Breathe, Relax, Center

“Letting go is a practice; it is an art”  Thich Nhat Hanh

Resistance is the feeling of refusal to go in the direction life is pulling us toward.  Resistance is also an invitation to expansion, change, and growth.  All living things are either evolving or decaying; there is no status quo in the natural world.  We want to be vibrant, pulsating with the force of life.  The challenge is to gracefully move through pressures and struggles to the other side: a place of strength, courage, and self confidence.  

Breathe, relax, and center.  Breathe, relax, and center.  This is the mantra for navigating through resistance.  Letting go alleviates the struggle.  In order to yield in the really difficult places, we must practice releasing in the small areas of our lives.  Practice daily.  I began this practice by paying attention to my breathing.  Trying to get through a plank I refused to breathe.  It made it harder.  Breathing deeply and going inside got me through.  Handling a stressful conversation was easier when I breathed deeply, spoke slowly, kept checking in with my heart and released the outcome. 

Working out took on a new meaning.  With every movement I practiced breathe, relax, and center.  This was my training ground developing muscle memory and a visceral record of releasing. As the relaxation muscle strengthened, I practiced when I felt rushed or under pressure to make a decision.  My meditation further helped rewire me so that I could reach a centered state more easily.  Eight weeks of meditation verifiably alters your brain connections to promote stress release.

Inhale deeply; exhale and release; hand on heart feel where you are  Release is a practice; practice often if not daily at Jolie.  Meditate, stretch, rejuvenate--go out and conquer the world :-)

​With love and gratitude,
Julia