Amber Erickson, Author at Mindfully Written

Yoga pose for stress relief: Pascimottanasana

As most, if not all, humans can attest, life can be stressful sometimes. It could be one small event that triggers the stress response, or a series of events. Some of us are habitually stressed- perhaps with good reason, but for many, stress is just a way of life and we often just react without considering the acual event to see if stress is even warranted. In addition, our culture rewards stress. Everyone talks about how busy they are, how many things they have going on, and almost brag about not having any time for relaxation, reflection and nourishing activities. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” is a common phrase of our time, and I often think to myself: You’ll be dead a lot sooner if you don’t sleep, but that’s a whole other topic.

Everyone has to come to grips with their own stress, decide if it’s worth it, and make changes based on their own desires and circumstances. We all have different situations, responsibilities, and needs. For many, however, these situations, responsibilities and needs are taken for granted, or are assumed, so they are never questioned or challenged. For example, do you really need to lead the girl scout troup (insert any number of groups/organizations/events here) again this year, or is someone else wanting to step up. Why do you feel the need to do that activity anyway? Deep down, is it more about social standing or the feeling that you are expected to do it? These are important things to consider. You may not have the answers, you may not even want to think about the answer…and that’s ok. It’s your life, you have the tools to assess these sorts of things if and when you want to. Sometimes taking a moment to assess our motivations can reveal powerful truths about our existence and the lives we are choosing to live. Is there a way to reduce stress in our everyday lives? That is the root of the question here. While many of the activities already discussed come from turning inward to make outward changes or reducing the areas of life that contribute to stress, there are also many healing modalities that help activate the parasympathetic nervous system, or the area responsible for lowered heart rate, increased digestion, and the feelings of rest and relaxation. One such modality is yoga. Certain yoga postures, or asanas, activate the parasympathetic nervous system and with practice, can help the practitioner find feelings of peacefulness, calm and relaxation, in addition to physiological responses, such as breathing more slowly, reduced heart rate, decreased muscle tension and less pain.

How to do Pascimottanasana

One pose that is especially helpful for lowering stress and the associated effects is Paschimottanasana, a seated forward fold. Begin seated, with your legs extended straight out in front of you. Your feet should be about hip-bone distance apart, or one fist should fit between your knees. Actively engage your legs, pressing into the floor with your upper legs (hamstrings) and pulling your toes back toward your torso. Pull back equally through your big toe and pinky toe side. Be sure you are sitting on your sitting bones, with your pelvis slightly tipping forward. Think about it as if you are almost pointing your tailbone behind you. It may be helpful to tip side-to-side and pull some of the flesh from your bum out and back so that you can feel your sitting bones. Now, on a slow, conscious inhale, raise your arms up overhead, getting length through your entire spine. Exhale slowly fold forward, hinging at the hips and keeping a flat back reaching your fingertips and collarbones toward your toes. If you can comfortably reach your toes, hold on there and gently deepen the stretch. Be careful not to grab and pull or introduce any tension in your body. If you can’t reach your toes, reach as far as you can, then drop your hands to your thighs, shins or the floor outside of your legs. Take another inhale to lengthen your spine, then exhale and allow your head to rest comfortably, slightely rounding your upper back, but continuing to reach your collarbones toward your toes. Attempt to hold the pose with comfort and ease, although you are keeping your legs active and potentially feeling an intense stretch throughout your entire backside. Be sure to keep your legs straight, your spine long and most, most importantly, continue to breathe. Feel your body move slightly as you inhale and exhale to deepen the pose. Stay here for several breaths to several minutes, whatever your body is telling you to do.

Any alignment questions, let me know. Good luck and I hope you can find some peace and relaxation through this posture.

Namaste.

Living with Authenticity

by Amber Erickson

I often see this blog bookmarked in my selection of bookmarks, but I glance right over it. I don’t have anything pressing to write about- at that time. However, when I’m not near a digital device, or when I don’t quite have the idea developed, those are the times I think, “I should write about this.” Once synchronity occurs, you’ll be seeing more from me. But for today, this very topic makes me think of authenticity.

Deeply desired and appreciated by many (most), and underutilized is this idea of being authentic. My studies in yoga and Eastern spirituality point to this topic daily, maybe even hourly. It’s such a part of the fabric of spiritual practices that I don’t think it’s really talked about much, just assumed. Assumed that we get it, and assumed that we understand how it fits into the scheme. But it’s not that easy for humans, having this human experience with this human minds and living in the West with all the external stimuli bombarding us. Some days I don’t even know what authentic is anymore, like was that my idea? Where did I get that? Or my very favorite, how long have I been holding that view/value that I really don’t even agree with!?

