"Honest, open communication is the only street that leads us into the real world… We then begin to grow as never before. And once we are on this road, happiness cannot be far away.” – John Joseph Powel

The Throat Chakra – Vishuddhi in sanskrit – translates as “pure,” or “purification.” The Throat Chakra seeks authenticity in communication and authenticity in expression… pure authenticity.

Before we begin, take a moment to bring your attention to your throat.

“If you always put limits on everything you do - physical or anything else - it will spread into your work & into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus. And you must not stay there. You must go beyond them.” – Bruce Lee

The Solar Plexus Chakra – Manipura – translates as “place of shining gem,” and is located within your spine, at the level of your navel.

Manipura Mindfulness

If you’re able, find a comfortable seat, or lay down, and take a few moments to connect with your breath.

Allow your breath to slow down and deepen.

Bring your hands to your navel and as you breathe, feel as your hands rise and fall with the movement of your belly.

Begin to notice the heat of your hands on your belly.

The warm sensation of your own body heat warming and stimulating your core.

Visualize a large, bright, yellow ball of light residing here.

As you deepen into each breath, watch this light grow and expand

Until it envelopes your entire being.

Sit in this radiant warmth and notice what you feel.

I think it’s safe to say that if we – as adults – feel overstimulated by this technology-driven society, our children are probably feeling it as well … and I’d guess maybe even more so.

With nervous systems on overdrive, stress, anxiety, and those seemingly out-of-nowhere-meltdowns abound. Sometimes, kids throwing a tantrum – or giving you that attitude that always hits the perfect nerve – is really dysregulation without the understanding and knowledge of how to come back into emotional regulation.

So, finding ways to create grounding and mindfulness, and promote their overall well-being is crucial.

While yoga is often associated with adults, it’s truly for people of all ages… including kids! Yoga actually offers amazing benefits for kids as well. And really, the younger they become familiar with the practice, the more equipped they’ll be as they enter into adolescence and adulthood… making it easier for them, and you!

I’m sure we’ve all been there – and if you haven’t, tell us your secret! That lower back pain that twinges in just the right area… at the most inconvenient time.

That one twinge makes you feel like you’re decades older than you are and well, now you’re ready to lay flat all day just to avoid it.

Except that option is probably, nearly, … impossible.

Your best bet is, realistically, to find ways to 1.) prevent the twinge from even happening, and 2.) when it does happen, find ways to effectively soothe that area of your body without having to lay flat for hours on end.

Luckily, yoga is an effective way to achieve both. For centuries yoga has been practiced as a natural, safe, and preventative way to alleviate all kinds of illness, ailment, and pain. For today, we’ll just focus on the back.

This liminal space can be felt on many levels, sometimes in an obvious way, and other times in more subtle ways. During this time of year, as the leaves begin to fall, the world around us becomes bright with color, warm, yet crisp in the air, and there is this fleeting fragment of time that feels comforting and enveloping before the cold, bitter snaps of winter. Or, rather than feeling comforting and enveloping, a realization of the cold approaching has an opposite effect. The approach and outlook of this liminal space can vary and in turn, can alter the ease of such a transition.