By Susi Hately, B.Sc. Kinesiology, C-IAYT Yoga Therapist

Question: When someone comes in and has a lot of drama and story related to their condition how do you work with them?

Susi’s response: I am really clear on what my skill set is. While I am not a psychologist nor I a priest, I am a human.  I use my ears and my whole being to listen to what they have to say because what they are saying (and what they aren’t saying), gives me a tremendous amount of information about who they are, how they process information and what is important to them.

I have also had my own fair share of “Life” and its curve balls, which has lead to me do a lot of my own personal work, which in turn, has enabled me to be able to be very present with another, to be able to be with another person’s emotional responses without getting “judgey”. This capability is really key – I don’t see someone’s story as a lot of drama. I see another human who is suffering and has a story to tell. It is amazing the healing that can happen when someone is heard and seen. The bumper sticker:  A vital piece to healing is the process of being seen and heard.

All my best,

Susi

By Susi Hately B.Sc. Kinesiology, C-IAYT Yoga Therapist

With the day-to-day ‘to dos’, errands, and meetings it can be difficult to find ways to incorporate open and easy breathing. The following exercise can be done anywhere – at work, in the elevator, before falling asleep, waiting to pick up kids. . .

It can take as little as 2 minutes.

1. Place one hand at your solar plexus, just below the bottom of your breast bone. Notice if there is movement of this part of your body as you breathe in and out (try not to change it, just watch and feel).

2. Next, while looking forward focus singularly on a point. Be very exclusive and very focused. Does the movement change? Does your breath become more shallow?

3. Shift your gaze to become more inclusive. Maintain the focus, but be gentler. Open up your vision to include the periphery, sensing your vision forward and to the side. Did your breath change?

Why do this: When we hold or are limited in breathing, the diaphragm is usually impeded in some way. By changing how we focus with our eyes, we can shift the rib cage, diaphragm, belly and pelvic floor, allowing for a more full and expansive breath.

Enjoy,

Susi

Your body changes from day to day, and you alone know your body best. Please be responsible with it, move with awareness and in a range that doesn’t increase pain.