body Archives - Custom Calm

5 Steps to a Breath You Can Count On

Posted by Ellen Sichel on September 26, 2011

Often we need something we can do quickly to bring ourselves back to the here and now. When we spin out of control agonizing or reacting over situations, we end up creating more tension to our bodies and minds. Our relationships are impacted and our day becomes difficult to enjoy.

Breath is the most effective way to quickly harness our minds so we can release stress and tension.

Try this:

Take and inhale and easy exhale
Soften your belly
Slowly inhale through your nose to a count of 4
Hold for a count of 4
Slowly exhale through your mouth to a count of 4

If you have the time, do four repetitions. If not, one time will definitely make an impact.

Let me know in the comments below how this worked for you. Did it help you get centered? If not, what do you think happened?

Tags: body, breath, calm, centered, counting breath, mind, moment, tension

Posted in: Technique of the Week

What is Integrative Medicine?

Posted by Ellen Sichel on July 22, 2011

Hippocrates said: "It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has."

In ancient times Hippocrates knew that a person’s illness included much more than their body and that the whole person needed to be addressed.

Integrative medicine is a whole-person approach — designed to treat the person, not just the disease. There is a partnership between the patient and the doctor, where the goal is to treat the mind, body, and spirit, all at the same time.

Integrative Medicine is “complementary”, because the practices and treatments are proven and recommended by mainstream medicine rather than a replacement to traditional medicine.

"Patients want to be considered whole human beings in the context of their world," says Esther Sternberg, MD, from the National Institutes of Health.

It is exciting to see the great strides the medical community has made in studying the power of Integrative Medicine.

It is consistent with Hippocrates approach and yoga philosophy: You are more than your body and more than your mind- the entire person must be addressed to improve your health from the inside-out..

Tags: body, complimentary health, Integrative Medicine, mainstream medicine, mind, spirit, yoga

Posted in: A Calm Perspective

What Happened to My Peaceful State?

Posted by Ellen Sichel on July 15, 2011

Picture this: You just finished your centering practices and you feel peaceful and calm. There is nothing you want- you are content.

You join your family and the kids are yelling, the dog is barking and your significant other is looking for the keys- puff…your serenity is gone in an instant!

There is a phrase from one yoga text:

Lokanandah Samadhi- Sukham : In every bit of knowledge the yogi experiences the delight of I- Consciousness, and there is transmission of this experience to those who come in contact with him. The bliss continues in every location and every situation.

In other words, bring inner peace into your relationships with everyone and everything. All of yoga’s practices are designed to help you still your mind to access your inner solid calm center.

As you practice, you will embody the knowing that you are more than your body and you are more than your mind.

You will experience your daily living with grounded presence weaving in the sublime with the mundane, even in the chaos that surrounds you.

Let me know in the comments below your experience with maintaining your calm in the midst of life. What works for you?

Tags: body, calm, centered, mind, peaceful, stress, yoga

Posted in: A Calm Perspective