Tag: diaphragmatic breathing

A Pre-New Year’s Ritual I Highly Recommend

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Hope you had a wonderful holiday!

Thank you for the Christmas and holiday wishes that you sent. I can’t respond to each one personally, but I wanted to let you know how much I enjoy and appreciate them.

Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday – and I have many friends from other faiths who do not – I hope you still took advantage of the holiday spirit and the time off from work and enjoyed yourself.

Hopefully you are still enjoying some time off from work, and hanging out playing with your Christmas gifts…or your kids’ gifts.

My big gift this year – from my beloved partner – was a Nook e-reader.

I love to read. I love learning and exploring through the written word, coupled with my imagination. And I love my books.

I’ve reluctantly given in to the explosion of digital reading options and even publish some of my own stuff digitally. However, I wasn’t sure whether I was ready to give an e-reader a try.

Apparently my “better half” knows me better than I know myself. I love the Nook! We also added a Kindle Fire to the family mix and are having fun exploring both options.

While I will always love my books, and will continue to invest in building and benefiting from what has become a pretty extensive library…I now have a new option for building and reading and exploring. This has added another dimension to my plans for this year, in terms of my own self-development and improvement goals. It’s exciting!

Which brings me to my point for this tip….

You know, right now – before New Year’s Eve – is a great time to take stock of the past year.

Think about what went right. What went wrong. In what areas were you successful? In what areas did you make progress? In what areas did you fail, or simply not follow through, or give up?

Since you are speaking with yourself about these things, and don’t have to worry about what anyone else thinks….be honest.

Very important: Give thanks for the blessings and positive things and people in your life. Give thanks and recognize yourself for those things you did achieve, bring to conclusion, or push forward.

Equally important: gift yourself with an honest appraisal of where you are in the important areas of your life.

Look at your health and fitness. Your personal development. Your family and relationships. Your career or business. Your financial health. Your spiritual health. The larger contribution you are making in your community.

How have you done in each of these areas?

This is a ritual I follow each and every year, prior to the New Year.

It gives me a chance to assess where I am in relation to where I want to be…count my blessings….then make decisions about my priorities for the coming year and begin to plan how I will focus on these priorities.

This process – which doesn’t take that long – renews my motivation and my hopes for the future. Desire, hope and expectation are wonderful lubricants to significant, long-lasting achievement. These “friends” result naturally from having interesting, exciting and challenging goals and dreams for your life.

So think objectively and honestly about where you stand today. Are you happy and content with every aspect of your life?

Use this process as a foundation for setting goals and making plans for a successful and – above all – fun and interesting 2012.

You Can Do It!

Karen Van Ness

“Best Breathing Exercises: Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!” http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

P.S. The New Year is almost upon us. Have you made a commitment to finally improve your breathing, your health and your fitness? If so, I can help! Check out my programs, articles and blog at the Best Breathing Exercises website. Free shipping on all programs is still available!

Plus, I’ll be coming out with some new programs and resources to benefit you in the New Year. I’m psyched for a great year! I hope you are too.

Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2011

Merry Christmas!

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Hi there! Just a quick note to remind you of my “Holiday Special”.

Due its apparent popularity, I’m keeping it going through Christmas Day – that is, til Monday morning.

So, if you’ve ever thought about ordering one of the Best Breathing programs, please think about doing it for sure this time. The shipping is on me for every one of my programs.

In addition, I’m running a special offer on the “Fire Up Your Metabolism” Program – http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/metabolism.html.

If you order today, you will receive the Ebook (instantly downloadable)…AND I will throw in the print version of the program (the actual book) for only $10  more.

Plus the shipping is on me!

This is my way of wishing you Happy Holidays. Go to http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com to claim your programs.

Most importantly, I’d like to thank you for your support this year. Thank you for coming to the Best Breathing Exercises website or my blog to check it out. Thank you for signing up. And thank you for reading.

I truly enjoy speaking with you, even if it’s virtually, through these blog posts, as well as hearing from you when you email or write me.

