Does Your Life Have Meaning?

Have you ever wondered why you are here? What is life all about?

Do you ever ask, “Who am I? What is my purpose?”

Does your life have meaning?

Our lives are full of queries.

Endless soul-searching questions are not unusual.

They have been asked throughout history by philosophers, theologians, spiritualists, psychologists, monks, renunciates, countless others, and ordinary people like you and me.

Fear of the unknown, not knowing the answers to life’s most difficult questions, can be disturbing and unsettling.

In his attempt to deal with existential angst—a feeling of loss, that your existence is without purpose and that life has abandoned you—French playwright, novelist, political activist, and philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre devoted much of his life to the achievement of a meaningful existence.

He did this through developing inner resources, the creative exercise of freedom, and overcoming denial and self-deception.

Some consider Sartre one of the first ‘self-help’ authorities based partly on his assertion that we cannot avoid responsibility for our destiny.

“What is not possible is not to choose. I can always choose, but I must know that if I do not choose, that is still a choice.”
— Jean-Paul Sartre, Existentialism and Human Emotions

It is said that beating within your heart, the forces of destiny are ever-present.

Have you ever wondered how you can shape your destiny?

Actualizing your destiny begins with formulating your life mission, your innermost heartfelt desire, and finding your purpose, your reason for being.

“You are what your deep, driving desire is.
As your desire is, so is your will.
As your will is, so is your deed.
As your deed is, so is your destiny.”
— Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (IV.4.5)

If the topics of destiny and life purpose interest you, join me for my next event—Seek, Reflect, Restore.

This live, virtual workshop will include breathing practice, meditation, reflection, journaling, somatic yoga, and restorative yoga.

Together we’ll explore stillness and contentment within as you uncover your heart’s deepest desire, your life mission, and more.

When: Sunday, Nov 20, 2022 @ 1:00-3:30 pm (Central Time)
Where: Live via Zoom
Investment: $37

Registration Deadline: Sunday, Nov 13, 2022
Cancellation Policy: Full refunds up to 3 days before the event. No refunds will be given after that time.

What You’ll Need: Besides a yoga mat, a journal/notebook, and a pen/pencil, below are the things you may want to have nearby to make this experience more enjoyable. Dress comfortably.

- Bolster or pillow
- Eye cover (facecloth or eye pillow)
- Warm, fuzzy socks
- Soft, warm blanket (plus 2-3 firm blankets)

It is my heartfelt desire to be of service to you.

You can CHOOSE to join me.

SEEK, REFLECT, RESTORE

COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW TO REGISTER

With joy and gratitude,

Jeannine

Have You Been Missing Out?

Have you heard of FOMO?

Do you ever experience the fear that others are having more fun than you and have better jobs, relationships and opportunities than you?

When the perception of missing an opportunity causes stress, that's FOMO—the fear of missing out. Social media makes this stress-tinged envy much worse, often negatively impacting our daily self-esteem.

I’m writing this blog today not to highlight the frequency or ill effects of FOMO but to point out that you might be missing out on one of my unique yoga offerings.

I found out the other day that one of my yoga students had no idea she could attend the Tuesday morning Yoga Nidra classes for free.

That’s right.

Free.

So just in case you’ve been missing out, I’ve updated the information on my website, which you can read below.

It’s what you need to know so you won’t miss out.

SEPTEMBER 13 - DECEMBER 6, 2022

YOGA NIDRA - 13 WEEKS - TUESDAYS 10-11 AM $189*

*This live online class is FREE for all current Studio 71 Yoga weekly session participants. Contact Jeannine for more information.

Take a break and reset your day starting with a brief awareness exercise, followed by a 35-minute iRest® Yoga Nidra practice—guided meditation for deep relaxation and healing.

iRest core concepts are introduced each week as you are guided into deeply relaxing states, moving beyond self-limiting beliefs and conditioning. With practice, you’ll enhance your sense of awareness of being a whole person, ultimately realizing that you are perfect just as you are.

Scientific research has shown that regularly practicing iRest Yoga Nidra benefits stress, sleep disturbances, chronic pain, and anxiety. It can also help with chemical dependency, post-traumatic stress injury, depression, cancer and other conditions.

No experience is needed.

There’s no right or wrong way to do this practice.

You can practice lying down or seated with your eyes open or gently closed.

Everyone is welcome.

There you have it—basic information about the Tuesday morning classes.

Let me know if you’re enrolled in another Studio 71 Yoga weekly yoga session and want to attend the five remaining Tuesday morning Yoga Nidra classes at no additional cost.

Of course, everyone else is also welcome to register for any remaining yoga classes.

Take action now so you won’t be missing out.

10 Things I’m Grateful For

It’s October, and where I live in central Canada, leaves are changing from green to eye-catching shades of yellow, orange, and red.

Image by Chis Lawton

This weekend is Thanksgiving, and maybe you’ll be seated around an elaborately decorated dinner table with family and friends, sharing food, drink and merriment.

Someone might say a prayer of thanks, and during or after the feast, you may be invited to share what you’re grateful for, as is often part of the Thanksgiving tradition.

Responses will likely include the ones we hear most often—loved ones, health, and food.

But what if you were asked to talk about some of the less obvious things that can make up a gratitude list? 

What are you grateful for every day when you wake up?

Without thinking, take a few minutes for yourself, sit down, and write 10 things.

That’s what I did the other day, and here’s what I came up with.

10 Things I’m Grateful For

  1. The changing seasons

  2. Green grass

  3. The sun and moon

  4. Eyes to see beauty everywhere

  5. Comfort

  6. Opportunity

  7. Ears to hear laughter, music, and enjoyable conversation

  8. Children

  9. Feet to take me where I want to go

  10. Memories

We don’t have to wait until special holidays to give thanks.

