maya whole health studio - Blog

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Yoga, and LoveYourBrain

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 00:02:32 GMT

by Jennifer Soames

When you think of concussions you might immediately think of football players, soccer players, other athletes, or military service persons. Did you think about your neighbor down the street who slipped on the ice and hit her head? What about your coworker who was in a car accident a few years ago? Your parent who fell in the shower? Or your nephew who, still learning to walk, banged his head on the corner of a table? Truth is the majority of the approximately three million reported traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussion (which is a TBI), that occur in the United States alone every year happen to “average” people, like you and me. The actual number of TBIs every year is likely much higher, as the reported number is counted only by emergency room (ER) visits, hospitalizations, and deaths. Countless people don’t seek treatment or are un- or mis-diagnosed.

What is a TBI?

I’ve been living with a TBI for over eight years. Before you read more about my own TBI journey, let’s get clear on what a traumatic brain injury is. According to the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA):

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as an alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain pathology, caused by an external force. Traumatic impact injuries can be defined as closed (or non-penetrating) or open (penetrating)… A concussion can be caused by direct blows to the head, gunshot wounds, violent shaking of the head, or force from a whiplash-type injury. Both closed and open head injuries can produce a concussion. A concussion is the most common type of traumatic brain injury.

Note that damage to the brain caused by stroke or other internal factors that do not involve blunt force trauma are called non-traumatic acquired brain injuries. The word “traumatic” refers to the physiological trauma from the jostling of the brain inside the cranium/skull. It does not necessarily mean that the event or circumstance that caused the injury was psychologically traumatic for the person who experienced it (though these experiences can certainly be emotionally and psychologically traumatic, too). There is a rating of severity from “mild” to “severe,” though these qualifiers refer only to the amount of physiological brain damage and are absolutely no reflection of the injury’s impact to the person and their life. Take it from me, a “mild” concussion can have severe ramifications, even years to decades later. One more important fact to know is that one does not need to lose consciousness to have a TBI. That is an all-too-common myth that the public needs to understand.

After a traumatic brain injury most people experience:
•Headaches Sound and light sensitivity
•Mood and personality changes
•Neurofatigue
•Inability to regulate emotions
•Clinical depression
•Difficulty concentrating
•Memory problems
•Sleep disturbances (particularly staying asleep)
•Balance and coordination challenges
•Aphasia (messing up words and trouble with word recall)
•Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

This is certainly not a complete list, and no two brain injuries are the same. Symptoms depend on the person, their health history, the severity of brain damage, the areas of the brain (most) damaged, and more, treatment/care received, etc. These symptoms can present immediately post-injury, and/or develop over time, months to years later (particularly within the first two after the TBI).

Onto my story. While the details are in my book, here is the Cliff’s Notes version. My life changed in November 2013 when the horse I was riding in a dressage riding lesson spooked. Despite being an experienced rider, I fell off, landing hard on my back and hitting the back of my head. Yes, I was wearing a helmet. After what was the worst night of my life to date (and I hope ever) with severe head pain, my husband took me to the ER the next day for a CT scan. There, the doctor literally said, “Congratulations! You’re concussed!” Thankfully, the scan revealed no internal bleeding. The staff gave me prescription pain medication and a two-page handout with post-concussion instructions, told me I’d be “fine” in a couple of weeks, and sent me on my way. After a quick errand, my husband drove us home. Just three miles from home and approximately 25 hours after the fall from the horse, we were going through an intersection (we had the green light) when a woman driving the opposite direction wrongfully turned left immediately in front of us. Physics was not in our favor and we collided, causing damage to my, the passenger, side of the car and instantly flaring the already existing pain in my head, neck, and back. Neither my husband nor the driver of the other vehicle was hurt, but it certainly impacted me since I was already injured. Talk about adding insult to injury on numerous levels. I had also just ended accident-related treatment six weeks before for a severe car accident that occurred almost exactly a year prior, in which I was also the passenger. Whether bad luck or karma, I guess I had both.