My greatest hope is that the information, ideas and motivation I provide through the Best Breathing programs and my messages to you help you take action to achieve greater levels of health, fitness, confidence and fulfillment. 

“Into a world filled with darkness came light…Into a world filled with hopeful hearts came love…”

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, my friend. May all your dreams become reality in 2012!

You Can Do It!

Karen Van Ness

“Best Breathing Exercises: Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!” http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2011

Consistency is King

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You can’t overestimate the importance of regular exercise on your health.

The benefits of regular exercise and activity are well known. You don’t need me to recite the list to you here.

One of the most important approaches you can take to exercise is to be consistent about it.

Consistency is important for several major reasons.

First off, establishing a routine allows your body to become conditioned to the act of exercising. This helps with the adaptation process you go through, especially if you are just starting an exercise program or have had a lay off.

Your body comes to expect your daily or every other day workout. It is better able to assimilate gains in fitness, as well as recover from each workout.

By the way, this is one of the reasons that regular exercise over the course of the week reduces your chance of injury. The weekend warrior approach leaves your body more vulnerable to strains, sprains and so forth…not to mention increased muscle and joint pain.

Here’s another reason for consistency that is not as well appreciated as it should be: exercise can have a dramatic influence on your mood and energy levels.

This is one of the reasons why I always do my deep breathing and dynamic exercises in the morning. When I do my routine – such as the Dynamic Energy Routine in the Secret Power of Dynamic Energy Exercise Course, Volume 2  – after as little as 10 to 15 minutes, I shake off the fog and approach my day with a high level of energy.

I also feel more confident about my ability to hit my goals for the day.

Exercise is one of the oldest = and best – tonics for depression and low mood. It activates naturally occuring hormones and neurotransmitters in your body. And it appears that the more consistently you exercise, the more benefits you receive from these natura, more powerful versions of Prozac.

Here’s one more reason to stay, or become, consistent with your physical activity: it helps boost your metabolism.

When you exercise every day, your body interprets this as follows: you are a VITAL BEING who requires plenty of energy to make it through each day.

Your body responds by revving up your metabolism, so you burn hotter throughout the day. Your body also changes the way it metabolizes the nutrients and calories from the food you eat. On the other hand, when you make healthy demands on your body, on a consistent basis, it metabolizes more of the energy from food into glycogen, to be stored in your muscles and liver.

Becoming a consistent exerciser may seem daunting to you – especially right now as you are rushing and bustling through the holiday season.

But you can start any time, even right now. Take a few minutes to stand up, stretch and breathe deeply. Feels good, doesn’t it?

Now, just imagine how good 15 to 20 minutes of stretching, moving, working your muscles, and breathing deeply would feel. How productive would you be…how much time would you save…how much more confidently and easily would you slide through your day and your “to-do” list, if you would just give yourself the gift of a few minutes of exercise each day?

Don’t just take my word on this. I encourage you to try it our for yourself.

You Can Do It!

Karen

“Best Breathing Exercises: Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!” http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

Three Easy Steps You Can Take Now…to Help You Accomplish Your Goals in 2012

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What is the most common activity of people this time of year? Other than shopping, I mean.

It’s assessing – either consciously or subconsciously – how this past year has gone.

You look back at what has happened, what you have accomplished, and what you have left undone.

If you are consciously doing this, you are actually taking stock, either in your head or on paper.

If you are unconsciously doing this, you probably are feeling either really good about life….or you have a sense of unease or disappointment that you can’t quite shake.

Of course, as part of this process, a lot of people skip over what they didn’t get done this year, and move right into thinking about the new year. That’s because the new year is fresh and full of promise. So…they make resolutions. Probably the same resolution they made a year ago. Losing weight and getting more fit is one of the most common.

But you don’t have to wait until New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day to set your goals. Nor do you have to wait to begin preparing yourself for beginning to work toward your goals.

