In these times of divisiveness, negative news cycles, and gloomy winter months, it can feel hard to keep our spirits up. But you have way more power over your state of mind than you realize, as my colleagues and I have researched and as I discuss in my new book SOVEREIGN: Reclaim Your Freedom, Energy, and Power in a Time of Distraction, Uncertainty, and Chaos.
This pose offers the benefits of inversions, such as increased circulation to the upper body. Like the other classical inverted poses of Sirsasana (Headstand) and Sarvangasana ( Shoulderstand), it also teaches the student poise. The nervous system controls movement through learned patterns in which groups of muscles and joints act habitually to produce desired results. In turn, this movement produces feedback, which informs the nervous system where one is in space in relation to gravity.
Most of us think of suffering as something to eliminate, avoid, or fix. But what if conflict, especially in our relationships, is actually an invitation? What if the moments that stress us most hold within them the potential for exercising our heart's capacity for compassion, connection, expansion, and intimacy? When we respond to our own or another's pain with care rather than judgment, something extraordinary happens.
"I want to live a life I'm not disturbed by." It was an intense session with a new client, a 30-something single mother baffled by a long and winding trail of chaotic relationships-from partners whose fingers kept sneaking back to dating apps, to outbursts of rage toward those she loved most, often triggered by something trivial. A kind, intelligent woman with gentle eyes and a warm demeanor,
It seems everyone, in one way or another, feels aggravated and damaged by it. I find this concerning. That's why I keep explaining that not every painful experience is or becomes a traumatic wound. Knowing how deep a wound goes-and what that implies for care-can spare people unnecessary labels and distress, help clinicians choose appropriate interventions, and free those who suffer from being defined solely by their pain.
Before we begin: Take a moment, if you're willing, to notice what happens in your body as you read the word "rest." Does your breath change? Do your shoulders tense or release? Does a subtle anxiety flutter in your chest, or perhaps a wave of longing wash over you? Whatever arises-or doesn't-is valuable information about your nervous system's relationship with stillness.
A few years ago, I caught myself doing something that made no sense. It was late evening, my kids were asleep, the house finally quiet. I'd been counting down to this moment all day-dreaming of sinking into the couch, wrapping myself in a blanket, maybe even reading a book without distractions. But when I lay down and closed my eyes, something inside me lurched.
I guess we probably all do, right? Especially at this stage in my life - a grown-ass woman with a tween and a teen who have the drama thing on lock in our house - I try to be pretty proactive about protecting my peace. And yet, somehow, chaos seems to find me. Or could it be that I'm subconsciously seeking it out?
Most people know that chiropractors help with back pain, but their expertise extends far beyond alleviating musculoskeletal aches. Chiropractic care focuses on the connection between your spine and nervous system, which affects your entire body's function. When chiropractors adjust misaligned vertebrae, they can improve nerve communication throughout your body. This enhanced nerve flow can lead to some unexpected health benefits that might surprise you. Read on to learn five perks of chiropractic care you may not have heard of.
