At this Wild Heathen Feminine Circle, Vanessa Murray takes you to a place of healing, community and powerful femininity while unleashing the fierce woman within. On her private land, in the original primitive style, Vanessa will lead circle in the traditional way. See Facebook event for more info! Savage Unicorn Yoga
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Vanessa is a 500 E-RYT & YACEP, trauma informed and somatic influence teacher that focuses her training in the restorative and yin practices of therapeutic yoga. Using the chakras, aromatherapy and healing stones she offers her students a space to find relaxation, serenity, new-found insights, a deeper connection to self, source and healing within the poses.
Private yoga group for class on your time. Yoga, meditation, pranayama, journaling and yogic tradition. Monthly themed challenges! Community of support!
One on One on your time. All styles of yoga or Olympic lifting
At this Wild Heathen Feminine Circle, Vanessa Murray takes you to a place of healing, community and powerful femininity while unleashing the fierce woman within. On her private land, in the original primitive style, Vanessa will lead circle in the traditional way. See Facebook event for more info! Savage Unicorn Yoga
When I ask yoga teachers what Ashtanga is, they almost always start describing the primary series of poses. But it goes so much deeper than that. In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra—the most ancient and revered sourcebook for yoga practice— the eightfold path is called Ashtanga, which literally means “eight limbs” (ashta=eight, anga=limb).
**In order of lesson: **
Yamas-Attitudes toward our environment
Niyamas-Attitudes towards ourselves
Asana-Physical poses
Pranayama-Energy Control/Breathwork
Pratyahara-Withdrawal of senses
Dharana-Concentration
Dhyana-Absorption
Samadhi-Total Self-Collectedness
The fifth branch of the 8 limbs is Pratyahara and my favorite limb to teach by far.
But what does Pratyahara mean?
In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra he writes this:
YOGA SUTRA 2.54- PRATYAHARA IS THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE SENSES FROM THEIR OBJECTS BY FOLLOWING THE ESSENTIAL NATURE OF THE MIND.
YOGA SUTRA 2.55- FROM THIS COMES THE PERFECT MASTERY OVER THE SENSES.
Paramhansa Yogananda called this “shutting off the sense telephones.” It is the final preparatory stage before deep meditation. There are various ways to remove the distraction of the senses, such as remaining still, closing the eyes, and sitting in a quiet place or using earplugs. However, Nayaswami Jyotish, spiritual successor to Swami Kriyananda, emphasizes that true pratyahara occurs in the mind, not the body. It is the internalization of the life-force (pranayama) that results in the shutting down of the senses. An example of this is when we voluntarily fall asleep.
How do we actually do this in a world where our senses are subjected to constant bombardment?
My lack of Pratyahara.
With so much noise and distraction, sometimes it’s hard to really hear myself. Sometimes it’s hard to be aware of myself. As my notification sound plays its cute little melody, I look down at my phone. I have three texts. I also have 5 messages on my website to answer, not to mention notifications on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snap Chat. While I flow through the likes and hearts, I head to my desktop to work on programming for my athletes and I turn on Spotify. As a small business owner, my social media presence gets me jobs so I have to keep it updated. My husband is listening to a Joe Rogan Podcast in the living room while my grandbabies are watching Disney. I close my eyes and listen as my senses are lit up. Sometimes I feel like everywhere I go, there is something being put in front of my face. Something I just have to react to.
There is an over-saturation of noise and sights to take in. Most of us suffer from sensory overload, the result of constant bombardment from television, radio, computers, newspapers, magazines, books—you name it. Our commercial society functions by stimulating our interest through the senses. We are constantly confronted with bright colors, loud noises, and dramatic sensations. We have been raised on every sort of sensory indulgence—it is the main form of entertainment in our society. That’s why the fifth limb of yoga – sense withdrawal, or pratyahara is so important.
Total lack of Pratyahara.
Most of us suffer from sensory overload, the result of constant bombardment from television, radio, computers, newspapers, magazines, books—the list goes on. Society functions by stimulating our interest through the senses. We are constantly confronted with bright colors, loud noises, and dramatic sensations. We have been raised on every sort of sensory indulgence—it is the main form of entertainment in our society. Sensory overload happens when you’re getting more input from your five senses than your brain can sort through and process. Multiple conversations going on in one room, flashing overhead lights, or a loud party can all produce the symptoms of sensory overload. Anyone can experience sensory overload, and triggers are different for different people. Sensory overload is associated with several other health conditions, including autism, sensory processing disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and fibromyalgia.
