Tag Archive for: Apana Bodywork

Grounding in times of stress

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Right now, we are witnessing so much discord around the world. This type of violence has brought many of us to our knees for many different reasons.
At a time like this it is even more important to care for ourselves in little ways that can keep us in the present moment and keep as calm as we can, when we can.

If you’ve ever felt what it is like to have the coffee jitters, difficulty concentrating, being clumsy or forgetful then you know what it feels like to feel un-grounded.

Here are my tips for staying calm during the storms of life:

  1. Breathe. This is the most important thing you can do for yourself and others around you. Feel the air going down into your hips. Don’t imagine, FEEL.
  2. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach and feel your body under your hands, don’t change anything, just feel and breathe. Do this for 5 min or more. This is really powerful when you dedicate yourself to it for just a few minutes.
  3. Feel your feet. If you’re standing or sitting don’t cross your legs or shift from side to side, sit/stand with both feet flat on the ground (use a step stool to help with back pain). Simply stand/sit and feel your feet. That brings your energy down to the earth grounding you.

Notice yourself becoming anxious and take one or more of the steps above to bring yourself back to a calmer headspace.

If you would like some additional support in grounding, healing or even letting go of past trauma, please feel free to reach out to me directly at 647.801.2424 for a complimentary consultation or feel free to email me at apanabodywork@gmail.com.

Trauma and Memory

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Trauma and memory often go hand in hand. Many trauma sufferers have gone to psychotherapy and it has helped them greatly. I don’t typically see those people. The trauma sufferers I see are those who have tried psychotherapy at length and found little to no relief.  The symptoms of trauma that I typically observe in my practice are: internal spinning or a sense of constant agitation, feeling ungrounded, heightened emotional triggers, mood swings, anger, anxiety, trouble sleeping, brain fog, low energy and relationship strain. There are many other symptoms but these tend to be the most common ones.

Basically, the person doesn’t feel like themselves since the trauma and they’ve tried to get themselves “back on track” but all the usual coping mechanisms of yoga, meditation, and therapy just aren’t working for them anymore. It’s very frustrating for them, and to be honest, they’re usually close to giving up and I’m their last-ditch effort.

I totally get it, I was once them. I didn’t think Trame Vibrational Therapy was any different than the dozens of other alternative therapies I had tried. My response was like: “yeah yeah…okay I’ll try it”. That was how I used to feel but let’s focus on the results of my past clients.

My past client’s name is Connor. He was a middle-aged exceedingly successful entrepreneur who would get these intense flashbacks of the sexual abuse he endured as a child. He would be walking his dog and bam, he’d be struck by these memories. Connor was able to function well but he was always wary about a flashback around the next corner.

 I explained to Connor that we can never clear out the actual traumatic memory, that’s called brainwashing. We don’t do that here! What we can do is clear out the raw energy of the memory so that it stops taking up precious space within your body. This is the feeling of internal spinning or a sense of constant agitation I was referring to earlier, that most of my clients complain of.  During Trame Treatments, the raw energy of the trauma begins to be cleared and the trauma sufferer begins to feel relief. They aren’t constantly perceiving this intense emotional energy inside of them spinning constantly. It starts to create clarity, emotional calm and changing perspectives.

Here is the tricky thing about traumatic memories: they replay over and over. Your body doesn’t ‘know’ that the trauma is over.  It perceives it in the present moment because there is an ongoing energy that is being picked up. AKA the internal spinning/agitation. When the raw energy of the trauma is stuck inside the body, the trauma movie replays again and again leaving the person in such a state of turmoil and suffering.

So how does Trame Vibrational therapy help clear out the raw energy of the trauma? It’s not magic. It’s quantum physics and alchemy together and it works on all living things, not just us. Basically, it works through intention and through connecting with the client’s specific vibration at each of the sixteen hand positions. I tune in and then I clear out vibrations or frequencies that have been accumulated over time. The other hand positions, I am aligning your Trame or grid. This allows for proper communication within your body but also empowers the person to make choices that are in alignment with their true selves. Without getting too technical, it brings the body back to homeostasis or balance and most people wake from their session saying ‘wow’ because they were transported to another place they haven’t been.

Here is more information about Trame Vibrational Therapy.

 Trame is not a magic bullet; nothing is. However, it is a treatment that allows the trauma sufferer to clear out the energy of the trauma without reliving it and it gives the person an opening to make changes in their lives. Ultimately, what the person does with that opening is up to them. Everyone has free will. The choice to do what they want with their lives and how they choose to integrate their sessions is no different.