Yoga and Moving Forward

The ER staff was wrong. I was not “fine” after a few weeks. Turns out about 80% of people who incur a concussion/TBI return to “normal” within several weeks. While I’ve always been a high achiever, I unintentionally ended up in the top 20%: the group of people who don’t return to “normal.” Fast forward over eight years and I’m now disabled from the ramifications of my “mild” TBI (mTBI), with a long list of associated diagnoses. I had to give up my 14-year career as a licensed bodyworker and close my award-winning practice of 12 years. I lost several of my beloved communities because I could no longer participate, and even sometimes lost my sense of Self.

Despite the drastic changes in my life since my injury, it’s not all bad. Far from. There are countless blessings, gifts, and valuable lessons that have risen out of this, what some might call, tragedy. There are family, friends, animals, and activities that have helped and still help me process grief, come to terms, cope, and bring me joy. One of these steady activities is my Yoga practice. I was a dedicated Yoga practitioner for a few years before my TBI, but like a lot of things in my life post-injury, my practice changed a lot, too. I used to do vigorous hot Yoga practices numerous times per week, but within about a year post-TBI my body could no longer tolerate the heat due to some additional conditions the TBI caused. My practice became and still is much gentler and includes a lot of Yin Yoga (essentially stretching). Long gone are the days of fancy inversions and fast-paced Vinyāsa classes, but what I’ve learned as both a Yoga teacher and student is that those things don’t make an “advanced” practice. Yoga is first and foremost a spiritual discipline, and the (physical, āsana) practice can help you do more than just stretch hamstrings: it can help you explore the Truth of who you are on the most fundamental and subtle level. That is what “advanced” practice is: going more and more subtle. While I’m still far from what I’d consider an “advanced” practitioner, since my TBI Yoga has helped me come back into my body, examine my thoughts and perceptions, and be present with what is, rather than what I think “should be.” I grieved the loss of the hot Yoga community that had played such a big role in my life, but when that door closed another opened. That door was Maya Whole Health studio, where I’ve both taught and practiced since 2017 (on and off for a couple years, but consistently again since 2020). This community gives me both purpose and comfort. Community and resilience are essential to moving forward with a TBI, and the LoveYourBrain program brings community, resilience, and yoga all together for the TBI community.

LoveYourBrain

LoveYourBrain (LYB) began in 2014 following the severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) that snowboarder Kevin Pearce sustained just weeks before he was to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. Kevin and his family had a very difficult journey, as documented in the documentary “The Crash Reel” by Lucy Walker. Yoga and mindfulness were an integral part of Kevin’s healing, adapting, accepting, and resilience.

So often the TBI journey is very lonely, especially as the years pass and people you know generally forget you had a life-changing injury, or ask questions like, “You’re still dealing with that?” (I’ve personally received this question) as if that was somehow inconceivable. Plus, most people just don’t understand the experience, let alone brain physiology, or don’t have much empathy. Kevin and his family understood the importance of community and what a difference it makes to moving forward, especially when it’s a community of other people affected by TBI. Hence, non-profit LoveYourBrain was born and offers their 6-week Yoga and mindfulness meditation program to people in the TBI community, including caregivers, for FREE. Students can participate in the program repeatedly, if there’s room, as well as retreats in-person or online. LYB also offers guided discussions for class groups to foster community and deepen connections.

The physical practice is tailored to the most common needs and challenges faced by people with TBIs, accommodating for balance, coordination, comprehension, neurofatigue, and more. They even keep the lights low, make sure classes are not facing bright windows, and encourage students to wear sunglasses if needed. When I did my LYB teacher training, their management of light and sound/noise volume was a relief that words can’t even describe. It was one of those moments where I thought to myself, “They get it!” and really felt both seen and validated. People with invisible injuries like TBI are far-too-often dismissed and invalidated, even by healthcare professionals, so having a community and program that truly understands makes a profound difference. If I had known about LYB in the first few years after my TBI, especially, it would have likely made a big difference to my own journey. That’s why I support this organization and their mission, as a member of the TBI community, an LYB student, and a LoveYourBrain certified teacher.

Maya Whole Health supports community causes and LoveYourBrain, joining in LYB’s annual MindfulMarch campaign for the third year in a row. Fellow Maya instructor, Susan Watkins (also a member of the TBI community and LYB certified instructor), and I will be hosting a gentle, virtual benefit Yoga class on March 27th. Get the details and register for class here. You’re invited to join us through the live class and/or by donating through our MindfulMarch link. All funds go directly to LoveYourBrain. We truly thank you for your support.

