LIFE IN FOCUS

Pranayama  is the formal practice of regulating the breath, and a steady, rhythmic breath is central to yoga and the quintessential element of life itself.  Yoga, a deeply rooted,  healing practice emphasizing the mind-body connection, incorporating postures, breathing, and meditation ,  originated thousands of years ago in India. It is ironic that its healing effect is considered "new age" when it has historically established itself as an interconnected philosophical system aimed at balancing and harmonizing both the mind and body.  The breath serves as a guide communicating the internal state of the body, while breathwork refers to the  various breathing techniques or exercises that focus your conscious awareness on your breath, or more specifically your inhales and exhales, for the purposes of improving emotional, physical and cognitive states , and decreasing stress . You are always just one conscious breath away from experiencing presence; from be...

THE BODY ACHIEVES WHAT  THE MIND BELIEVES Whether you are already enjoying a high fitness level or getting started, everyone and every body can benefit from movement.  Your body loves and craves movement. Both moderate and strenuous forms of exercise help relieve symptoms of stress and anxiety , while simultaneously improving executive functioning , yo ur brain's cognitive processes for goal oriented and purposeful behaviors. Executive functioning thrives on healthy energy, and exercise delivers such energy!  Aim for a minimum of 150 minutes per week, spread over 5 days at 30 minutes per day.   There is a large body of evidence supporting physical activity's effects on the management of mental health challenges, including trauma and more complex psychiatric disorders.  Cardio-type workouts and resistance training, also known as strength or weight training, have been shown to ameliorate symptomatology of depression and improve mood and energy. ...