time to drink in the sunlight, plant your seeds of intention as well as food, visit a greenhouse reminding us of the abundance that is coming our way!

Yogis all over the world celebrate the Equinox’s and Solstice’s with 108 Sun Salutations. This could be a good time for you to bring a daily Sun Salutation practice into your life by practicing one or more Sun Salutation each day and see what happens!

Happy Spring, Katey Branch

Click on the calendar to view the class schedule at Posabilities!

Posabilities Welcomes OH Yoga! to 15 Tannery St.

Namaste! The lights have been on at Posabilities (Literally and figuratively) since late January, and I have been honored and humbled by all the light and love that many of you have brought into the space. When Katey, Kathryn, and I began our OH Yoga! collaborative 10 months ago I fantasized about something like this, but never imagined that we would be in our own integrative wellness space so soon! With the move to 15 Tannery St., and the formation of Posabilities Inc., we are now able to offer a spectrum of therapeutic and wellness opportunities including yoga, physical therapy, energy work, massage therapy, fitness classes, meditation, and yoga therapy all under one roof! We are hoping to continue to grow and expand our offerings to the community with your support and participation.

If you have ideas of other services or activities that you would like to see offered at Posabilities, or if you, or someone you know, have services or knowledge to share that support our vision of health, happiness, and wellness I invite you to consider offering your services, classes, or workshop at Posabilities. I am especially hopeful to be able to offer Tai Chi and dance in the Posabilities space. Click here to send your ideas!

I offer deep gratitude to my fellow instructors and practitioners at Posabilites, Kathryn Gardner, Katey Branch, Julie Beddie, Anne Smith, and Carley Packard, and to each and every one of you. The light in me honors and acknowledges the light in each of you.

Peace, Katey Hawes

Upcoming Classes and Events

Meditation 101- What is meditation and why do it? – Starting April 7 5-6pm weekly at Posabilities with Kathryn Gardner

Click here to read more about the class!

Being a Healing Presence Workshop March 30, 4-6pm led by Katey Branch at Halls Pond Healing Arts

Come experience yourself as a Healing Presence. Through information, guided exercises, practicing listening skills, aware physical contact and being witness you can manifest being a healing presence with yourself, your loved ones and others.

$20 workshop fee if pre-registered, $25 at the door. Call: 207-890-9622

253 Halls Pond Rd. S. Paris (off Rt 119 towards Hebron) Halls Pond Healing Arts

Get fit while you sit!

Community Class Wednesday April 10, 11:00am-12:00pm offered by Katey Hawes, MS, PT, RYT

Regular classes begin Wednesday April 24

Enjoy this physical therapist lead class that focuses on helping you improve your strength, flexibility, balance, and breathing patterns. Exercises include stretching and strengthening exercises that can be done in a chair or on a mat, standing balance activities that can be modified to be done from sitting, and breathing exercises that can be enjoyed in any position.

Chikitsa chat – Therapeutic tips to bring greater balance to your life with Katey Hawes

With the spring equinox and the steadily lengthening days I would like to share a mudra, or hand gesture, that can offer support for your transformational fire (agni) and instill enthusiasm, energy, and a sense of clear direction for your life journey.

Achala agni mudra – Make the hands into fists facing each other with the index fingers extended straight out. Bring the tip of each thumb to rest on the second joint of the middle finger on the same hand. Then bring your hands together so that the tips of the index fingers of both hands come together, followed by the knuckles of the other 3 fingers and the tips of the thumbs of each hand. Bring your hands in front of your solar plexus with your index fingers forming an arrow pointing outwards. Your forearms should rest against your side ribs, with your shoulder blades back and down, and spine naturally aligned.

“The light of agni illuminates my being, providing perfect balanced energy.”

Please click here to Meet your OH Yoga! Teachers

We are happy to introduce our newest Instructor to Posabilities – Julie!

Julie Zeitz Beddie, B.A., M.S.W, L.C.S.W- Julie discovered a love of dance and movement early in her life. This led to exploration of yoga asana and self inquiry. Julie followed a desire to understand the connection between the mind and body, and our universal interdependence. She has worked over 20 years in the mental health field, obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Miami University in Oxford, OH and a Masters of Social Work at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY. Julie completed her 200 hour teacher training in June 2009 through Elemental Yoga in Boston, Mass., with Bo Forbes. Yoga has been a vehicle for Julie’s own healing journey and she loves being able to assist people in finding the deep healing that yoga can bring to one’s mind, body and spirit.

~Namaste~

The definition of Namaste (pronounced na, ma, stay) is both a physical gesture and a spoken spiritual salutation, which is the recognition of the divine spirit (or soul) in another by the divine spirit in you. The word Namaste translates simply to “I bow to the divine in you.”

In love and light, Katey, Kathryn, Katey and Julie!

For more information contact: KB 890-9622 * KG 890-7823 * KH 743-0930 to contact JB leave a message at Posabilities 743-0930

Katey Hawes, owner and founder of Posabilities, Inc.., is a physical therapist, registered yoga teacher, and yoga therapist.

You may find her at Facebook.com/posabilities4u, Twitter @Posabilities4u, and Google+.

Event, Meditation

Meditation 101 – What is meditation and why do it?

March 15, 2013 Katey Hawes Leave a comment

By: Kathryn Gardner

In yogic theory, the mind is considered to be a field of consciousness, and thoughts are like waves that roll through that field. Meditation is a way to bring us back to ourselves, where we can really experience and taste our full being, beyond all habitual ways of being and thinking. In normal waking states, our minds focus on passing thoughts and outer circumstances, and we mistakenly identify with these thoughts and experiences. In the stillness and silence of meditation, we glimpse and return to our deep inner nature remembering that we are the field that the waves pass through.

Often, when one thinks of meditation, an idea persists that the goal is to control the mind so that the thoughts stop coming, and a peaceful feeling is achieved. But, as Sherrie Wade, founder of Transformational Meditation, sees it, “the purpose of the mind is to think.” Rather than working against the true nature of mind, practicing meditation helps us develop the ability to sit quietly and observe the thoughts, feelings and moods that pass in and out of our mind. As we observe the mind, transformation occurs.

If the transformation of mind for its own sake is not enough to tempt you, maybe the health benefits – physical and emotional – will appeal. Meditation has been widely studied and is known to reduce pain, stress and anxiety while promoting a healthy, happy and productive lifestyle*. People who meditate have been found to sleep better, age slower, be more present and focused, and be less annoyed by the details of life. In a nutshell, meditation helps you enjoy life!

Kathryn Gardner is a Vinyasa yoga teacher and is currently studying Transformational Meditation, a technique based on ancient yogic texts as well as the works of Jon Kabat-Zinn, Dean Ornish, Joan Borysenko and others. This method helps one transform ordinary waking consciousness into its original state of pure space or consciousness.

Posabilities will host a free introduction to meditation on Sunday, March 17 at 5:00 pm. Kathryn will lead a 60 minute class, “Creating a Meditation Practice” every Sunday at Posabilities starting April 7, 2013 at 5:00pm. Click here to read more.

*Many studies have been done in the last 20 years supporting these ideas, including the following:

Grossman (2004), Feiburg, Germany
Amishi Jha & Michael Baime (2007), Penn’s Stress Management Program
Miller, et al. (1995), University of Massachusetts Medical Center