Monday, December 12, 2011

Improve Concentration & Creativity in 15 Minutes!

Did you know that the frontal lobe of the brain is responsible for concentration and creativity?  And when we meditate the pre-frontal lobe is activated?  It's true.  It's like plugging in your electric car for a recharge---when  you meditate, you are recharging the battery of your brain power!

The amazing thing is that if you can manage to meditate just a little bit every day, your concentrate is greatly improved for other tasks.  Not only that, with improved focus it's easier to accomplish more in less time.  Your brain is literally able to process information more efficiently.   Suddenly, you can accomplish in one minute what used to take ten minutes.  The hardest part, though, is finding that extra 15 minutes in your day to meditate.  Below are a few tips followed by a simple practice. 

Get up 15 minutes earlier.

Take a walk at lunch and find a quiet place to sit alone.

Go to bed 15 minutes later.

Ask a friend, parent, or other family member to help with the kids or other duties so you can have 15 minutes.

Two things to help you get started and stick with it:

Stick with the same time every day (commit to 2-3 weeks).

Create a routine that you can easily repeat.  Having a set routine helps because you don't have to think about what to do.  You just show up and practice the same as you did the time before (hopefully within the past 24 hours).

Simple 15-minute routine:

Walk in place for a minute or so.  This helps get your blood moving and reenergizes you so you don't feel sleepy when you sit.

Upon sitting:

Find a comfortable seated position.  Take several deep cleansing breaths.  Behind closed eyes bring your attention to your forehead.  Don't cross your eyes, but just hold your attention here.  Imagine with every breath the front part of your brain is being activated, turned on.  Hold your gaze in this area (behind closed eyes) throughout the practice.  At first it may seem hard, but over time your eyes will just settle in to focus here.  Just relax your eyes, your gaze, looking out and "through" the middle of your forehead, just at the point between the eyebrows.  Imagine a flashlight showing you the way.  Look up and ahead, through, this point.  This practice helps to awaken the pre-frontal lobe (where you gain focus and creativity).

Pranayama:  Practice even count breathing.  Do 3 - 5 rounds of "even count" breathing.  Inhale to a count of 8, retain breath to a count of 8; exhale to a count of 8.  The more you do this you can let go of actually counting; the process will just become intuitive.  You can adjust the count, less or more, as you like.

Watching the breath:  After the even count breathing, resume natural breathing for several breaths.  Then begin to simply "watch the breath" as you inhale and exhale.  Don't control the breath, just let it come on its own accord.  After about 2 minutes add a mantra:  Silently affirm, "I am" on the inhale and then "Peace" on the exhale.  Instead of "watching the breath" transition to "feeling" the breath ...feel the essence of peace.  If your mind wanders, come back to watching the breath and your mantra, "I am Peace."  Practice for five minutes and then transition from watching to just being, feeling, peace, stillness.

Sit in the stillness.  As you sit quietly, feel the energy of peace washing over you.  Gently, imagine the warmth of peace, as if being showered by a gently flowing tropical waterfall.  Feel the peace wash over your face, your heart, your entire body.  Like a sponge, absorb this feeling.  Know it as peace.  Sit in this pool of peace.  Bask in the peace washing over you. Practice for five minutes.

When you're ready, deepen your breath, to help become more aware of the body as you complete your practice.  Come out of the silence by wiggling your toes, fingers, and a few deep breaths.

End by humming or chanting three oms:  Bring your hands in prayer position at your heart center.  Give thanks for this gift of peace.  Now, briskly rub your hands together, feeling the heat, the energy in your palms.  Feel the connection in your heart with your hands.  Open your hands and face them forward as you chant om three times.  Imagine energy radiating from your heart center, through your arms, into your hands, out into your fingertips.  Feel the vibration reaching out to others.  Share your gift of peace as you go about your day.

Take a challenge: Try it for a full week!  See if you notice any "aha" moments, gain clarity or get things done more easily.  Notice if you feel calmer.  Just experiment.  Adopting the above practice (even just a few minutes) before going into a stressful situation (meetings, speaking, etc) helps you to remain calm, collected, focused! 

Thursday, December 1, 2011

A Year in Review

This month, December 2011, is the one-year mark since leaving my 23-year career in engineering.  Sometimes I can't believe I really did it—left my job—but when I look at the year in review, I am pleased to see I have used my time well.  I've struck a balance that keeps me healthy, happy, and grounded.   

