Friday 18 May 2012

Rest in the ground of your Being



The last two years have been amazingly transformational for me. A year ago I would not have used the word “amazing”, I was in a dark place and my life felt far from amazing. It was heartbreaking on many levels, physically I literally couldn’t walk, the slightest movement I was in so much physical pain in my whole body, emotionally I was drained and grieving, mentally I was frazzled, spiritually I questioned why? who am I? what is it all about? yet through all the pain and self inquiry I knew I was transforming from within and all the situations leading up to it were all my teachers.

At one particular time I was unable to do any physical Yoga practice, I couldn’t walk and all I kept worrying about was I want to practice Yoga! Eventually I realised my practice was to surrender to Grace, totally surrender and just be vulnerable and find the courage in that.

Life is a journey and I knew very well I was on one of my own, yet I had put a mask on for so long to veil my hurts. Through being forced to be still, I listened. When I could again move my immersion in the practice was different, more compassionate and embracing my meditations from my heart the veils slowly lifted; the radiance in my heart shone and the light permeated my whole being. 

I declare from my heart now; I am in the best place I have been all my life and everything that has happened in my life has made me stronger, nourished me towards the abundance I feel now in the present. I am grateful.

The clarity in connecting with my purpose, the joy of life, the love and light I feel; the gratitude for each new morning and every moment I breathe in life and exhale gratitude has given birth to blossoming. This has rippled into every aspect of my life.

I started to work deeper through the Yoga practices and as I delved in deeper my Dharma was revealed ~ the desire to become who I was meant to be, to resonate with and thrive from my unique purpose. This was a new road on the journey... I feel in alignment, yes there are ups and downs in life yet at my centre, I am more connected to the Divine within and all around and re-affirm this daily through my practices.
 
Lotus Flower
The lotus is an exquisite flower that evolves from the dark muddy waters to unfurl with most radiance. Each day the lotus closes at dusk and each dawn opens and blooms.– symbolically this is metaphor for individuals beings growing and evolving from primitive beings into fully blossoming consciousness of awakened beings. Life can be dark and challenging yet we still have at our essence, at our heart the radiance to blossom and peel off the layers to reveal our true self like the lotus...

The lotus represents the Divine Self. As harsh or dark as the world is at times, every one of us is still connected to our sacred Self, the light within our heart is always present, it’s bringing the darkness to light. This is revealed in the Buddhism Lotus Sutra. Each person has the inherent ability to reach his or her full potential and blossom in the midst of the muddy waters of life..
                                                                                 

Birth of my own lotus
For the past 5 weeks, I have been teaching a journey through the chakras. The chakras are also called lotuses symbolising the unfurling of the flower petals, metaphorically describing  the opening of the chakras.

This resonated with me in so many ways, for the last two years as I immersed myself in my Yoga practices to heal wounds, I drank in the divine in every respect and peeling off layers to open and blossom from the lotus of my heart..

Through my meditations I knew I wanted to re-design my business logo to be more representative of me, my work, my purpose, my wish for my clients...  Everything came to me before starting to teach the chakras, yet this journey and seeing so many of my students resonating with the practices and the classes becoming so popular really affirmed my wish to reveal my vision.. The  Lotus flower epitomises everything I wanted to creatively expresses. I chose the Lotus and the figure within to represent the unfurling of each individual’s journey to polish their heart to awaken and emerge into their radiance and shine! I had been witnessing this in myself and in my clients.

At the time of its birth, this week I am teaching about Visuddha, the throat chakra, all about communication, truth, words and creative expression, so it seems fitting for me to give voice to my journey and my wish for each and every person..

I light a path for healing and transformation. I love from the Divine light in my heart,  continuing to evolve and expand to serve others with love, joy and laughter.

Relax into your Radiance

Namaste

Michelle
HealingTreatments : http://www.michellecross.co.uk

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Visuddha - The Throat Chakra

Visuddha - the Purifier

we continue the journey through the chakras rising up from the centre of our being the heart chakra  anahata to our throat, moving from the individual plane of the lower three Chakras - muladhara  swadhistana manipura into the Universal plane of the upper three chakras.

Visuddha is all about sound and vibration, communication, your words, your truth, which are powerful influences in your life. Through the working with the Visuddha chakra I invite you to come into the subtle vibrations of your body to uplift, bring harmony to your Self so you begin to creatively commune and listen to your self, others and the Universe. 

Your body speaks your inner truth... are you ready ready and open to listen?

Through my teaching yoga classes this week, I will be encouraging you to create  space to communicate sweetly, attentively, openly and lovingly.... not only to others but very much from within, to yourself. 

When you practice yoga the asanas move the body in different ways, increasing the vital life force energy - Prana, the body is always vibrating, pulsating. I invite you to allow your practice to be an expression of your creativity of your inner being speaking to you. Cultivate the space to listen to your inner landscapes as a process of inner discovery. As you create art through your asanas allow the mysteries of the Universe to align through you, become the channel for the mystical information...so you learn to communicate a language more universal than spoken word...

Namaste
Michelle
www.yogarelax.co.uk

Sunday 13 May 2012

Anahata ~ the Heart Chakra ♥

frOM fiery Manipura we move onto a new arena from the space of the body we move into spirit..the journey has bought us to the central point of the chakra system ~♥ Anahata ♥~ our spiritual centre, our core, the place that unites forces frOM within & without, above & below, spirit & matter, our inner & outer realms with love n light ♥ 

There are 3 chakras below and above the central point of the chakras the heart. the 3 below the heart, which we've covered thus far relate to the Individual plane, the 3 above the heart relate to the Universal.

