Tag: creativity

The Spirit of Imagination

September 27, 2014
Posted by Sharon

unicornI love working with visualizations.  Personally, I have recently been exploring the imagery of mermaids, unicorns, fairies and the bodhisatva Kuan Yin.  In playful ways, thinking about the energies of these magical and powerful beings and looking at the imagery that humanity has developed around these ideas.  I recently took an absolutely delicious yoga class with Brooke Smokelin here in Pittsburgh where she guided us through a considerable amount of stretching and opening in the feet and ankles.  She suggested in the class that we simply don’t play enough, aren’t curious enough about what we can do and what our bodies can experience.  I felt like this was in alignment with my recent play with visualization and magical beasts and beings and deities.

Imagination is an important element of working with the power of mind to heal and inspire.  Yet, sometimes it can be so hard as adults to really let go and visualize the magic fully because we get all caught up in what is real vs. imaginary.  We fear that if we really let go and get in touch with our capacity to imagine and play with magical ideas and concepts deeply that we might fall into a permanent state of illusion or delusion.  How can we be responsible and functioning adults if we let ourselves play with nonsense like that?  We give so much power to our thoughts that it can be terrifying to allow ourselves to think freely.

And yet, we create fantasy thoughts all the time that are just as non-real as unicorns and mermaids!  For example, you get a voicemail at the end of the day on a Friday from your boss—-Please come to see them first thing on Monday morning.  All weekend long you can’t sleep, nothing tastes good, you can’t pay attention to your child’s softball game.  You are worried about this meeting.  Why would your boss call you?  Are you going to be fired? Was it that typo in the report you filed?  Did someone else complain?  Maybe a client saw that inappropriate meme you posted on your personal Facebook page?  No matter what you do, for two days you are completely consumed with worry and fear about what is going to happen on Monday.  Then, Monday morning comes and you go to your boss’ office and there are some of your colleagues from an account that you work on and everyone is having doughnuts.  Your boss said that she was especially proud of this team and the work that they did on the account and wanted to have a little surprise celebratory gathering to acknowledge the work and a new contract that was being signed that day.  You are relieved, but the tension and worry you experienced all weekend make it near impossible to actually enjoy the surprise party and acknowledgment of your work.  Basically, your made-up negative narratives made it hard for you to enjoy the present moment.

Our thoughts are just thoughts.  No more. No less. Thoughts.  When we explore a regular meditation practice, we find that we can connect with the fact of the flood of ideas, feelings, thoughts, narratives, fantasies and more that come and go, one after the other with no end through our mind movement.  The mind thinks.  Our task in meditation is to relieve ourselves of the illusion that any one of those thoughts is more “real” or more “important” than any other.  Just as we can “color” our experiences in this moment with thinking that poisons the well of our experience, as in the example I provided above, we can also “color” our experiences in this moment with visualizations that are positive and magical.  What if we only focused on magical and positive things all weekend?  Showing up and finding doughnuts would merely support our vision of good.  But, if our boss did fire us, we would not have wasted two days getting sick about it and we could respond to the reality of that news with all our energy and an open mind.

I invite you to think about the ways that you may have convinced yourself that being negative or creating fear or worry in your mental mind space movement is the “adult” thing to do or the “realistic” way to think about the world.  How can you play a little bit and find some space to be present in this moment?  Maybe take a walk in a beautiful natural setting and listen to the sounds of wind and crickets and your own footsteps on the earth.  Maybe go and look at some art or dance or listen to music or play some music. Maybe buy a new box of Crayons and see what happens when you sit down and give yourself time to color and draw without judgement.  Maybe close your eyes and daydream about unicorns playing and rainbows and mermaids and fairies and compassionate deities bestowing great wishes upon you.  There is nothing more real than this present moment and doing what you can to make sure you show up for it 100% with all of your being is an act of courage and authenticity.

Have fun!

Written by Sharon Fennimore, MA a spiritual teacher and healer specializing in working with women around transformation and change, pregnancy, birth and beyond.  She offers teacher training programs, meditation instruction and coaching programs for women all over the world.

 

Is your PERIOD a SENTENCE?

February 2, 2014
Posted by Sharon
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Is your Period a Sentence

Fertility and Reproductive Health Coaching

 

Your menstrual cycle is unique and I provide individually designed programs that support your optimum reproductive health.  Whether you are trying to conceive, hoping to avoid pregnancy or if you are looking to tame symptoms that are reducing your quality of life, we will work together to bring your moon cycles into harmony with your creativity, intelligence and vitality.