To my communities (including Maya), family, friends, animals, and healthcare team: thank you and my deepest gratitude for all you’ve done and continue to do for me on my TBI journey. You witness the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between every day. To LoveYourBrain, my heartfelt thanks for all you do for the TBI community. Thank you.

Maya's Compliance with the Roadmap to Recovery Plan

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 01:19:53 GMT

To our beloved Maya Community,

Your well-being, and the well-being of our staff is our number one priority. Here at Maya, we are 100% committed to ensure we provide a healthy and safe environment. To stay in accordance with Governor Inslee’s “Healthy Washington-- Roadmap to Recovery Plan,” the following actions will go into effect immediately:

All private lessons will be limited to 45 minutes.
We will continue to offer all of our group classes online (via Zoom) until further notice.
All massage and acupuncture services are still available without any change. To schedule an appointment you can request through our portal or contact our front desk via email or phone.

We are thankful to our community for your continued love and support during this time!

Breathe: A Message to our Maya Community

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 00:51:54 GMT

Breathe.

In our practice, we emphasize the importance of breath. Breathing. Connectedness. We emphasize the importance of community, unity, togetherness.

Breathe.

We celebrate the differences that collectively make us whole. We practice mindfulness. Mindfulness of our minds, our bodies, our souls. Our breath.

Breathe.

Breathing Matters. Community Matters. Mindfulness Matters.

Black Lives Matter.

At Maya, we took last week to pause, to reflect, to learn, to march, to cry, and to support each other so we could be better informed, better educated, and better prepared to support our community. We stand in solidarity with the Black community. We stand against racism, systematic discrimination and oppression. We will continue to provide wellness services to those who may not otherwise have the financial or geographical access. And we will continue to learn and grow together. We don't have all of the answers, but we will continue working towards solutions, equal access, and social justice.

Is is in this spirit of community that we collectively mourn for those whose last breaths were stolen tragically, unjustly, prematurely. George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. Too many others.

It is in the spirit of empathy that we pray for the families of those suffering through this injustice.

It is in the spirit of love that we support each other through this difficult period of angst and pain.

And it is in the spirit of mindfulness that we must collectively stand in support of, and recognize that Black Lives Matter.

Thank you. Be mindful. Be thoughtful. Stand together. And don't forget to breathe. Breathe for our brothers and sisters who no longer can.

Namaste.

Maya Community Update Regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 21:47:58 GMT

Maya Community Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 23:25:18 GMT

Dear Maya Whole Health Community,

Here at Maya, we are committed to the safety and well being of our entire community, including staff, customers, clients and guests. We are mindful of the developing situation of the COVID-19 virus in our area and the world.

We are taking every precaution to make the Maya Community a safe, sanitary and healthful environment as this situation develops and changes. Our goal is to continue to provide a safe space for healing and relaxation while remaining responsive to the recommendations of Washington State and King County Public Health Departments.

Currently, King County has not put any restrictions on group gatherings. They do recommend that vulnerable populations avoid crowded settings. At this time, all community classes, private sessions, workshops and regular business activities are continuing as planned.

What We Are Doing:

Frequent sanitation/disinfection of doorknobs, light switches, blankets and other commonly touched surfaces.
Providing alcohol-based hand sanitizer to be utilized as you enter the space and as you return from the restroom.
Staying abreast of this developing situation so as to best protect and serve our community and the larger community.

What We Ask of You:

If you are ill, please cancel your class session/appointment by calling us (425-271-0200) or emailing the studio at studio@mayawholehealth.com Please don’t worry about late cancellation. We will credit you and re-schedule you when you are well. At this time, it is better to be safe than sorry, so please cancel if you have any type of respiratory symptoms and fever, or if you would feel more comfortable rescheduling. If you arrive unwell, we will need to ask you to go home.
When you arrive, please utilize the hand sanitizer at the door. When you use the restroom please wash your hands and then also use the hand sanitizer provided.
Please use a kleenex if you need to cough or sneeze. Boxes of tissue will be distributed throughout the studio for your convenience.
We cherish every opportunity we have to provide classes and services to you. This is a nurturing space and we need your help to care for the health of the whole community.

We will keep you informed in the event of any changes in the studio or the situation that requires your attention.

Thank you for your care and consideration in this matter.