Symptoms of sensory overload vary by case. Some common symptoms include:
difficulty focusing due to competing sensory input
extreme irritability
restlessness and discomfort
urge to cover your ears or shield your eyes from sensory input
feeling overly excited or “wound up”
stress, fear, or anxiety about your surroundings
higher levels than usual of sensitivity to textures, fabrics, clothing tags, or other things that may rub against skin
Your senses relay information from your environment, and your brain interprets the information and tells you how to react. But when there’s competing sensory information, your brain can’t interpret it all at the same time. For some people, this feels like getting “stuck”; your brain can’t prioritize what sensory information it needs to focus on. Your brain feels trapped by all the input it’s getting, and your body starts to panic in a chain reaction. This is called the stress response, or fight/flight/freeze. This was an excellent skill to have when we were outrunning saber tooth cats or looking out for signs of flooding. It helped us stay alive.
Finding Your Pratyahara.
As an advanced trauma informed yoga teacher, I have lots of tools in my toolbox to help learn Pratyahara. My students often struggle with different aspects of trauma, stress, sensory overload or just plain mental exhaustion, so these tools are infinitely valuable for their sense of calm.
Here are my go-to favorites to remember Pratyahara and practice it.
Restorative yoga
Restorative yoga, made popular by BKS Iyengar, is a style of yoga that encourages physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. Appropriate for all levels, restorative yoga is practiced at a slow pace, focusing on long holds, stillness, and deep breathing. I like to call it active napping. This yoga style is known for its ability to activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the “rest and digest” part of your nervous system that helps keep basic functions working as they should. As the name suggests, restorative yoga “restores” the body to its parasympathetic nervous system function, which, in turn, helps the body rest, heal, and restore balance. By allowing time for longer asanas (poses) and deeper breathing, restorative yoga helps elicit the relaxation response. This response can help slow breathing, reduce blood pressure, and produce a feeling of calm and increased well-being.
Listening Meditation
Listening to the sounds of nature is very healing. On a daily basis we process vast amounts of sensory input, which can lead to SENSORY OVERLOAD. Tuning into one sense at time gives our nervous system a chance to “catch up”. In combination with our breath we send a signal to our nervous system that we can rest in this moment.
Try this exercise:
#1: Stand outside. Feel your feet on the ground and the air on your skin.
#2: Listen to the sounds around you. What do you hear? In front of you and behind you.
#3: Identify the furthest sound away from you that you can hear and then the closest.
#4: Take 3 deep breaths.
#5: Repeat as often as needed to catch up.
Practice Non-judgment
It’s very, very easy to judge and instantly react to all the over-stimulation around us. Although non-judgment and delayed reaction may be the simplest ways to turn inward, it’s not the easiest. We are bombarded with pressure from friends, family, co-workers and followers on social media to judge and act accordingly. It all has to do with our brains. Our brain, specifically, the “lizard brain”, or primitive part of our brain, is really good at finding potential threats to our lives.
Our society has moved toward being so much more open and supportive of a diverse list of characteristics and traits. People can be gay, asexual, or pansexual, black, white, Asian, or mixed, thin, athletic, average, or overweight, monogamous, polyamorous, a gamer, a rock-climber, a musician, or an accountant, and they are ALL VALID in today’s society. Every single flavor of person out there is worthy of love, and we’re starting to realize that as a society! We don’t need to cast people out just to protect ourselves. Spread the power of love, not judgement.
Try this to practice Non-judgment:
#1: Observe Your Emotions- When we experience those negative emotions like anger, frustration, hatred, disappointment, or pain, it is because we’re in a place of judgment and feeling threatened. The first step is to notice whenever we feel those emotions.
#2: Recognize Judgment- After we recognize our “negative” emotions, it’s time to examine what exactly we were judging or feeling threatened by.
#3: Understand Your Judgment- Take a step back and try to objectively figure out what judgments you have toward others so that you can learn to practice non-judgment. When we’re able to understand those situations and let them go, we’re able to move into a place of non-judgment.
And finally, disconnect.
Although it’s really not a tip, more of a life choice. Disconnect. Even if it is just for a day. Commit to disconnect. As a follower of Sadhguru, he suggested to stop watching the news to reduce stress. “Have fear? He says, “Change the channel.” I did and I can’t tell you how happy I am for it. Trying to strike a balance between being informed by news media and not becoming overwhelmed by it is difficult—especially during a global crisis.