Yes, there’s nothing like momentum. If you can get clear on what you want to do in 2012 now, and begin to do a few simple things to prepare yourself…you will hit the ground running on January 1st.

Even if you are a little hungover.

Well, in that spirit, here are three simple things you can begin doing now, even during the hub bub of the holidays, to improve your health and explode into the new year with momentum:

(1)Drink lots of purified or quality bottled water. At least half your bodyweight in ounces, every day. Water purifies and detoxifies your body. It helps maintain your metabolism and energy at high levels.

(2)Take a daily multi-vitamin/mineral, vitamin C, and fish oil. If there were a law passed that limited me to only three supplements, these are the three I would focus on for general health.

Vitamin C provides so many benefits, I could write a book about it. Fish oil is a natural anti-inflammatory. And inflammation has been implicated as a root cause or contributor to a number of different ailments and diseases, from arthritis and asthma to heart disease and Alzheimers.

(3)Do some deep breathing and/or dynamic energy exercises each day. Preferably first thing in the morning, to expand your energy and set yourself up for a productive and successful day.

Morning breathing and energy exercises are one of the cornerstones of the fitness and health principles I teach and follow.

Learning to breathe properly and developing greater vital capacity are two of the most significant steps you can take to ensure high levels of health and energy today….and years from now.

You can also do some deep breathing and light stretching in the evening. I tell you, there is no better way to relax after a tough day. Just a few minutes will have you sleeping like a baby.

If you’re looking for an easy-to-learn, fun to do series of exercises, consider one of the Secret Power of Dynamic Energy Exercise Course volumes. Or, if one of your goals for 2012 is to lose weight and get in shape, you can try the exercises and other recommendations in the “Fire Up Your Metabolism” Program.

All of these programs are available at the Best Breathing Exercises web site – check em out at http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/productspage.html.

Like I said, these are simple things you can begin doing now. You’ll feel better, you’ll be healthier…and you will hit the ground in full gear for the New Year!

You Can Do It!

Karen Van Ness

“Best Breathing Exercises: Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!” http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2011

When Is Breathing More Than Just Breathing?

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Most people think of breathing as merely a mechanical process involving the airways and lungs. But it is so much more than that!

The lungs are the functional organs of respiration, as they are responsible for the active function of breathing and ventilation. So we naturally focus on them when we think about our breathing.

Howver, many breathing and energy practices embrace breathing as an activity that involves the entire body.

This is true on a number of levels.

From a physical standpoint, respiratory movement extends into the extremities. Also, breathing has a significant influence on all the physiological functions of the body. Breathing can also directly influence your mental and emotional state.

Take the time to breathe deeply and gently for several cycles. It only takes a few deep, gentle breaths – in through the nose, out through the nose – to “feel” your breath moving throughout your abdominal area.

Now feel that you are breathing into your lower back. Gently, slowly, breathe into any areas of tightness from too much sitting (like I’m doing right now to relax my back).

Next, stand up and take a few deep, gentle breaths all the way down into your feet. Breathe in energy and lightness; breathe out fatigue and stress. “Feel” yourself breathing in that energy and lightness through the top of your head. Feel yourself exhaling the fatigue and stress through the soles of your feet.

If you’re game, take it one step further: “feel” yourself breathing in energy and lightness through every pore in your body, and into every body part – so you feel like you are absorbing air from all over your body, not just through your nose. As you inhale, feel the air permeate into the deepest parts of your body.

As you exhale, “feel” yourself exhaling fatigue and stress through every pore in your body. See the old, stale air move out like smoke or steam and dissipate directly into the air around you.

Each of these stages of breathing provides a slightly different feeling and effect. When you have practiced this way for some time, you will begin to truly understand that breathing is a deep physiological process, not just a mechanical process.

Couple this understanding with a few minutes of practice each day and you be blessed with greater health and energy

You Can Do It!