Kindly,
Maya Team

Othello Yoga

Sat, 25 Jan 2020 17:17:31 GMT

“I don’t think it should be sitting comfortably for anybody in the wealthiest country in the world to say: ‘Yes, we should be creating semi-permanent shantytowns,’” said Eric Tars, senior attorney at the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. “But they can actually play a productive role.”
- The Guardian

Classes continue on Saturdays at the Othello Tiny Village. Saturday afternoons are a time of community engagement and wellness support. While many of the residents are still cautious in their approach to the program, a few have opened up to sharing in our yoga practice. It can be a process to get people to emerge from habits, especially if those habits have been shaped by trauma.

In addition to class participation, some of the residents have shared their stories with me. Individuals who have overcome tragic upbringings, who have experienced debilitating loss, or who are fighting unseen battles within themselves face their days in a system that is hostile to their existence. In the past two weeks, there has been a drive-by shooting and an assault on one of the residents. I walked with the head of security, a resident of the village, who showed me the bullet holes that tore through the wooden fence surrounding the community. This recent shooting was not an isolated incident and it is amazing that no one has yet been hit. Fed up with the threat of danger, he told me of his plans to build a gabion along the perimeter to ensure protection from within the camp. Outside of the camp, protection is not guaranteed. Another resident was assaulted on the bus without apparent cause. No one came to his support.

This animosity is not a new development. Residents feel misunderstood and scorned by many outsiders. Despite the improvement from tent cities, despite the requirements and accountability residents of tiny villages face, and despite the fact that this social and economic crisis is the product of systemic inequity, many in Seattle blame homeless people for their predicament. The reality that I have witnessed is far removed from the caricature that is painted in the media. I am welcomed in this community by people that work tirelessly every day at work and in efforts to maintain the village. When I told them of my personal struggles, they empathized with me. I know how hard it is to find affordable accommodation in Seattle. I know what it is like to worry if I will have money to pay my rent next month. I, like many thousands of Americans, am living paycheck to paycheck. I live this way not because I am lazy or irresponsible, but because we live in a nation wherein the disparity between the wealthy and the poor has returned to the levels experienced in the Great Depression.

In this stark, have and have-not existence, the Othello Community is appreciative for what they do have: a solid roof and relative security within the fenced area. What we at Maya would like to add to this is a reminder to value oneself, to turn inward and recognize the security, peace, and improvement that can be achieved internally. We hope to strengthen the bonds of this community by offering group practice and collaborative growth.

We also want to connect this community with our own. We appreciate the support that has been offered from Maya clients in the way of mat, clothing, and monetary donations. Further, the Othello Community extends its thanks. I look forward to sharing new highlights from this program as it progresses.

Namaste.

Hillary Jasper Rose

Yoga Instructor and Community Outreach Coordinator at Maya Whole Health. Her philosophical focus while pursuing her Yoga teacher training at Nepal Yoga Academy was on the effects and treatments of chakras.
This blog was started to engage more deeply with our Maya Community. If you would like to make contribute then please contact Hillary:

How 'Namaste' Flew Away From Us

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 08:00:00 GMT

Reading this article by Kumari Devarajan, I was struck with the increasing frequency of the topic of appropriation and sensitivity in pop culture. As we grow and progress as a society, we must examine ourselves and ensure that we are opening the way to inclusivity while maintaining diversity. This article was especially interesting to me, being a yoga instructor whose training was completed in Nepal. There, I used the word “Namaste” on a daily basis outside of my classes. “Namaste” is coupled with a bow as a respectful greeting. Older ones are shown greater honor with a deeper bow and the greeting, “Namaskar”. The honor inherent in this greeting should encourage all who use it to do so with sincerity and due gravity.

My choice to share this information was motivated by my awareness that this issue can be confusing and discouraging to some. Navigating cultural sensitivity in an increasingly global, cross-cultural system is challenging. While we love the novel ideas and ancient arts that we obtain from this exchange, we can be blind to the impacts our consumerism has on the cultures from which these practices derived. At Maya, we are conscious of this divide and are earnestly hoping to bridge the rift as much as we can. Doing so involves consistent communication with our community, focusing on active listening and respect. Please do not take the following article to imply that we cannot say “Namaste”. It is simply a reminder that we should all be aware of where our practices originate, their purpose, and how we can show deference.