Image by Tatiana Rodriguez

With joy and gratitude,

Jeannine

Mudras and The Five Elements Theory

For the past few years each of my yoga sessions (fall, winter, spring) has included a specific theme as a way to introduce students to a wider base of knowledge beyond yoga poses practiced on the mat. I was taught in this way by my teachers, who were taught in this same way by their revered teachers, and so on.

At the outset, I introduced Patanjali’s eight-fold path called ashtanga, as a general overview of some upcoming themes:

 • Yama: principles that guide our interaction with others

• Niyama: guidelines for how to act toward ourselves

• Asana: physical postures/poses

• Pranayama: breathing techniques

• Pratyahara: withdrawal of the senses/ability to overcome distractions

• Dharana: ability to concentrate

• Dhyana: meditation

• Samadhi: state of bliss

This introduction paved the way for a more detailed step-by-step exploration of yama, niyama, pranayama, and dhyana, as well as the 7-chakra energy system.

With this same desire to further expand our learning, I’ve added mudras to our burgeoning awareness of the yoga tradition.

According to Georg Feuerstein, “In yoga, mudras are primarily special hand gestures that are used to conduct the body’s subtle energy or life force (prana) in specific ways.” Numerous yogic practices use mudras—a Sanskrit term meaning “seal”—to contain, direct, or enhance the body’s life force.

Many of the mudras originated from stories told by the Buddha on his path to enlightenment. They are commonly used during contemplative practices such as meditation and visualization, as well as during practices that control breathing, and rituals of worship.

There are hundreds of mudras, including the wide range of mudras of the hands, arms, legs, head, and trunk used in Indian dance and drama.

Mudras are powerful tools for healing and can be used to awaken the Five Elements. What are the Five Elements you ask?

According to the Five Elements Theory, our bodies and the entire world are composed of five elements—fire, air, earth, water, and space.

In the yoga tradition, each of these elements is represented by the fingers of the hand:

  • Thumb: fire (agni) represents universal consciousness, digestion, and transformation

  • Index: air (vayu) symbolizes individual consciousness/ movement of breath and other “winds”

  • Middle: space/ether (akash) represents the connection between each of the five elements for harmony and health

  • Fourth: earth (prithvi) is associated with qualities of grounding, stabilizing, and internal nourishing forces

  • Little: water (jal) represents liquids in our body—blood, saliva, lymph

One of the most common and recognizable mudras is the anjali gesture—the bringing of the palms of the hands together in front of the heart with the fingers extended upward—which symbolizes the divine offering of physical and spiritual harmony.

“Anjali mudra is a gesture of honoring, reverence, and loving connection. We can direct it toward others, as in greeting someone with Namaste or Namaskar. But we can also direct the energy of Anjali mudra toward ourselves. In this way it becomes a simple practice of self-honoring.”
— Barrie Risman

That said, I place my hands in anjali mudra and bow my head toward the insightful heart, as a gesture of loving connection with myself and with you.

With joy and gratitude,

Jeannine

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How Well Do You Handle Overwhelm?

The business of summer is behind us and we’re now turning our attention to fall schedules and routines. Our regular, jam-packed agendas can easily lead to overwhelm as you may know all too well.

When overwhelm strikes, it’s easy to feel powerless and immobile.

Everything feels too fast, too big, too much.

When we’re overwhelmed, just making dinner can become a monumental effort.

I invite you to press “pause” and take a few minutes for yourself. Go through the Thriving list below to see how well you’ve learned to deal with overwhelm. 

  • I try to remember that I don’t have to do everything myself. I ask others for help and gather a support team about me.

  • As often as I can remember, I stop for a moment and take several deep, slow breaths, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth, restoring my sense of calm.

  • I graciously say “No” to new requests for my time, and I try to renegotiate previous commitments so I can regroup.

  • I resist the frantic voice inside that says, “You don’t have time!” and take a short break to sit or lie down for a few minutes because I know it will make me feel as though I actually have more time.

  • I light a candle and keep it near me. 

  • I watch a funny video. Laughter has a very positive effect on brain chemistry.

  • I go outdoors for a few minutes when I can. Taking time to notice the joyful details of nature—a leaf, a ladybug, a snowflake—is very regenerative.

  • Even if for only 10 minutes, I do some form of movement—dancing, jogging, walking, yoga. I know that exercise increases adrenaline and endorphins, the body’s natural antidepressants. 

  • When I need to drown out the negative chatter in my overwhelmed state, I hum, I observe my breath moving in and out, or I quietly sing to myself. It soothes me and helps me focus on “one step at a time.”

  • I have a practice of meditating or praying for a few minutes each morning, which keeps me tethered to myself and grounded during the times when overwhelm wants to scatter my energy to the wind. 

  • I write in my journal as fast as I can for 15 minutes without editing or judging. This “brain dump” helps clear my mind and move away from overwhelm.

  • On my walks (with the dog or alone), I whisper to myself all the things for which I forgive myself.

  • When the pressure of overwhelm feels unbearable, I listen to music that helps me to cry. The crying helps wash away the overwhelm and bring me back to my strength.

  • I repeat the following several times: “I have abundant time and energy.”

  • I keep a list of all the things that help me re-connect with myself, that help me re-collect and re-focus my energy inside, so that when overwhelm begins to visit, I can remind myself of things that have worked in the past.

Overcoming overwhelm isn’t about measuring accomplishment. It’s about connecting with what has meaning for us, with what feeds and enlivens us.

Feeling connected then connects us to the natural fuel for getting things done.

If you’d like some help working through overwhelm and aligning better with your values and needs, don’t hesitate to contact me.

With joy and gratitude,

 Jeannine

Author's content used with permission, © Claire Communications