Karen

“Best Breathing Exercises: Transform Body Mind and Spirit with Dynamic Energy Exercise!” http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com

P.S. One of the best ways to achieve a relaxed, calm state and focus on what’s important is through your breathing. In the Secret Power of Dynamic Energy Exercise Course, Volume I: Invigorate and Rejuvenate, I teach you how to breathe completely AND how to coordinate your breathing to simple but powerful movements that spread energy effortlessly throughout your entire body. To experience the sensation of being relaxed, in rhythm, and in control, order your copy of program today at the Best Breathing Exercises website.

Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2011

The Case For Mindfulness

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I was driving around yesterday, running some errands. I realized
at one point that I had totally zoned out.

You know how it is when you are in the car, perhaps listening to
some good music, and you get completely tranced out.

Before you know it, you are five miles down the road and don’t
remember one bit about your trip.

This was brought to my attention by none other than my son, Miguel.

He notices everything. He often sees something that I have not
attended to, then asks me questions about it. of course, this
compels me to respond and pay better attention.

The adult is tranced out, while the child is totally excited and
immersed in the world around him.

Hmmmm….I think Miguel is trying to teach me something.

Not that it’s wrong to daydream or lose yourself in your thoughts.
Quite often, you are working out problems and coming up with
solutions to challenges during these ruminative periods.

But there’s a lot to be said for mindfulness as well.

For example, I believe that the more focus and concentration you
put into your workout – whether it’s breathing exercises, or
cardio, or lifting weights, or yoga – the better the results you
will achieve.

If, as you exercise, you think about the beautiful physique you
are sculpting, or the high levels of energy and health you are
developing, or your increased ability to handle challenges and
manage stress…well, not only will you enjoy your workout more.
You will also create a positive energy that will stay with you
after your workout.

And you will truly feel your body as you put it through its paces.
This body awareness, this sense of self, is very empowering.

One of the reasons I admire the Japanese is because they practice
mindfulness as part of their daily lives.

Let’s take something as simple as a cup of tea.

Here’s my method: boil the water as I do something else. Let the
tea steep for five minutes as I do something else. Drink the tea
as I read or work or watch TV. Finish it within five minutes
and move on to something else.

Contrast this with the traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

Everything is choreographed down to the smallest detail. The host
and the guest each have a role. Nothing is hurried.

The participants enjoy the delicious tea. And they benefit from
this wonderfully tranquil and uplifting respite from their hectic
lives.

See if you can create these wonderful moments of total attention
and mindfulness for yourself. Totally focus on the activity of
your choice – whether it’s drinking a cup of tea, or reading a
good book, or exercising.

I think you’ll find these moments will add to your appreciation
for, and enjoyment of, life.

You Can Do It!

Karen

“Best Breathing Exercises: Transform Body Mind and Spirit with
Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
www.BestBreathingExercises.com

P.S. Would you like to improve your energy levels…better
manage and even transform stress…or “finally” lose the weight
you’ve been trying to take off?

Your best strategy is to begin by getting centered and focused
with the power of deep breathing. The Best Breathing Exercises
programs can help you do just that. For more information on the
program that could be just right for you, visit
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com.

Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2011

Harness The Force of Frustration

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When it comes to your fitness and health, you’d probably say that
they are important to you.

Yet how committed and consistent are you at taking action in these
two areas, each and every day?

It takes a lot to make significant changes in your lifestyle, your
schedule, and your attitude and outlook…changes that will propel
you towards greater things in your life.

It’s a lot more comfortable to stay where you are, with what you
know, and dream about “If only…”

If only I were thinner. If only I could put on more muscle. If only
I could get control of this stress and anxiety and live in a more
relaxed manner. And so forth…

Seeing the need to change, thinking you ought to change, even
wanting to change are all good. But they don’t quite get it done
when it comes to actually taking the consistent, sustained action
that will enable you to reach your goals.

No, it takes something much stronger. And that something
is…frustration.

Yes, that negative, nasty emotion. But it’s true, something very
negative can help you make positive changes.

I used to abhor frustration. I hated the feeling. I think frustration
and boredom are the two states I seek to avoid the most.

