Tag Archive for: stress

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A Kundalini Meditation to Bring Success and Sustainability

Today I’m going to share with you a really awesome meditation for all of the super driven business and career minded, readers out there. If you have an intense job, or powerful aspirations and could use a little divine magic to help you get there, THIS MEDITATION technique is for YOU.

I know there’s a lot of type A personalities like me who are reading this. Honestly, I wish I had this meditation when I was back in my super intense, New York City, advertising days.

Does any of this resonate with you?

  • You push yourself super hard in your work
  • You always feel like you need to do more in your business
  • You don’t feel worthy unless you are successful in your business
  • You are overwhelmed in achieving your desired success

It takes a lot of focus and work to  drive success… but often times  this comes with a lot of stress. The intensity to keep up that level can build up and it becomes like a pressure cooker. That’s where this meditation can really help.

The posture and mantra used in this ancient Kundalini technique gives you ENERGY, STRENGTH and CONVICTION. It gives you the POWER to believe in yourself. It builds your foundation of SELF RELIANCE. And BEST of all is it turns the table whereby success serves you rather than you having to battle for it.

IT also allows you to SEPARATE your IDENTITY from your success…”So you don’t then get all caught up in EGO. Instead, you live in the JOY, CONTENTMENT and in GRATITUDE of you SUCCESS.

Watch the video below. Try it out for a week or you can cultivate it in a 40 day practice. Start with 11 minutes and you can work up to 31 minutes.

Let us know your experiences in the comments section and feel free to share it with someone you think can benefit from it. And if you like the video hit like below. And if you know someone who could benefit from this meditation, feel free to share.

Sat nam,

Jewels Bertrand

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11 Minute Life Changing Meditation|Kirtan Kriya

Over the past several years, I have gone through some amazing, transformational shifts that have led me on a beautiful journey. I have learned how to let go of stress and open up to the divine vibration. This change has allowed me to live the life of my dreams. And meditation has been one of the strongest tools to help me get there.

I recorded this meditation on the tropical island of Koh Phangan, Thailand after trekking deep into the palm tree jungle to a secret waterfall. Thailand is the land where my dreams awakened into reality.  I first traveled to Thailand for a yoga and meditation retreat in 2008-2009. There I experienced a spiritual transformation. After that trip, I knew my life as it was before, was never to be again. It was then that meditation became a daily practice for me and I burst wide into my spiritual awakening.

Kiran Kriya is my #1 favorite and meditation. It was one of the first meditations taught by the Kundalini yoga master, Yogi Bhajan back in 1969. He said if all other meditation technologies were lost, this one mediation would be enough to carry us through the Aquarian Age. Which is the age and time we are living in now.

There are so many benefits to this meditation. It works on clearing the psyche and is an incredibly powerful spiritual cleanser. It has the power to break patterns and addictions, lifts brain fog, increases memory and reorients the mind allowing the possibility of transformational change.  Whatever you need at the moment, it will readjust and align you, bring balance into your mind and thus your life. 

Just last year, during one of my “life storms”, I practiced this meditation for 40 days straight. The results were miraculous. Everything that was going wrong spun on it’s heels. All that needed to be released, gently melted away. I emerged with clarity, vibrance and joy.

How to do it:

This is the 11 minute version. It can also be done for shorter or longer times. During particularly stressful times, it should be done for at least 11 minutes every day.

You chant the mantra

Sa, Ta, Na, Ma while simultaneously  incorporating the below mudras (hand positions)

  • SA, press the thumb and the index finger together
  • TA, and press the thumb and the middle finger together
  • NA, and press the thumb and the ring finger together
  • MA, press the thumb and the pinky finger together

As you do this, visualize the energy coming into the crown chakra from the top of the head and out through the third eye. In an L shape

Do the above series, with the mantra and mudra  first for

2 minutes OUT LOUD, then

2 minutes in an audible WHISPER, then

3 minutes chant SILENTLY while continuing with the hands, and mouth moving, then

2 minutes WHISPER and 

2 minutes OUT LOUD

Release the mudra. Inhale deeply, suspend breathe 30 seconds

Exhale eyes remain closed, breath normally for 30 seconds

Inhale, stretch arms up over-head and shake

Release

I invite you to try it. Whether you practice it once, occasionally or for 40 days, we’d love to hear from you. Let us know your experience with it.