A constant stream of sensational or "disaster" reporting, whether you are exposed actively or passively, can elevate stress levels and trigger symptoms like anxiety and trouble sleeping. “It can be damaging to constantly be reading the news because constant exposure to negative information can impact our brain,” says Annie Miller, MSW, LCSW-C, LICSW. When we experience a threat, Miller says our brain activates the fight or flight response, and the systems in our body react accordingly. A recent study by the American Psychological Association 1 found that 66% of Americans are stressed out about the future of the country, and the constant consumption of news was pinpointed as a major contributor. Same goes for social media. Just take a break.
And if you can’t, try these mindful practices to stay on track:
#1: Don’t Believe Everything You Read
“The beginning of wisdom is found in doubting; by doubting we come to the question, and by questioning we may come upon the truth.” Sage words that were written in 1120 but ring true today from Pierre Abelard, a medieval French philosopher, teacher, and theologian.
#2: Confirm the Information
FactCheck.org, Snopes.com, and PolitiFact.com are some of the most respected. If you read something that you suspect may not be true, it’s likely that one of these organizations has verified the piece—just type the title of the article or a keyword from the article into the search bar to see if it has been reviewed.
#3: Check Your Biases
The next time you’re yelling in a room alone at some social media post about a politician you oppose, someone not agreeing with you on Covid masking or living their life unlike yours, take a moment to pause and question what you’ve read and why it upset you.
#4: Keep Your Sense of Humor
One of the most powerful and positive defense strategies we have is humor. Laughter is free medicine, so laugh a lot.
#5: Channel Strong Feelings
See above, practice non-judgement. And it is indeed a practice.
I found Pratyahara.
Before I started my yogic path, during times of stress I would go bonkers on stimulating myself so I didn’t have to tune into the issues. I’d scrub the house, over workout or overwork in the garden. Now I am more aware of the urge to drown out my conflicts with overstimulation. Whenever I
notice my attempt to escape into stimulation, I use pratyahara as a powerful tool to improve my daily life. Learning to incorporate my yoga practice into my daily life in this way is a challenge, but it’s a challenge that makes me a better human. Yoga is a process of discovery and growth. The yogic path is a practice. Keep evolving.
• Ahn RR, et al. (2004). Prevalence of parents’ perceptions of sensory processing disorders among kindergarten children. DOI:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15202626
• Arky B. (n.d.). Sensory processing issues explained.
childmind.org/article/sensory-processing-issues-explained/
• Bennett RM. (1999). Emerging concepts in the neurobiology of chronic pain: Evidence of abnormal sensory processing in fibromyalgia. DOI:
10.4065⁄74.4.385
• Fung LK, et al. (2012). A retrospective review of the effectiveness of aripiprazole in the treatment of sensory abnormalities in autism. DOI:
10.1089/cap.2010.0103
• Jones RSP, et al. (2009). First-hand accounts of sensory perceptual experiences in autism: A qualitative analysis. DOI:
10.1080⁄1366825031000147058
• Learn the signs. (n.d.).
autismspeaks.org/learn-signs
• Pfeiffer BA, et al. (2011). Effectiveness of sensory integration interventions in children with autism spectrum disorders: A pilot study.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3708964/
• Rosen P. (n.d.). Sensory processing issues and anxiety: What you need to know.
understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/sensory-processing-issues/sensory-overload-anxiety
• Sensory differences. (2016).
autism.org.uk/sensory
• https://www.healthline.com/health/sensory-overload
• Source: Stress in America: Coping with Change- https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/04/stressed-future
• https://wildsimplejoy.com/how-to-practice-non-judgmental-mindfulness/ http://sarawordenyoga.com/blog/
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This is your opportunity to discover how LIIFT UnTherapy works. You'll learn a bit about the theory. And you'll see the theory turned into healings in your own life.
Teens and adults seeking to improve their happiness, success and love life. Caregivers, parents and grandparents of troubled youth.
You will understand how LIIFT UnTherapy heals so effectively. And you will experience its power as you create 3 or 4 healings in your life under the guidance of your LIIFT UnTherapist.
We will start the session with an explanation of LIIFT UnTherapy. We will then establish a numerical baseline showing the level of life dysfunction that you want to heal. We will then follow guidance from your subconscious mind to carry out 3 or 4 healings depending on the length of time each requires. (A full session can run 6 to 16 discrete healings.) We will close by checking how your numbers have improved compared with the baseline we established earlier.
LIIFT is unusual in that you don't have to remember what happened, you don't have to talk about it, and you don't have to re-experience it. Your conscious, your subconscious and I, your LIIFT UnTherapist will together work to erase the damage and install happier more functional stuff in your life.