However, I’ve realized from my own experiences, as well as working
with others, that you’re not really ready to do the things and think
the thoughts you need to until you are at the end of your rope, and
ready and willing to do what it takes to get out of the situation
you are in.

If, for example, you get to the point that you are really
frustrated with your anxiety and levels of stress, and you don’t
feel like you are improving or getting a handle in this area…or
you are frustrated with your appearance and inability to lose the
weight you want to lose….then celebrate.

Get happy! Put your hands in the air and shout “Hur-rah!”

I’m serious. Because when you get truly frustrated, you are ready
for a breakthrough.

You are at the point where you begin to ask yourself the right
questions and look for the information or resources that can help
you.

So leverage the frustration you may be feeling and use it to
energize and support your efforts to change or improve.

Here’s one more thought on frustration: it can also trip you up.

Once you are on the path to losing weight, or gaining the upper
hand on stress, or improving your energy levels and sense of
control, you may at times experience little or no progress.

You may get frustrated at how slowly things are changing. Or you
may get frustrated at yourself for slipping up or backsliding.
You may think you’ll never reach your goals.

Well, once again, use this frustration as a tool to energize
yourself.

Don’t let it put you into a funk, or get so down that you give up.

Here’s a great quote I heard a long time ago, that helps describe
this point:

“How long would you give the average baby to learn how to walk
before you didn’t let him or her try anymore?”

That’s a crazy question, isn’t it? You’ll give your kid as long
as it takes, and all the love and support to help them, until
he or she learns how to walk.

And think how frustrated babies and toddlers can be at times,
when they are trying to master a new motor skill. But they keep
at it, again and again and again, until they finally get it.

Why not apply this same approach to yourself?

You are a goal-seeking mechanism. Your natural state is to
succeed.

However, your natural state is also inertia. Kinda like a “good
guy/gal – bad guy/gal” thing. This is the duality of our nature
as human beings.

Therefore, you have to get creative sometimes and use the power
of a strong emotion, such as frustration, to get you off your
you-know-what and into taking action each day toward your goals.

You Can Do It!

Karen

“Best Breathing Exercises: Transform Body Mind and Spirit with
Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/

P.S

. I’d love to help as you leverage your frustration into
action with information and inspiration that can help you take
smarter steps towards your energy, fitness and life goals. Visit the
Best Breathing Exercises website for more on the products
and programs that can help you transform your health.

Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2011

Prevention Versus Problems

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They say that it’s difficult, if not impossible, to “sell”
prevention to people.

We don’t respond to appeals based on preventing disease or health
problems, because we think they won’t happen to us….OR the
possibility seems so far off in the future, we just can’t get too
worked up about it.

But when the you-know-what hits the fan, and you are faced with a
health crisis – boy, does that get your attention.

You’ve probably faced a health crisis of your own. Perhaps it was
becoming overweight. Or being diagnosed as pre-diabetic or diabetic.
Or finding out you have high blood pressure.

It could be anxiety, which everyone experiences from time to time,
which suddenly becomes overwhelming and limits your ability to
function.

When you reached this point, chances are you were in disbelief.
Especially if you had experienced no major health problems prior
to the diagnosis.

I remember how incredulous I was when I was first diagnosed with
asthma. And I hear this from many people who write in. They can’t
believe it when they find out they have a chronic disease such as
asthma, or high blood pressure, or diabetes.

One typical reaction is to go into denial, at least to a certain
extent. Many people diagnosed with very treatable illnesses or
health problems don’t take them seriously, so they may not take
their medications or follow recommendations on lifestyle changes.

Doctors complain quite a lot about compliance – or more accurately,
non-compliance  – with the medical and lifestyle regimens which
they recommend to their patients.

Hence the issue with prevention.

We often know what we should and could be doing. But we remain in
a state of denial. We have trouble visualizing what the long-term
outcomes could be for us if we don’t get in gear and make changes.
So we push off to tomorrow what we could be doing for ourselves
today.