Believe it or not, within six-months, you can be pain free and enjoying predictable periods.  Not only can we reduce your period-related pain and discomfort, you will find at the end of your program that you have a map for taking advantage of the various energies of your moon cycle.  You will know when you are most fertile, turned-on, tuned-in, creative and energetic and when you are most supported with an inward focus and nourishing activities.  Not only will your health improve, but your whole quality of life will evolve for the better as you find yourself more efficient, aware, responsive and confident.

With my six-month coaching program, you will feel completely understood and supported as we work towards radically reducing your symptoms, identifying patterns in your unique cycle and using proven techniques for meeting your personal wellness goals.  Although the transformation you experience will be radical, the work is gentle.  No strict diets or severe lifestyle changes.  We work from where you are and then take you where you want to go.

I know that you may feel right now that it is impossible to even imagine not being in pain or having regular menstrual cycles.  But, I KNOW that it is not only possible, but it is your right to enjoy a healthy, beautiful and pain free menstrual cycle.  I’m so sure that I can help you that I offer a 100% money back guarantee.  Start today with a FREE evaluation and a guided meditation so you can reduce your stress level immediately.  There is no obligation to work with me.

My Story

I’ve been there.  As a teenager, my doctor prescribed birth control pills to “help” correct my irregular and incredibly painful menstrual cycles.  But, taking synthetic hormones so early in my life and for so many years backfired.  By my early twenties I had cervical abnormalities that lead to painful biopsies and was experiencing large ovarian cysts.  Each doctor I would see would say that by taking birth control pills I was already doing what was “best” for my “condition”.  Finally, I had an ovarian cyst that was so large you could feel it through my abdominal wall and a doctor suggested that I have surgery as soon as possible to remove it.

No one ever asked me about my stress level, diet, sleeping patterns, satisfaction in my relationships or how I envisioned reproductive health or how my symptoms impacted my sexuality or ability to be creative and joyful in other areas of my life.  I just kept checking off the boxes “irregular periods” on the forms.

But surgery?  Surgery seemed so drastic that I woke up and started asking around.  In whispered conversations in the ladies room in my office building I heard about an amazing acupuncturist who might be able to help.  And help she did!  Within 4-weeks the cyst that was the size of a tangerine was no longer identifiable on an ultrasound.  The surgeon made me go back for a second ultrasound because she couldn’t believe that a cyst that gigantic had just disappeared.  I am sure that the acupuncture and herbs that I took were helpful, but what I believe to have changed my life forever were the conversations that I had with my acupuncturist.  Was I happy in my marriage?  Did I like my job?  What was I eating for breakfast?  How was my quality of sleep?  And each week, she would suggest that I add a little something new and delicious to my diet—-pumpkin seeds?  Walnuts? Why, yes, I like pumpkin seeds and walnuts!  I could eat more of those.  Try wheat grass?  Why not?  I’ve been pumping synthetic hormones through my body and organs and brain for the better part of 15-years.  Why not wheat grass?

Ovarian cysts–gone forever.  I re-defined what a “regular” cycle was based on my own beautiful body and connection to the earth and rhythms of the moon, oceans and earth itself.  Knowing when I ovulated helped me design a work and study schedule that respected my most creative periods.  When I was more inward focused I knew better than to schedule big presentations or force multiple-deadlines.  And, although many intelligent doctors said it would never be possible to conceive a baby naturally, I had two beautiful children.

 

Imagine

Imagine what it would be like to be liberated from painful periods, heavy bleeding, bloating, moodiness, cysts, infections and irregular cycles that keep you guessing.

Imagine what it would be like to know exactly when you are most fertile and creative.

Imagine what it would be like to look forward to your period.

 

Holistic Approach

Step One: Start Where you are

We start with where you are: your reproductive health as you experience it right now.  I take the time to really listen to your experiences, symptoms, hopes and how you envision what a healthy menstrual cycle looks like for you.  I offer some very simple to implement nutritional advice and teach you how to chart your menstrual cycle, be aware of fertility and ovulation signs and teach you some ways to relieve stress, tension in the body and address specific symptoms (for example: headaches, cramps, back and breast pain).