Have I lost you yet? I’ve lost myself. Ironic. In the effort to identify myself, to live authentically in every moment, I’ve lost myself to my mind. Silly mind- always getting the way.

Until next time (hopefully a more inspired next time), let’s challenge each other to be more authentic, but authentically authentic (without letting your mind get involved or trying too hard or being less yourself in the effort to be authentic).

At first it sounded easy, I just have to be myself! Not easy….but the outcomes are far more rewarding, in my opinion.

Be well.

Learning to Embrace and Feel Gratitude Toward Ourselves

by Amber Erickson

I can always count on yoga classes to stir up motivation- and today was no different. I took the time to attend two classes this morning, and I’m really glad I did. The first was difficult and taught at a high-level. From standing half-moon to warrior 3 variations to a bunch of other stuff I can’t seem to remember right now, it was enough of a challenge that the days topic of gratitude didn’t really have a chance to sink in. I then stayed for a beginner class, and with the slower pace and more reflective time, I was able to work with gratitude a bit more.

It occurred to me that at this time of year, so many of us begin to think about the things we’re grateful for. It could be the changing of the seasons that naturally promotes more self-study and reflection, it could be people gearing up for Thansgiving, or it could be a more social activity for some, as can be seen on Facebook and similar. It appears we often say or think we are grateful for something, but how often do we show gratitude for these same things. Or take it from just a mental or intellectual type of gratitude, to a more emotional or energetic thanks-giving.

The example most relevant to me right now is the physical body. Just the other day I was thinking about how I am grateful that I am able-bodied. I don’t have any physical ailments, am healthy, am active and have the means to do what I want to do, on my own, without much, if any, assistance. Many people don’t have the “luxury”…it’s neither good nor bad, just a different experience. However, as an able-bodied person, I can’t really imagine not being able-bodied, so it makes sense to me to be grateful. I thought it, I maybe said it out loud and that was it. I moved on to the next thing.

Today, in class, we were asked to give thanks to our bodies. I then took that further and thought about taking language out of the equation and just through my mindful movements and breath, showed my body how grateful I was for the work it was doing. I used my heart to give thanks to my body, rather than using my mind. It seems odd, it sounds odd…I get that. But I ended a really difficult class with a new appreciation for what my body and breath were able to do, and a new understanding that they are capable of much more than I often give enough credit. They are with me; they sustain me. They are there for me- able to support me in times of happiness, sadness, joy, anguish and indifference. And I got the opportunity to spend two hours just being with them today. What a great way to show gratitude to myself!

The interesting thing is I didn’t even realize, until after-the-fact, that often our gratitude is just at the spoken, surface level, rather than a true feeling or showing. I’m just as guilty as anyone. But yet, one’s process of showing thanks is highly individual. Not everyone would derive the same sort of experience I did, and many others may have a deep connection with speaking their gratitudes. Whatever works for you, go with that. In this season of shortening days, darkness and cool weather, take the time to reflect on what you’re grateful for, and maybe even think about how you can live this gratitude. Rather than just thinking it, how can we show and live our gratitude? If it’s a friend, maybe a personal card thanking them for their support would be nice. If it’s a pet, maybe a special treat could be fun. If it’s a partner, try giving yourself to them 100% and see what it feels like to be truly present to them for an evening. The possibilities are infinite. As has been discussed in other posts, I believe awareness is key. Rather than just living mindlessly and taking advantage, we could all take a moment each day to be aware of that which sustains us, helps us, loves us, supports us and is of and around us. There is much there to be thankful for. Rather than giving thanks this thanksgiving season, let us show thanks. May the beauty of our hearts radiate inward and outward.

Mindful Communication: The Key to True Dialogue

by Amber Erickson

In the journey for a more mindful, intentional, authentic life, I find myself less willing to interact with those who are not genuine. I can often tell when someone is just saying something to make me feel better, or make themselves look better, and I quickly lose interest because it’s all fake. Maybe that’s an exaggeration, but I strongly believe in acting from a place of being genuine. If you don’t care how my day is, just don’t ask. Maybe others don’t agree with this sentiment, but it brings light to a larger topic, one that has hit home for me today.