Taken from NPR’s Code Switch section:

How 'Namaste' Flew Away From Us
Kumari Devarajan

It's often how you know yoga class is over: The teacher faces the class with their hands together in a bow and says, "Namaste." Maybe you bow and say it back.

But that's not the only place you'll encounter "namaste." In the years since yoga became commercially popular in the United States, the word has taken on a life of its own. Namaste has found its way onto T-shirts, welcome mats, mugs, socks, pencil cases, and tote bags.

And that's just the word on its own. Let's not forget the namaste puns and catchphrases: "Nama-stay in bed." "Namaslay." "Namaste, B****es."

Even if most Western Europeans and North Americans don't know anything else about South Asia, "they know about yoga, and they know about 'namaste,' " says Rumya Putcha. She's an assistant professor of women's studies and music at the University of Georgia.

But all that visibility isn't necessarily a good thing. I asked South Asians on Twitter to tell me their feelings about seeing namaste in these contexts. The responses (and there were hundreds) made it clear: For a lot of us, it makes our skin crawl, our face burn and our heart do weird things. One responder wrote, "I always mute it at the end of white people Yoga videos. I launch out of corpse pose like ants bit me to hit the button in time." Writer and podcaster Taz Ahmed said, "EVERY DAMN TIME I DRIVE BY THE YOGA STUDIO ON SUNSET THAT SAYS NAMASTE L.A. IT DRIVES ME BATTY."

So, how did this word filter into so many different pieces of American culture? And why does it make so many South Asians feel icky?

First, it's helpful to know where the word comes from. Namaste dates back to Old Sanskrit, which is found in the Vedas (the ancient texts that modern Hinduism grew out of). That's according to Madhav Deshpande, a professor emeritus of Sanskrit and linguistics from the University of Michigan. The oldest part of the Vedic literature comes from what is now Pakistan and the northwestern corner of India.

The first part of namaste comes from "namaha," a Sanskrit verb that originally meant "to bend." Deshpande says, "Bending is a sign of submission to authority or showing some respect to some superior entity." Over time, "namaha" went from meaning "to bend" to meaning "salutations" or "greetings."

The "te" in namaste means "to you," Deshpande says. So all together, namaste literally means "greetings to you." In the Vedas, namaste mostly occurs as a salutation to a divinity.

But the use and meaning have evolved. Today, among Hindi speakers throughout the world, namaste is a simple greeting to say hello. It's often used in more formal situations, like when addressing someone older or someone you don't know well. But that's all it means — hello.

A lot of words we use today have religious roots, but just like "adios," "inshallah" or "goodbye" (an abbreviation of "God be with ye"), it doesn't have to be that deep.

When it comes to yoga, it's a different story. The commercial yoga industry in the United States often uses "namaste" in a way that is almost completely divorced from its use in Hindi. Some yoga websites claim that namaste is "the belief that there is a Divine spark within each of us" or "The divine light in me bows to the divine light within you."

Yoga teachers all over the place teach these overblown interpretations of the word to try to ground their classes in a sense of authenticity, or even holiness. It helps that the word namaste comes from a language that is unfamiliar to many of the teachers and practitioners of yoga in the U.S. It's much easier to exaggerate the meaning of a word that sounds foreign.

With all of the faux gravity, it's easy to see how the commercial yoga industry flipped namaste into a catchphrase. Sporting "namaste" on a water bottle or tote bag lets people present an essence and a persona that they believe is a part of an "exotic" culture simply by ... buying a tote bag.

Then come the jokes. The tendency to make a joke out of words from other languages — like "Nama-slay" — is very American, says Rumya Putcha. But of course, not everyone can be in on those jokes. Putcha says that deciding which languages get made fun of is one way society establishes which people and cultures are the norm and which are not. (Can you imagine Target selling tote bags and water bottles with a play on the word "hello"? Who's going to shell out big bucks for a HELLO-M-G yoga mat?)

And there are other consequences. When white English speakers fold words from other languages into their lexicon, they're often seen as cultured and worldly (and funny!). But for people of color, it's a totally different game. For example, after President Trump enacted the travel ban, Putcha says, her family became "hypervigilant" about speaking the language they normally spoke at home in public "for fear that it would raise suspicion" about their immigration status.