Step Two: Now We Know What We Know

After you take a couple of months to chart your cycles using my methods, then we have some information to work with.  This information will help you communicate more clearly with your doctors.  For example, just checking off the “irregular periods” box doesn’t help your doctor as much as you saying, “I only ovulate every 40-days.”  You may also notice things that are energy related, but within your control.  For example, you may see that you ovulate on day 20 of your cycle for 3-months in a row, but in the 4th month you have a really stressful presentation on the 20th day of your cycle and you don’t ovulate that month until day 22.  In this stage, we have real information to work with and create goals for working with this information so that we can see change over time.

Step Three: Making Change

Now that we know specific information about your cycle, we can use that information to implement changes at the right times to support you in creating a healthy menstrual cycle and optimum fertility.  Fertility isn’t just about making a baby, it is about growing into your most creative, juicy and sexy self!

Step Four: Optimum Reproductive Health

In the final stage of the coaching program, you find that you are experiencing a great reduction in pain and discomfort.  Your cycles are not only predictable, but you look forward to their arrival.  You marvel at how beautiful you feel around your ovulation and schedule time to be alone and quiet when you approach your time of bleeding.  You see the wisdom in your blood.

Begin Today

The first step towards optimum reproductive health and fertility is filling out this new client form so that I can provide you with a FREE initial consultation and evaluation.  Your response is completely confidential.  Within 48-hours of submitting your new client form, I will send you a personalized e-mail with a link to a FREE 10-minute guided meditation so that you can start to reduce your stress level today.  I will let you know if I feel that my coaching program is right for you and suggest a plan of action based on your symptoms and goals.  The price of your program will depend on the number of sessions that we determine is appropriate for maximum benefit.  Programs range from 3-9 months and payment plans are available to meet your needs.

Pain free and regular periods are priceless!  This is an investment in your health and well-being that will improve every area of your life.  You know how much you’ve already spent on doctors, diets, tests, medications, sick days, missed vacations……….instead of spending money on “something” this coaching program is an investment in YOU and you deserve it!

I believe in you.  I believe that you can feel better and have a pain free and higher quality of life.  I know it is possible for you.

 

Movement & Memoir

January 17, 2010
Posted by Sharon
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globe-on-back1Yoga Matrika is delighted to host local author and yogini, Dana Killmeyer in this workshop that allows us to to release memories with gentle movements and combine creative writing, yoga and journaling to explore our experience and life in an entirely new and fabulous way!

You can register here

Movement & Memoir
Facilitated by Dana Killmeyer
January 30, 2010

Saturday afternoon, 2:00 to 4:30 pm
$25 pre-registration, $35 at the door (space allowing)

Movement and Memoir is a hybrid class blending elements of yoga and somatics with creative expression, primarily autobiographical writing or journaling.  We will focus on observing our environments, both internal and external, as a catalyst for releasing tension and broadening our awareness.  Finding inspiration in our senses and perceptions, anatomy, literature, performance, music, art, meditation,and social critique, we will explore various aspects of observation and expression, stillness and animation.  Expect a gentler, more introspective yoga practice with an emphasis on breathing, as well as wrists, shoulders, and lower back–areas that tend to get overused and neglected after long periods of sitting.  Please bring a notebook and an open mind.

Dana Killmeyer is a Pittsburgh-native and University of Pittsburgh graduate.  She has written two books: Paradise, or the Part that Dies and Pendulums of Euphoria, both published by Six Gallery Press.  Currently pursuing training as a yoga teacher with Joanne VandenHengel (3rd Street Yoga) and as a Somatic Movement Educator with Mark Taylor (BodyMindMovement), Dana draws from a well of experience as a teacher, researcher, writer, and organic farm apprentice.

WORKSHOP-A-PALOOZA

December 12, 2009
Posted by Sharon
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This winter season Yoga Matrika is offering some of the best workshops we’ve had yet—creative, inspiring, therapeutic—you name it, we’ve got a workshop on it! 

Some, like Elsie Escobar’s YO GEEK are designed for people who may have never done yoga before and (GASP–could it be TRUE?) may have no interest in doing yoga, but who suffer from repetitive strain injury, lower back pain from sitting in a chair, and who have eyes strained and exhausted from hours of computer work. 

Others, like Linda Meacci’s WILD THING practice are designed to get your blood pumping as you are lead through the wild ride of a sweaty Vinyasa flow class to a slick soundtrack.  Work off the holiday feasts and festivities and start 2010 with great enthusiasm!

Dana Killmeyer, local author and yogini extraordinaire,  is offering a Movement and Memoir workshop for all of you yogis that like to move AND write. 

Even more unique are the embodied anatomy workshops with Mark Taylor that will connect you with the energies of your kidneys (the organ associated with winter in Chinese energy medicine theory) and ways to connect and use your core to expand your yoga practice and your life. 