I am currently working in an environment where I talk to a lot of people, albeit for a very brief time, and today I was reminded of how robotic we have become in our communications. “Thank you,” “How are you?” and “Have a nice day!” have become nothing more than generic phrases used in customer service that hold little* meaning. I say little because sometimes it is genuine and the person muttering the phrase means it. I have made the choice to say thank you when appropriate, but when I tell people to have a nice day, I mean it. And I can feel the energy behind the words is different when I mean it. My tone is different, my heart feels different. That is genuine.

Today, someone came up to me and said, “How are you today?”. It took me a second to respond because I was engaged in the transaction he was doing, but then I said, “I am just fine, thank you for asking.” He looked very puzzled and asked what I had said. I repeated, “You asked how I was today and I said I was fine, thank you for asking.” He then said, “Oh,…I asked that?” He then walked away a bit perplexed. I had a brief moment where I felt a little silly, but then my heart sank a bit. Sometimes in the busy monotony of work, it’s easy to get into routine. I hadn’t really thought much about mindful communication, and had settled into a routine. I was partly sad that I’ve gotten comfortable and forgotten on many occasions to stay mindful in my work and be genuine. But I was mostly sad for humanity, represented through this man who was acting no differently than most others. As I was walking down a busy hallway later, I felt very alone and almost even invisible. The people around me are like zombies (heavily caffeinated and sugared, at that) who are running around trying to please, get ahead and fit into society and have lost touch with themselves, each other, and the greater interconnectedness of it all. I’ve been there; this isn’t a high-horse scenario that I’m getting at. It’s about being aware, being mindful, and projecting that outward in an AUTHENTIC way.

My hope for everone today is to be mindful in our communications. What we say, how we say it and even what we don’t say carry enormous weight. Speak from a place of love, from every part of you, and be mindful in your communication choices. We can all work on this.

Let me know how it goes. Even if you just work on mindful communication with one person, in one scenario today, you will begin to create a shift in perspective and habits.

Thank you (truly) for reading.

Namaste.

P.S.

As I was driving to yoga after posting the discussion about mindful communications, I realized I left out one sentence I find to be quite important.

It’s not necssarily wrong (or bad or inappropriate or….) to say something we don’t mean or to be polite and ask someone how they are if we don’t really care, the point is to try to make conscious choices about what we are going to say (or not say) and try to be aware of the impact they may have (or not have).

I hope this clarifies.

Roll out the Mat: An Introduction

by Amber Erickson

I find it customary that a blog’s first post discuss the details, the logistics, or the information that people may ask, so it’s easier to spell it out from the get-go. This blog is about so many things it’s hard to pinpoint the exact topic. If I had to, I’d label it as a conglomeration of topics related to the extensive field of holistic health. If really looking holistically about health, it isn’t just about policy, or treatments, or global pandemics- we’re also talking about the role of spirituality and/or culture, alternative/complementary therapies, consciousness, movement, diet, meditation, community building, relationships, the role of the environment, and really, anything else. But yet I have a focus.

In my life- which this blog isn’t necessarily about, but would be silly to omit altogether- I am on a journey. Aren’t we all. My journal to to wellness, or wholeness, and higher states of consciousness. There are millions of paths that lead to the jewel within the lotus. I’m not here to judge (I’m working on that one still), and everyone’s path is unique, special and A-OK just as it is. I am a serious student of all these holistic health topics, and in these studies, have realized I am not a healer in the conventional use of the term. I’m not out to save people. But I’d like to help you if I can, and the way I best can is by sharing information. That is what this blog is for. I want to provide you with useful information, things I am currently finding to be interesting/inspiring/useful in my own journey. They say one can only help people to a level of wellness/health with which they themselves are at. I work on me first, and it’s a life-long journey, but I’d like if you came along for the ride, and hopefully I can help you with your journey too. But with this, keep in mind that your path is yours. It will probably look and feel differently than mine. That’s just fine. Also, you may not agree with me on certain points. That’s fine too. The only promise I can make is that I will speak honestly, authentically, and represent my true self in this venture. I challenge you to do the same, be open to the possibilities, and see what the universe provides.

This blog is for everyone, and hopefully by everyone. Please feel free to comment, add suggestions, provide your own tools or learnings and help this community. It truly does take a village; I’m no expert. I will only share things I have personally tried or thought about, and I value the wisdom of the readers. I will attempt to post regularly, but as with any creative venture, it cannot be forced. When my heart has something to share, I will share. I look forward to sharing with you.

I’ll close the introductory blog with a quote:

“There is a candle in your heart, ready to be kindled.
There is a void in your soul, ready to be filled.
You feel it, don’t you?”

–Rumi