There's another reason South Asians may cringe when they see namaste everywhere — the experience of being namaste'd. It's the term I use for when a random stranger, usually white, says "namaste" to you for no discernible reason besides your appearance. A bunch of folks on Twitter brought it up.

In South Asia, namaste is mostly heard in Hindi-speaking areas. There are hundreds of other languages spoken in the region — as a Sri Lankan Tamil, namaste isn't really a word in my family's language. And yet, with brown skin and a name like Kumari, I'm no stranger to being namaste'ed. As Putcha points out, "racism isn't exactly geographically specific."

Being namaste'ed was one of the ways I learned what being South Asian was going to mean for my life. If folks were greeting me with a word that has no place in my family's heritage, then what other assumptions were they making?

Namaste has a meaning among Hindi speakers. But in the U.S., the word has been wrangled out of its context and tossed around to mean whatever people want it to. Sometimes that's something really heavy. Sometimes it's gibberish. But almost all of the time, it's just plain wrong.

Hillary Jasper Rose

It Takes A Tiny Village

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 00:38:55 GMT

The Maya Team and the Low-Income Housing Institute have worked together during these busy holiday months to establish a regularly scheduled yoga class for the Othello Tiny Village with the possibility of expanding further. We have been collecting mats and donations at Maya Whole Health for months. All this time, effort, and persistence has finally come through!

As the instructor, I am so excited to begin my journey with this community! I was afforded the opportunity to meet them last Tuesday during weekly community meeting. At these meetings, they discuss community issues/plans, update practices, and open the floor for individual concerns. This past Tuesday (1/7), they voted on the initiative to host yoga classes on site. Consent was unanimous. Classes begin at 1:30 pm on Saturday, January 11th.

After the meeting, I was taken on a small tour of the site. It's maintained by the residents, who manage everything from security to human waste removal. My guide, one of the residents, was a proud community member whose labor-intensive work made him a perfect candidate for yoga therapy. He showed me to the room that would be our studio.
Though simple and uninsulated, the communal entertainment room is kept with care. It's freezing cold, but the old Persian rug and a petite upright piano make it cozy. Toys are collected in one corner, chairs along the wall. The warmth of the space was apparent despite the wind beating against its tarpaulin walls.

I left in awe of this group. As it was not my first visit to a Tiny Village, I knew that I would a have a great experience. However, this occasion was especially touching. Accountability and respect were emphasized in discussions or evident in the proceedings. While encouraging compliance to rules, the director also reminded them that “everyone deserves a roof over their heads”. This basic concept is sometimes missed in our big, prosperous, competitive, detached city. My hope is that Maya Whole Health can be one of the many bridges constructed across this dehumanizing social cavern. By bringing wellness and mindfulness tools to these residents, our aim at Maya is to provide resources to those who had previously found them inaccessible. By reaching out, showing we care, and listening to stories and concerns, we hope to affirm their value as fellow residents of a shared planet. My hope is, at some point in this relationship, to carry these stories from their community to this one.

Welcome to our Maya Community, Othello Tiny Village.

Hillary Jasper Rose

Letting go

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 22:39:53 GMT

Even
After all this time,
The sun never says to the earth,

"You owe Me."
Look at what happens
With a love like that,

It lights the whole sky."

From Daniel Ladinsky, The Gift: Poems by Hafiz

The “tyranny of expectations” may “plague your daily life, causing you to be irritable, disappointed, and disillusioned”.
Our attachment to expectations sometimes surprises and assaults us. Like a physical attack, we are left unsettled and hurt. Letting go of attachment takes so much work that we often resist this instruction because it puts us face-to-face with ourselves. It takes away the shining ideal, the greener side, and plants us back where we were.
Now what?

“If only” dominates our thoughts. If your expectations are not met, then you feel deflated, disheartened, and sometimes betrayed. We often perceive these occasions as times of loss. They are not times of loss, however. You have lost nothing, but an excuse. Now you must be responsible for yourself. Grasping at these “solutions” feels like the only way to find peace. Yet, it is the empty pursuit of this imaginary cure that truly brings anxiety. You are no different than you would have been had the expectations been fulfilled to your desire. You are the same, but now you don’t have that distraction.