So whether you love yoga or you aren’t quite so sure, we’ve got a workshop for you!  At $20 to $30, these are economic little treats to liven up what sometimes seems to be an infinite number of icy and gray days.  If you don’t know if yoga is for you or would like a complete introduction, don’t miss out on the sweet and vivacious Anna Gilbert who is facilitating a 4-week introductory series that starts on January 8, 2010. 

Posted with warm wishes for an amazing 2010 by Sharon Fennimore Rudyk, owner and director of Yoga Matrika in the Point Breeze neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15217.  Dedicated to great yoga in Pittsburgh! https://www.yogamatrika.com/

Mindful Focus of the Week

December 1, 2009
Posted by Sharon
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Last week, the focus for Mindful Yoga was “the organs.”  We learned to support asana using the internal structures of the body and acknowledge our organs for all that they do. 

This week, our focus is the sacral center (2nd Chakra).  I always pick a focus based on what I am working on in my personal practice and recently, for the first time in years, I managed to aggravate my sciatic nerve.  It’s hard to say how I did it—-Demonstrating a reverse triangle when I wasn’t warmed up?  Carrying a heavy messenger bag on one shoulder?  Sitting with my legs crossed for too long?  Good news is that it doesn’t matter how it happened, only that it’s over now and the experience provided inspiration to give some juicy love to the sacrum this week.

The sacral area is associated with creativity and when we create and acknowledge sensation here we are filled with optimism, passion and direction.  Life is vibrant!

If you can’t make it to Mindful Flow on Tuesday night at Yoga Matrika in Pittsburgh, then here is a little exercise that will take less than 10-minutes that you can do anywhwere to change your energy and open up to a little creative juice:

SIT
On the floor with your legs crossed OR on the edge of a chair.

BREATHE
Take at least 10 deep breaths so that the in-breath takes a minimum of 4-counts and the out-breath is released to an equal count.  It may take a few minutes to slow the breath down and open to this depth.  Take as much time as you need.

MOVE
For one minute, start to take your upper body in circles over your hips.  Keep circling in the same direction for the entire minute, inhaling as you circle forward and exhaling as you circle back.  The breath should be relaxed and the movement should be at a speed that allows you to take full deep breaths.

After a minute, change directions and take your upper body in circles over your hips in the opposite direction.  Breathing in as you circle forward and exhaling as you round back. 

LIE DOWN
For five minutes, lie down on the floor with your hips propped up on a folded blanket or pillow.  If this causes any pain in your lower back, then bend through your knees and place your feet flat on the floor.  Breathing in, feel your belly rise towards the ceiling.  Exhaling, feel your belly release towards your spine. 

 

Slowly sit up and move on to the next wonderful thing with a little more spring in your step, oxygen in your blood and a juiced up pelvis—-Vroom! Vroom! 

Posted by Sharon Fennimore Rudyk
Owner and Director of Yoga Matrika
https://www.yogamatrika.com/

This great idea is inspired by Gurmukh’s wonderful book, “The Eight Human Talents” published in 2000 by Harper Collins.  Highly recommended!

Yoga for Writers

November 23, 2009
Posted by Sharon
Leave a comment

Movement & Memoir
Facilitated by Dana Killmeyer
January 30, 2010

2:00 to 4:30 pm
$25 pre-registration, $35 at the door (space allowing)

Movement and Memoir is a hybrid class blending elements of yoga and somatics with creative expression, primarily autobiographical writing or journaling.  We will focus on observing our environments, both internal and external, as a catalyst for releasing tension and broadening our awareness.  Finding inspiration in our senses and perceptions, anatomy, literature, performance, music, art, meditation,and social critique, we will explore various aspects of observation and expression, stillness and animation.  Expect a gentler, more introspective yoga practice with an emphasis on breathing, as well as wrists, shoulders, and lower back–areas that tend to get overused and neglected after long periods of sitting.  Please bring a notebook and an open mind.

Dana Killmeyer is a Pittsburgh-native and University of Pittsburgh graduate.  She has written two books: Paradise, or the Part that Dies and Pendulums of Euphoria, both published by Six Gallery Press.  Currently pursuing training as a yoga teacher with Joanne VandenHengel (3rd Street Yoga) and as a Somatic Movement Educator with Mark Taylor (BodyMindMovement), Dana draws from a well of experience as a teacher, researcher, writer, and organic farm apprentice.