Leaving behind my old job allowed my life to expand, grow, blossom.  It has allowed time to discover new things about myself and say Yes! to an abundance of opportunities.  My focus has been on expanding my healing practice, writing, continuing education, and playing with my grandsons as much as possible!

Since there's been so much growth for Seattle Energy Medicine in 2011, I thought it might be a good time to provide an outline of what's new and upcoming for 2012.  

Private Sessions:  I gave up my private healing space but sublet in two lovely locations.

·       Tuesdays at The Pujari Center:  The new clinic opened in July, 2011 and SEM has lots of great things planned for 2012! Special deals and additional services coming! Go here for more info on my services as well as the other practitioners: http://www.pujaricenter.com/practitioners           

·         Fridays at East West Bookshop:  I have been offering private sessions for almost two years in one of the EWB beautiful private treatment rooms. Look for special offers, including free mini-sessions in 2012!  Go here for more info on my services as well as the other practitioners: http://www.eastwestbookshop.com/healers/ 

·         By phone: many options and times available.  Email or phone for scheduling. 

·         On site: traveling to the client's location is always an option.  Contact me to discuss.
Classes & Lecturing:
·       Swedish Medical Center: Meditation classes will continue at Swedish Medical Center Issaquah in 2012.  For more information and to register go to: http://www.theshopsatswedish.org/flex-space 

·       The Pujari Center will be offering a variety of classes so check the calendar often.  I will be teaching both one-on-one as well as group meditation classes and workshops on the chakras, developing intuition, and "energetic" parenting.  

·       Speaking:  "Brown Bag" classes within the business community are becoming more popular as many companies invite employees to classes during their lunch break.  I am in the process of confirming events for my 2012 calendar but there's room for more!  One of my greatest desires is to teach people about the benefits of meditation to help manage stress (the main focus for these classes). 

·       Yoga: In March, 2012 I will receive my Yoga Teaching Certification and become registered with the Yoga Alliance.  Private and group sessions will be offered at yoga studios, The Pujari Center, Swedish, as well as many "Wellness Programs" within the business community. 
Writing: A major focus in 2011 has been on my writing and where I've experienced the most growth.  Here's a rundown:
·       My book: The self-help book I've been working on is starting to read like a book!  I've been working with writing coach and developmental editor, Brooke Warner, for the past year and a half and my little project is finally coming together!  Once complete, I will offer more classes and workshops directly related to tools I've gathered over the years and compiled in the book.  Looking forward to this!  Keep an eye out here as well as my web site for when and where these classes will begin. 

·       Articles: On the advice on my writing coach I began blogging more and writing articles.  Although a little bit of a time challenge to post blogs on a regular basis, the process has helped me hone my writing skills and learn to manage my time.  After procrastinating for many months, I finally submitted a few articles to "EzineArticles", of which two were accepted and posted online with one in revision.  Many more articles are in work!  Go to this site and search on my name (Ruth Stender) to find published articles.  http://ezinearticles.com/.   

·        My first article for New Spirit Journal, Seven Triggers of Holiday Stress and Seven Preventive Tips, was just published in the December issue.  http://newspiritjournal.com/current-issue
·       Pujari Center: Dr. Astrid Pujari writes a monthly newsletter/blog and has invited practitioners at the clinic to contribute.  My intention is to write a few articles so check the web site for articles from not only me but other practitioners on a variety of topics and modalities offered at the clinic. For current articles go here: http://www.pujaricenter.com/blog 
·       Columnist: Beginning February 2012, I will begin writing a monthly column for New Spirit Journal, called "Chakra Talk".  The focus is, well, on the chakras! and will offer basic information and practical tips for balancing your seven major energy centers.  Krysta Gibson, founder and publisher of NSJ, has created a wonderful platform for brining mind, body, spirit health to the headlines.  I am so honored to be a contributor to this wonderful publication.  Go here for the current issue: http://www.newspiritjournal.com/current-issue.  By the way, NSJ is a great place to advertise your products and services and the cost is very reasonable.  
It is my intention to continue my own personal journey while offering guidance in the way of sessions, classes, and writing—integrated in a way that enhances the lives of others. 
Many blessings of joy to you!  And thank you for your continued support.
In gratitude,
Ruth