Well, I know better than to fight against the current. The
programs available through the Best Breathing Exercises web site
are designed to help you improve your breathing, your fitness and
your health, as well as help you bust through any limitations that
current conditions or challenges may be placing on your life.
(Visit www.bestbreathingexercises.com to learn more.)

But – and perhaps I shouldn’t say this,’cuz I’ll blow the secret –
everything in my programs is also congruent with the most effective
and proven habits and practices that can help you achieve more
robust health and avoid or prevent illness and disease.

Whether you want to lose weight, or are looking for relief from
stress, high blood pressure, chronic pain, or anxiety….What I
teach and share with you will help you in your efforts to
transform your health and enjoy a more fulfilling life. It can
even help you age more gracefully.

Here’s a remarkable fact: researchers have determined that less
than one third of the loss of physical function and mental acuity
as we age is due to heredity, or our genes. More than two thirds
is due to lifestyle habits.

Habits such as regular physical activity, eating well, watching
your weight, getting enough sleep, and not smoking, can help you
live longer – AND have more vim and vigor throughout your time on
the planet.

You Can Do It!

Karen

“Best Breathing Exercises: Transform Body Mind and Spirit with
Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/

Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2011

Improve Your Energy with Proper Posture

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Correct, upright posture is essential to maximizing your energy.

The spine is the major conductor of nerve messages.  Its health is
critical to the proper functioning of the organs. That’s why I
included exercises that help relax and lengthen the spine and
supporting musculature in the Secret Power of Dynamic Energy Exercise
Course, Volume 1; Invigorate and Rejuvenate.

A straight, elongated spine supported by strong, limber
musculature is critical to boosting your energy levels.

Most people have the opposite: a weak, compressed spine surrounded
by chronically tight, even painful, muscles. In fact, it’s been
reported that 80 percent of us will suffer from lower back pain at
some point in our lives.

One of the easiest and simplest ways to improve your posture is to
visualize that your sternum (breastbone) is on a string that is
hanging straight down from the ceiling.

Look and feel how you are sitting or standing right now. Are you a
little slouched or hunched?  Are your shoulders rolled forward? Is
your head inclined forward?

Now imagine that a string is attached to your sternum and an
invisible someone hidden in the ceiling is pulling the string
straight up.  What happens?  If you do this correctly, your
sternum lifts, your chest sticks out a bit, your shoulders
naturally rotate back, and your back straightens.

You should be vigilant about your posture, whether sitting or
standing. It’s so easy to slump or hunch, especially when you are
tired.

I particularly have to watch myself when I am clacking away on the
computre. I have trained myself to periodically check and adjust
my posture.

On the days when I don’t do this, I find that my shoulders, neck
and back are stiff.

We were watching the Eastern Conference hockey playoffs last
night between the Bruins and the Lightning. (Since my Caps are
out of things, I am rooting for the Bruins.)

Every game in the playoffs is hard-fought and action-packed.
Hockey players are among the best conditioned athletes. However,
toward the end of games, you will see some of them hunched over,
sticks on knees, as they gasp for breath.

You see this in other sports as well. Basektball comes to mind.
Toward the end of the game, as they become more fatigued, many
players will bend forward and put their hands on their knees
during any break in the action.

I did this same thing plenty of times when I played hoops.

Ironically, when you hunch over like this, it’s not really
helping you supply extra air into your lungs.

You’ll do much better if you bend forward from the hips, so your
back is straight, and push up from your arms to elongate your
spine. Then you can breathe more deeply into your lower back.

In fact, this is a great exercise to do if you have lower back
pain or tightness. Breathe into the area of pain or tightness
and feel it slowly, gradually relaxing with each breathing
cycle.

Back to the posture thing: I never really thought about it until
I had a martial arts instructor who wouldn’t let us hunch over
and touch our knees.

He was traditional in his approach – to say the least – and could
sometimes be hard core. He basically said that we should train as
we would fight.