The joy you imagined in connection with your expectations was a crutch. Now that it is gone you are frightened and suffering. How much better would it be to be able to walk on your own? Now is your time to pick yourself up. You no longer have to be afraid; you did this. No one carried you. No one supported you. That means that this perceived loss wasn’t real. You never really needed the crutch; you just told yourself that you did.

You can emerge from Maya, the waking dream. Much like Plato’s allegory of the cave, Maya represents the collection of illusions that we all cling to in our lives. The shadows dancing on the back of the cave are not tangible. They are reflections of the real objects. Turn around and cast your eyes upon the objects that are producing those shadows. Free yourself from this darkness. Step out into the sun.

Growth is painful, but denying it is pain deferred. Like surgery when needed prevents an injury from worsening, liberating ourselves from our attachments and expectations prevents the devastation from over-reliance and self-doubt when we finally “lose” that support.

This is the path to freedom outlined in Buddhism’s Four Noble Truths.

Be strong.
Crawl.
Walk.
Sprint.
Feel the warmth of the sun as it lights up the earth.

Chakra study:

The chakras represent various energy sources. When one is blocked then we suffer from the restrictions and compensations related to that particular energy. The chakra associated with grasping and attachment is the Sacral Chakra, the Svadhisthana in Sanskrit.

The seat of your emotions, the Svadhisthana chakra is located just below the tailbone. When your it is overactive then you are prone to codependency and overreactions. If it is closed, then you might notice depression or a dulled creativity. Finding balance is key. When you recenter, you may find that you have greater confidence, more emotional harmony, and enhanced creativity.
Poses to help with your Svadhisthana include:

Goddess
Butterfly/Baddha Konasana
Wide Legged Forward Fold

Repeat the mantra “VAM”, carrying it through your exhale.
If you feel impelled to act, as yourself to what aim. Will your action solve a problem or simply offer short relief? Sit with yourself; take your time; learn to just be. Let the illusions come crashing down around you.
And breathe.

Hillary Jasper Rose

Happy 8th Birthday Maya Community!

Tue, 13 Feb 2018 00:18:02 GMT

Connecting with Shannon, Owner/Manager of Maya Whole Health Studio

As we launch into our 9th year of growing, moving, learning, laughing and joy in this adventure, I am reflecting on our story and how perfect that our anniversary falls in the month so closely associated with the theme of HEART!

My own heart has certainly been warmed by clients and staff, friends and family, supporting the effort, promoting the Maya vision and spreading the word over the years. Those expressions from the heart have been a constant reminder of the positive impact and worth of our endeavor, motivating me to keep going, even when times got tough.

This theme also resonates through the concept of the heart chakra- ANAHATA.  In the yoga tradition, the heart chakra serves as a bridge between our body, mind, emotions, and spirit. It sits directly at the center of the 7 chakras and serves as a source of love and connection. Yes- just like Maya! :-) The qualities of the heart chakra reflect values at the foundation of Maya Whole Health Studio and empower our staff, who each and every day endeavor to provide the resources and encouragement to connect you to your own greatest heart powers- health, fitness, and joy.

New evidence emerges daily that the practices and services offered at Maya greatly benefit the physical heart organ, too! Flow yoga and Pilates are great for improving cardio, without stressing joints or raising blood pressure, as some other forms of exercise can do. A professional massage and bodywork improves circulation and over time can lower blood pressure. Restorative yoga and meditation practice can also lower blood pressure, and along with naturopathic medicine, have been shown to be a powerful strategy for overcoming dependence on medications that can lead to damage of the vital heart organ. You can see that "heart love" is woven deep into the fabric and mission of Maya!

Just as the heart organ is critical for keeping the lifeblood flowing through our bodies, it has been YOU, our strong and vibrant community of clients and staff that has kept Maya Whole Health Studio alive, through the thick and thin, surviving and thriving through all these years. You are the heartbeat of Maya! And whether you are a longtime loyal member or have joined in the journey more recently, I want to personally thank you for being part of our mission to embrace the joy available in our bodies, spirits, and lives.

I welcome you to join me in the Maya <3 LoveFest, celebrating the heart. I'm looking forward to the uplifting outburst of heart love expression in our community, as we each set our intentions and cultivate the nourishing and expansion of our hearts, in all of their fabulous manifestations!

With Heartfelt Love,

Shannon
Owner/Manager of Maya Whole Health Studio