As we continue the journey through the Chakras, I invite you to invoke Anahata's purpose to integrate & balance on all levels of your BEing cultivating more radiance love n light... 

Love is the unifying force that draws everything together & holds them in a relationship - everything relates to sOMething. Yoga mean union , union of body and mind, union of Self and the Universe - they are one...The practice of yoga connects, unites & encourages the whole of you ~ mind, body, soul to unite in the heart. The bridge between the body and the mind is the breathe. The element of anahata is air, so we use the breath to bring union between body & mind, your inner & outer realm, self & others, to give & to receive to lovingly listen to the whispers of the heart to embrace & crack open the heart & sing with Divine Love ♥

Are you ready to ask for entry into your own heart? obSERVE your breath....Listen to the whispers of the heart as you embrace the whole of you with full love

Namaste
Michelle
www.yogarelax.co.uk

Wednesday 9 May 2012

I am ready to Transform

Manipura means the lustrous gem ~ it's the sun of the body! it's element is fire and has 10 petals and colour is yellow. so the dance of the journey of the chakras continues...you've grounded in earth, flowed with water now prepare to ignite with fire! 

Fire ignites the light of consciousness, so through the prACTice you will activate your power towards a higher purpose (dharma) and transform. To embrace this chakra is to truly 100% embrACE your power and will. Manipura is the fuel, the fire, the sun, to liberate you so buckle up for the ride, the classes this week you will glow with the light of Manipura, allowing your will to be the essential spark that ignites the flames of your power...excited?!? let's rock the Shakti

Yes life or the yoga practice can be challenging at times, sometimes you may feel fear coming from the muladhara chakra, then the emotions swirl and rise from swadhisthana then through your will, your conscious action you move forward as manipura fire fuels your personal power to truimph! 

Shine brightly from this lustrous gem present within

Om shanti 
Michelle

you become what you think...think beautifully...

Swadisthana's element is water ~ our thoughts have a powerful effect on us, as Dr Emoto work revealed thoughts effect water...we are made up of around 80% water ~ BEgin to shape your thoughts in a positive way....

check this wonderful video out... and start to think positively after al lyou are made up of 80% water.

all love n light
YOU ARE DIVINE

the sweetness of Swadhisthana

Swadisthana ~ meaning sweetness. this week we will explore the 2nd chakra - it's colour is orange it has 6 petals and it's element is water. this gateway is all about fluidity, water, flow, creativity, sexuality & emotions. we'll use the practice to flow with the currents of Grace, you'll find your rhythm n flow uniting the ebb & flow of the breath & the pulsations of spanda to flow through the vinyasas. I invite you to dive deep into the knowing of your Self, surrounded and supported by a sea of sweetness, positivity, boundless well-being, nurturance and light of swadisthana.
How do you let people in?
choose to find more intimacy and fluidity with your self,so you can flow from this space with joy and offer your creative expression to the world and then others...

Root Support of Muladhara

Muladhara ~ I AM ~ Secure ~ Trust ~ Grounded ~ Steady ~

Muladhara means root support ~ this chakra is the 1st chakra and it is essential to balance this chakra before progressing, otherwise our growth has no roots... it;s colour is red it has 4 petals and it's element is earth.

when you are grounded it helps to open the other lower chakras. Grounding is the simplifying force that brings consciousness into the body for the practical purposes to be present, and reside in the here and now.

Through your roots you gain nourishment, power and stablity to grow and expand. Trust in YOUrself and Rest in the ground of your BEing

enJOY finding your roots, feel your feet upon the earth wherever you are standing or sitting, draw the power of the earth into your being allowing it to enliven you from within...

Om shanti
 michelle
www.yogarelax.co.uk

Think of the Chakras as blossoming Lotus flower

the word Chakra comes fro mthe sanskrit word meaning wheel. at the core of each of us there are seven wheel like energy centres with many other chakras in various other parts of the body like the hands. they are swirling intersections of vital life forces and each chakra represents an aspect of consciuosness that influences our life. just like Yoga the chakras creates unity and integrates the wholeness of body, mind and spirit. theses wheels of energy receive, assimilate and transmit life force or prana. 

Each chakra is represented as a Lotus flower; the unfolding of the lotus flower petals metaphorically describe the opening the the chakras. 

The lotus evolves from the dark muddy waters to unfurl with most radiance – symbolically this is a metaphor for individual beings growth and spiritual awakening, evolving from primitive beings to fully blossoming consciousness.  Life can be dark and challenging yet we still have at our essence, at our heart the radiance to blossom and peel off the layers to reveal our true self like the lotus...

A journey through the Chakras

Over the last few Yoga Classes at YogaRelax have been on the Chakras, it's been an exciting journey so far... here's where i tell you a little more....

Through the prACTice you will journey through the layers of your own individual self. you have been given a vehicle to take this journey ~ your body. it is FULLy equipped with everything you need; all you need to do to support your journey is to keep your vehicle nourished, content and in good repair... so prepare to buckle up for the journey and the exploration of the Chakras

Om 
Michelle