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Merry Meditation

Merry Meditation

The weather has shifted, the lights have lifted and we are in the full swing of the holiday season. With that comes shopping for gifts, time spent with family and… yes, stress. Let’s face it, with all the planing that goes into the holiday season, spending extra time with the colorful personalities of our families or missing loved ones who are no longer with us, can all lead to chaos in the mind and in our lives.

This holiday season, try moving into the stress free zone with a daily mediation practice. Meditating offers an opportunity for the mind to relax, recalibrate and rejuvenate. It’s a time to just be. There is no place to go, nothing to do, but to be still and present. Sometimes our mind goes into overload. Meditation allows you to let go of all the garbage and chatter that is swirling around in your head.

I love the way the late Kundalini Yogi Master, Yogi Bhajan, describes it. He said, “If when meditating — all your garbage does not come out to greet you — you are probably not meditating.”

 

Quiet the Mind? 

When I first started meditating, I found it challenging. Quiet the mind? How? We have so many thoughts running around our heads and ruling the show. So I started to experiment. There are many types of meditation. You can try Guided Meditation. This type of meditation paints a picture or story of peace and serenity in your mind’s eye. That way you have something to focus on. Then there is Mindful Meditation, the act of being aware of your thoughts, physical sensations and surroundings. And my all time favorite is Kundalini Meditation, which uses mantras (sounds), mudras (hand positions) breath work and body movement. These are just a few types of meditations. So if one doesn’t work for you, try another.

Meditation Tips:

Keep in mind, meditation is not about being perfect. So don’t get caught up feeling that you are doing it wrong.

Watch your breath. Allow the breath to enter into your body though the crown chakra, top of the skull and send it on a path to your core, the center of the belly. You can visualize it as a white healing light.

As thoughts enter your mind, just let them float past you like clouds. This is what meditators call, “being the observer of the thoughts”. When we merely observe them, we detach from them; allowing you to break the patterns that are not serving you.

Meditating has allowed me to understand that the perceptions in our minds are just an assemblage of impressions. And impressions are not facts, they are perceptions. We can have hundreds and thousands of perceptions and opinions on one single event. So detach from the story you are creating in your mind. Release them and let them go. I give credit to my spiritual teacher Guru Singh for that one. 

So just sit back and allow the act of meditation to shift your awareness. Soon you will find your perception shifting and the mind calming. And when the mind is calm, it’s most conducive to problem solving. You start to become more present and more productive.

And if you find yourself in the midst of stress, when you are feeling at your wit’s end, just take several slow deep breaths. Gives you a way to escape the chaos of the challenging times.

Here’s a simple yet powerful Kundalini Meditation. 

AM, I AM

“The complete mantra is ‘I am, I AM’.

‘I am’ is the finite and ‘I AM’ is the Infinite and the

mind must shuttle between the two. ~Yogi Bhajan

Posture: Sit with the legs crossed on the floor or sit on a chair with the feet flat on the floor. Hands on the knees or thighs, eyes closed, spine tall and straight. Tuck the chin down slightly. Inhale and exhale deeply 3 times. Then repeat the following in easy rhythm for 11 minutes.

I am… (Simultaneously bring the right palm to the left chest.)
I AM. (Simultaneously bring the left palm to right chest and return the right hand to leg.)
I am… (Again, bring the right palm to the left chest and return the left hand to leg.)
I AM. (Again, bring the left palm to right chest and return the right hand to leg.)

Keep repeating this cycle.