In this FREE consultation call, we will talk about your business and you as a CEO. How do you feel about your leadership skills and your ability to communicate with potential clients/customers, team members, and employees?
You will benefit if you are a CEO or leader of a business, and wanting to upgrade your communication skills.
During our call, I’ll help you identify at least one key area where you may be having a communication breakdown. I’ll help you see what’s possible with some improvement.
I will introduce you to The Systems and Psychology Method for Transformative Communication™-a tailored approach I created for business leaders like you who are serious about being a better leader and upgrading their communication skills to grow the business of their dreams.
If we decide to work together, I’ll support you and guide you to build confident communication tools so you can be the CEO and leader you’re proud of.
Holistic Health Integrates Conventional and Alternative Therapies To Treat Disease; Promoting Optimal Health. Together, through discussions directed towards spreading knowledge, I will help to educate the individual. Therefore, allowing the individual to gain some understanding of the etiology, or preferably, the cause behind one's Anxiety. Acquiring the knowledge and the understanding of how your Environment and behaviors affect your own body can genuinely allow one to succeed in the areas in which the individual has set out to achieve.
Offered
Consultations For Anxiety
Educational Anxiety Interventions
Written Educational Guide
Required
The Discussion Of Food Intake
Discussion On Health Issues
One's Stress Levels
Discussions On Family
Discussions On Emtional Environment
Age
Hatha yoga offers a good contrast to our busy lives as it provides the opportunity to unwind, stretch, and ease away the tension of your day. Hatha Yoga has been shown to have many calming and well-being benefits.
My classes last 30 minutes and will start with a gentle warm-up then advance to more physical asanas (poses). The class ends with Savasana (the pose of total relaxation). Casses are suitable for beginners. My classes are currently held via Zoom.
Coaching with me is a transformational experience, which brings forth tangible results and significant changes in every single area of your life.
The areas I can help you with include, but are not limited to
✔️ gaining clarity in your values, priorities and life purpose
✔️ cultivating self-awareness, self-confidence and self-love
✔️ creating fulfilling and meaningful relationships (whether you are single, married or in a relationship)
✔️ performing to your highest potential, whether in Sports or in Business
✔️ taking your career/business to the next level or transitioning into another career
✔️ identifying the patterns and beliefs, that are holding you back
✔️ work-life balance and setting healthy boundaries
✔️ conscious parenting
✔️ emotional, mental health and well-being
✔️ creating more joy, meaning and fulfillment in your life
The N of coaching sessions required depends on your specific situation.
During each session I create a safe container for you to EXPLORE, HEAL & TRANSFORM your patterns and bring positive changes into your life!
I am the Coach, who makes sure that You are being, living and creating to your fullest potential.
You deserve to heal! You deserve to thrive!
Love,
Arevik
P.S. I coach in English, Russian, Armenian and improving my French to be able to work with French speaking clients.
An introduction to the most reliable astrological process ever devised that is specifically curated for identifying one’s vocation. Have you ever asked yourself, "what is my calling in life?" Does the prospect of job vagaries make glum? Are you finally where you aimed to be professionally, but now questioning everything, including the path you chose to take?
Candidates often are undergoing their first or second Saturn Return, or perhaps are in college.
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15 minutes: this is not a full session, but only one small sidebar to a comprehensive consultation.
The Midheaven Extension Process is remarkably reliable, but no process is foolproof. Many non-astrological variables are at play to either affirm or deny individual life direction. Still, with over an 80% success rate most people find incredible value in this service.
You will be connected to a loved one in Spirit. i will provide evidence for you to recognize the disincarnate person, then provide a message if they have one.
How it works: I use Shamanic Journeying tools to connect with the space and with my guide and helpers. I then remote view the house clairvoyantly and intuitively so that I can remove and transmute energies from my clients’ living or work spaces to restore energy, harmony, peace, flow, and promote growth in their home and their lives.
Once this work is completed, clients often report feeling more grounded, relaxed, energised, and that they feel more harmonious energies in the home.
Working with clients remotely, I open sacred space and commune with the House, the Land Energy, and with Spirit to intuit what is needed. I ask for information and guidance for you in relation to your space. Then I rattle and sage the home, office, or building within sacred space remotely holding the vision of the space in my mind while I shamanically journey - meaning, I go into a mild trance state - to the Spirit world or ‘non-physical reality.’
I will conduct healing and clearing of the space, for removal of that which is not serving the highest good. I usually visualise each energy that is removed, enabling me to write a report about the experience.
This is a remote healing for any location. You receive a written report.