"I'm gonna be a mighty king, so enemies beware. I'm gonna be the main event like no king was before. I'm brushing up on looking down, I'm working on my ROAR..." (Songwriters: Elton John / Tim Rice I Just Can't Wait to Be King lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company)
One of my favorite songs from the movie "The Lion King" was "I just can't wait to be King"...many years later, I still love the song but in a different way. As a kid we are always enticed by the luxuries of growing older and being in charge. As an adult, the meaning has shifted for me. As an entrepreneur, the song personifies my journey as a small business owner. The odds may be stacked against you however your vision and determination are there! The strength and resilience remain in tack and you preserver no matter what anyone has to say. "No one saying, 'do this', No one saying, 'be there', No one saying, 'stop that', No one saying, 'see here'... Free to do it all my wayyy!" Has this song changed in meaning for anyone else? Life is all about perception, once our perception shifts, so does our vantage point. :) The month of the Lion The summer months of July and August is officially Leo season. Leo is the astrological zodiac sign, represented by the Lion, the kings and queens of the celestial jungle. During this time, The Lion King re-emerges on the big screen (thank you for that bit of nostalgia), reminding me of my youth as well as the path that I'm on now. It served as a moment to turn IN and reflect. Am I serving in the highest way possible? Am I in alignment with my Universal purpose? How can I create and manifest the best possible situations for life, work, passion? It also gave me the cosmic OK to experiment and dare to dream bigger and accomplish more than usual. Example, instead of wonder if something was possible, I would just go for it. Dare yourself to be great! Dare yourself to be the King/Queen you are meant to be! "OH I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO BE KING!!!" ... ask yourself, "What's holding me back!?" Feeling fully committed to this process of seek, discover, awaken, transform, I took some time off to tune IN. What's holding me back!? Over and over this question resonated, vibrated, and echoed within my consciousnesses. Getting really personal with myself, I asked questions and really, really listened for the answer. Uncovering and revealing the hurt, the love, the worry, the faith, the belief, the anticipation, the MAGIC. "YOU"... In the end, the answer I was already aware of and afraid of presented itself to me. I am holding my own self back....silly! Don't do that!!! So off again I go, reminding myself to be FIERCE, be VULNERABLE, be FLEXIBLE, don't be afraid to say NO AND YES!, CHALLENGE myself daily, WRITE, LAUGH, CRY, BE...the list goes on and on... Remembering when I was a child, I was very inquisitive, always questioning and looking for more information. I have held onto that trait and apply it to my life today. Why am I doing what I do? Why does this happen when xyz occurs?..cause and effect. I also take this inquisitiveness into my practice as I work with others. 'Krishana', I say (yes I call myself in the third person when speaking truths to my human self, regaining focus, remembering ...Try it. Speak in the affirmative, a positive statement reminding yourself of who you are. Call yourself by your name and really letting it resonate...) 'you are given many gifts. Use them! You don't have to deconstruct them and figure out why they are there. All the information you have has already been given to you. And when the time comes for more information, you will know where to find it.' The cooling of the season: Fire, the element associated with Leo, represents fullness and life. It is closely associated with the Sun, strength, activity, blood, and life-force energy. It is also seen as highly purifying and protective, consuming impurities and driving back the darkness. This summer was full of cleansing energy, manifesting magic, filling up and receiving. Upbeat and intense, this summer has left us with many adventures and lessons to remind us that LIFE is a gift. (Fire can also be devastating and destructive. With July being the hottest month in recorded history, record fires have impacted the globe...prayers go out to the Amazon, Alaska, the Canary Islands, the Arctic and all the other areas affected by the devastation of widespread wildfires). As the hot summer months are soon to come to a close, work to remain determined, action-oriented, and focused on growing and developing further. Keep the Lion spirit! Focus on your inner Lion: As we transition, keeping the courage and strength of the lion often requires us to release and let go! Lion's breath in yoga, Simhasana, allows you to do just that! Blow off steam, stretch your face, unclench your teeth/jaw, adding ease to your practice and to the present moment. Lion's Breath relieves tension, tightness and stress by stretching your entire face, including the jaw and tongue. Lion's breath will feel silly at first; it will introduce some ease into your mind/body and remind you not to take yourself too seriously. If you are getting overheated, try this breath to blow off some steam. It is often practiced first thing in the morning to warm you up and increase your energy and improve circulation. It’s an energetic and awakening breath. Lion’s Breath opens the throat chakra and helps to boost confidence. Like Ujjayi breathing, it’s a warming breath that will increase your internal temperature and better prepare you for yoga asana. According to traditional texts, Simhasana destroys disease and facilitates the three major bandhas (Mula, Jalandhara, Uddiyana). The Practice: Sit in a comfortable seated position and close your eyes for a few slow deep breaths. Many people like to practice Lions Breath sitting on their heels, with knees together and spine tall and straight. A neutral seat is also welcome here, on the floor or in a chair with hands resting on your thighs. Take a few moments to deepen your breath and find an even length inhalation and exhalation. Inhale through your nose. Exhale strongly through your mouth, making a "ha" sound. As you exhale, open your mouth wide and stick your tongue as far out as possible towards your chin. (Your mouth should be as open as possible here. This is Lion’s Breath!!) Try bringing your drishti (internal focus/ gaze) towards your third eye (center of your forehead) or the tip of your nose as you exhale. Inhale, returning to a neutral face. Repeat 4-6 times working your way up to 10 rounds with continued practice. Speed of Practice: The length of inhalations and exhalations should be even in length and speed. The speed depends on the depth of your breath. (YOU determine the speed.) The deeper the breath, the more full you will be. Breathwork increases prana—life force energy—and stretches the muscles in your face, neck, and throat. Let loose and roar!!! "I'm gonna be the mightiest I'm WORKING ON MY ROAAAR! "
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AuthorYoga Certified, C-PT, Holistic Chiropractor providing a path for peaceful healing. Archives
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