Start with 3 minutes. You can work your way up to 11 minutes. When finished, inhale deeply and relax.

Try it out. The conversation continues below on the blog. Let us know how the meditation worked for you. Or share some of your favorites.  

 

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Stress Relief Spotlight – Reiki

Stress Relief Spotlight – Reiki

As I write today’s blog entry, I’ve just come back from the Rocky Mountains where I completed my last Reiki training to become a Reiki Master Teacher. Now I am able to train others to be Reiki practitioners. For those of you don’t know quite what Reiki is, let me tell you. Because Reiki is a beautiful way to manage stress!

My first attunement to Reiki was in early 2009. And it came to me just at the time I needed it. It was during what I call my Divine Storm. My father had recently past-away from ALS and within a year, my childhood kitty and chocolate lab also died. Oh, and to make matters worse, I had just been laid off from my job along with 2000+ others from my company. It was at this time that I felt such a loss of identity that I needed a spiritual retreat.

mcleodSo I packed my bags, rented out my apartment and embarked on a three-month trip to India to further my yoga studies. I landed in Delhi and took an all day train ride up in the northern mountains to a little Tibetan town where the Dalai Lama lives called Mcleodganj. I was to spend the whole month there getting my Yoga 200 Hour Teacher Training Certification. I was so ready to delve into my studies, yoga and meditation. Honesty, I was exhausted. I had spent over a decade, wheeling and dealing in the demanding advertising world in New York City. All the while I was living with the harsh reality that any day my father could lose his life. Over 10 years of intense stress! I had enough.

As I arrived in Mcleodganj, I thought I was going to be able to relax. Ha! Not quite. The universe had more for me to deal with. On my 2nd day, I was hit with Delhi Belly. Ever hear of that??? I’m sure you can imagine! I’ve never been sicker in my life! I won’t get into the gory details but I was sick, in pain, dehydrated and delirious. At some point, I must have fallen asleep without locking my door. I had it unlocked because the yoga teachers were coming by to serve me with electrolytes and soup throughout the day. The lil apartment I rented was on the ground floor and there had been workers outside doing construction. At around midnight I heard a noise. In my hazy grogginess I looked up expecting to see one of the teachers… only to find a stranger in my home with his hand on my wallet and passport.

Holy Roar!

I don’t know who entered into my soul but I screamed in such a low, loud roar that I scared myself. The man stared back at me wide-eyed with fear, dropped my belongings and ran for the hills. Me… I sat on my bed, motionless, not quite knowing what to do. Geez, what more could happen to me???

With my emotions completely out of whack, the kind staff at Himalaya Yoga Valley suggested that I see an amazing Reiki healer they knew of in town. The said it would bring me back into vibrational alignment. I didn’t know much about Reiki at the time but I was desperate to try anything. So I went. I did three Reiki sessions in three days. I mean, I was off, so I was going for it. It’s strange, it saw really subtle, but super powerful. It was like a spiritual awakening.me in something in canyons It both grounded me and connected me with spirit. From it, I drew the power from within, was able shake away my fears; and gain the mental and physical strength to carry on with my month-long yoga teacher training. I passed the training with flying colors. Of course I did, my chakras where alive and spinning for the first time in years. I knew I had to help others experience this incredible sensation. So upon graduation, I headed to Nepal where I met a wonderful Reiki Master. Along with two other wayward siSTAR travelers I met on
a bus ride through Nepal, together we were initiated into the practice and became attuned to Reiki Level 1.

So what exactly is Reiki???

 Rei – means Universal or Divine Wisdom and Ki – means Life Force Energy. So Reiki is actually “spiritually guided, life force energy.”

Reiki is a Japanese energetic healing therapy. In the East it’s used widely. And over the past decade it has gained popularity in the West. Here’s how the NCCAM, the Federal Government’s lead agency for scientific research on alternative medicine describes it:

Reiki is a healing method based on an Eastern belief in an energy that supports the body’s natural ability to heal. “It is natural and non-invasive. It is effective in relieving pain and reducing stress, restores and balances emotions and is effective in healing virtually all illnesses. It works both on your spirit-energetic level and the physical body.”