Would we stop in the middle of a fight and hunch over, panting,
showing our opponent that we were exhausted?

Of course not! We would stand up straight, chest out, and act
like we were just getting started.

And you know what? Not assuming a posture of fatigue, but
holding onto a posture of energy – actually works!

I discovered first hand that your posture can directly influence
your energy levels. From that time ’til today, whenever I am
training hard and getting tired, I stand up straight, walk around
a bit, perhaps swing my arms or do neck circles to loosen up my
traps and shoulders.

I try to avoid putting my hands on my knees and doing the
hunch over, gasping for breath kind of thing.

Try this for yourself. Next time you are getting really winded or
tired when exercising, or engaging in robust physical activity,
stand up straight and slowly, gradually bring your breath under
control.

You can use this “posture approach” in your daily activities.

For example, if you are getting fatigued toward the end of the
day, or you just carried in some bags of groceries (up stairs
no less) and are winded.

Because your posture is good, you will able to breathe more
deeply and replenish the oxygen you need. More subjectively,
you’ll feel stronger. You can recover and continue your day with
renewed energy and focus.

You Can Do It!

Karen

“Best Breathing Exercises: Transform Body Mind and Spirit with
Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/

Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2011

More On Your Inner Smile

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In my last post, I taught you a little about the Inner Smile

(Click here to read the post.)

This is a Taoist energy practice of smiling into the body, and
into specific body parts, to help promote positive energy and
emotions, as well as healing.

I took you through the steps to smile into your heart. Today I’ll
give you the colors and emotions associated with the other
important organs.

But first, let me give you a little more background on the theory
behind the Inner Smile.

Many people live their lives through a patina of stress, anger,
depression, worry, fear, and other types of negative energy.
The Inner Smile helps counteract this by generating a high level
of positive energy that can heal and transform.

We all know that a genuine smile transmits positive, loving
energy. You know how you feel when someone smiles at you in a
sincere way.

Think of the sheer joy you feel when your loved one smiles at
you, or your child is smiling and laughing while at play.

Throughout the ages, energy disciples and masters have recognized
the power of smiling energy. For thousands of years, Taoist
masters have practiced the Inner Smile to help promote energy
and achieve health, happiness, and a longer life.

In the west, we have long known that the smile and the energy
it can generate is an important component of personal power.

When you are relaxed and calm and smile, you can generate and
maintain optimal levels of energy.

So, following the same breathing and visualization pattern I
shared with you in my previous post, put a smile on your
face, smile into each of your organs, and picture your organs
smiling back at you.

Here is the color and the emotion you should associate,
visualize and feel as you breathe and smile into each organ:

-Heart: see deep, rich red (like a rose); feel love, joy and
happiness;

-Lungs: see bright white; feel courage;

-Liver and gallbladder (located on the right side of your
abdomen under your lowest ribs): see green mist; feel kindness;

-Spleen and pancreas (located on the left side of your
abdomen under your lowest ribs, kind of behind your stomach):
see bright yellow; feel fairness;

-Kidneys and bladder (kidneys are in your back, left and right
of your backbone and just under the lower part of your ribcage):
see bright blue, feel gentleness.

Practice 4 to 8 breaths with each organ. Keep a smile on your
face and keep smiling into your organs. Picture them smiling
back at you.

As you smile and breathe, picture and feel your organs at full
health and power. Allow yourself to feel the emotions.
Relax and enjoy them.

Then take them with you into your day.

You Can Do It!

Karen Van Ness
“Best Breathing Exercises: Transform Body Mind & Spirit with
Dynamic Energy Exercise”
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/

P.S. If you are interested in breathing more fully and
effortlessly…in building up your lungs and stamina…naturally
strengthening your internal organs and hyper-charging your
immune system…then you will want to check out the Secret Power
of Dynamic Energy Exercise Course, Volume II: The Dynamic Energy
Routine. This program can have a transformative effect on your
breathing and overall health and energy. It’s easy to learn and
do on a regular basis. For more details, click here.

Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2011