How Reiki is Performed

The Reiki practitioner lays her hands on or above the recipient’s body while the recipient is lying down or seated in a chair. Reiki can also be performed distantly, where the practitioner can perform a full session without actually being in the same room with the client. A session usually last an hour.

Whole Person Healing Properties

As Reiki treats the whole person — body, emotions, mind and spirit, the recipient can expect to feel more relaxed, peaceful and at ease. The sensation varies from person to person. Some clients describe it as a relaxing, gentle journey and other’s have described it as feeling a powerful release of negative energies that upon leaving them, allows them feeling energized and vibrant. It’s responds to what your body needs at the time and it will never feel the same.

I’ve been performing Reiki on clients since 2009. I owned a Reiki / Chakra Balance studio in Santa Monica, California and these days travel internationally helping clients in Greece, Thailand, Nepal and across the globe. I also work with clients via the phone or internet. The most common reasons clients come to see me is because they are feeling stuck in their lives, or they are experiencing emotional or physical pain. I love the before and after change from my clients when finished. They always look so relaxed, glowing and radiant.

If you’re feeling out of balance physically or emotionally, you might want to consider giving it a try. Message me to have a free consultation. After speaking, we can schedule a treatment that works best for your needs

I am also holding private Reiki Level 1, Level 2 and Master classes. Click HERE for more info 

Here’s to living Happy, Healthy and Stress Free!

Shine on,

Jewels Bertrand

Gypsy Jewels Bertrand Soul Journey Koh Phangan Thailand

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Stress Less with the Three Part Breathing Technique

THREE PART YOGA BREATHING TECHNIQUE

One of the keys to staying STRESS FREE is conscious BREATHING. Being aware of your breath is key to shifting the perspective from a stressful on to a state of calmness. This exercise is one of the most basic yet most powerful techniques that can stop STRESS dead in its tracks.

It is often done while seated in a comfortable, cross-legged position, but it is also nice to do while lying on the back, particularly if you are new to this technique. When you are lying down, you can really feel the breath moving through your body.

PART 1

  •  Come to lie down on the back with the eyes closed, relaxing the face and the body.
  • Begin by observing the natural inhalation and exhalation of your breath without changing anything. If you find yourself distracted by the activity in your mind, try not to engage in the thoughts. Just notice them and then let them drift by like clouds in the sky. 
  • Then begin to inhale deeply through the nose.
  • On each inhale, fill the belly up with your breath. Expand the belly with air like a balloon.
  • On the exhale, expel all the air out from the belly through your nose. Draw the naval back towards your spine to make sure that the belly is empty of air.
  • Repeat this deep belly breathing for about five breaths.

PART 2

  • On the next inhale, fill the belly up with air as described above. Then send the breath to the rib cage allowing the ribs to widen apart.
  • On the exhale, let the air go first from the rib cage, letting the ribs slide closer together, and them from the belly, drawing the naval back towards the spine.
  • Repeat this deep breathing into the belly and rib cage for about five breaths.

PART 3

  • On these next inhales, fill the belly and rib cage up with air as described above. Then ribcage, and on up to the upper chest, the heart center, opening space for the heart.
  • On the exhale, let the breath go first from the upper chest, allowing the heart center sink back down, then from the rib cage, letting the ribs slide closer together. Finally, let the air go from the belly, drawing the navel back towards the spine.
  • Continue at your own pace, eventually coming to let the three parts of the breath happen smoothly without pausing.
  • Rinse and repeat for about 10 breaths.

Note, keep the spine tall and long. Keep shoulders down, avoiding them to lift with the breath. 

LET US KNOW

Now share your experience with this cool technique below in the comments section. The conversation continues on the blog. 

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