So, what happened with Connor? He had three Trame sessions and all his traumatic flashbacks were gone, as in, never came back again. Connor went about his life no longer worried of what flashback was around the corner. He was ready to clear very the energy of the trauma and that’s exactly what happened.

I’ll tell you what happened with Connor. He decided to try three sessions of Trame Vibrational Therapy. Yes, it was completely outside his comfort zone as his inclinations were more towards sports and sweeping these emotions under the rug. I guess he got curious.

*The names in this blog post have been changed in order to protect the identity of the individuals*

Our Faith in Doctors can be dangerous

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I thought I was over this. Once again a doctor has made me scared.

A routine eye exam with my daughter, just making sure she doesn’t need glasses and that the vision in her right eye isn’t getting worse. When she was two she was diagnosed with strabismus. It’s a lack of convergence of the eyes so it makes it difficult to focus on an object or see properly.

For my Zoe, this means that she’ll be walking along and walk right into something or trip over a curb on the street. She’s a trooper, she doesn’t cry and just pops right back up with a smile on her face but it makes my stomach sink every time.

As the doc told me yesterday, if the two images from the right and left eye aren’t similar, the brain can’t put them together and use that information. I always knew that the brain did this magic trick where the image from the left eye and the image of the right eye formed this totally new picture that in reality didn’t even exist. If we think of Wayne’s world,” camera one, camera two”, this is what the brain has to do to integrate both images.

So this is all good, the appointment is humming along, I’m forecasting a lollypop for good behaviour. That’s when she hits me with the suggestion that Zoe wears protective goggles.

What… Why? That was my reaction.

This would be to make sure that her “good eye” doesn’t get poked out or something leaving her with no good eyes in the good doctor’s opinion.  Okay so they would be regular glasses but that’s not the point. The point is that once again I’m made to FEAR something bad happening to my daughter.

So frustrating.

This fear-based approach made me more than a little angry because it brought back the totally unilateral recommendation to pull the plug on Zoe after her devastating MRI results came back nine years ago.

If I had listened to the Doctor’s opinion and recommendation years ago, Zoe would of slowly been dehydrated to death. All under medical supervision.

I am so disgusted with the medical practices at times.

Nine years ago was one of those times and yesterday just reminded me of the thought process that can create havoc in one’s life.

Let us spread some prevention and hope instead of fear when caring for ourselves and our children.

I refuse to accept this opinion even if she went to medical school. I choose to trust my gut instead of her fear-based intellectualization of the situation.

For parents dealing with a special needs child, my heart goes out to you. We think we’re over getting upset by what doctors say to us but in order to make a good decision. We have to take in all the information and make a decision for what’s best for our child.

If I might share advice from what I’ve learnt along the way: Trust yourself first and foremost. Your gut will guide you.

Contact me at 647.801.2424 for a free thirty-minute ‘Heal your Heart’ consultation. I’d be happy to assist in clearing out the old pains in a painless way.

Calming the Storm in Your Brain: Migraines

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If you suspect you suffer from migraine headaches and you’re looking for an alternative drug-free solution to best manage your symptoms, this article is for you. Migraines occur in 10-15% of kids and adults and only half of people know they are having one. In this blog, you’ll learn about what causes migraine headaches, the criteria that doctors use for diagnosing migraines and easy tips to help you relax even though you’re suffering. My hope is you’ll get more clarity on migraines as well as on next steps to help you better manage migraine headaches with a safe and holistic approach.

What is a migraine headache?  

Doctors tell us it is an electrical storm in the brain. The brain cells or neurons are firing too much or too little creating temporary changes in the brain. This electrical imbalance in the brain causes head pain.

Doctors reassure us that head pain isn’t damaging the brain tissue and that 95% of headaches are safe.

Check out this educational video about migraines.

If you are a migraine sufferer, you’re not alone. Migraines account for more difficulty doing regular activity than any other neurological problem.

Unsure if Your Headaches are Migraines?

According to the International classification or headache disorders, the current agreed upon criteria for migraine diagnosis:

  1. At least 5 attacks, 1 fulfilling criteria B-D
  2. Migraine lasting 4-72 hours untreated or unsuccessfully treated
  3. Headache has at least 2 or the following characteristics:
  4. Unilateral location
  5. Pulsating quality
  6. Moderate or severe pain intensity
  7. Aggravation by or causing avoidance of routine physical activity
  8. During headache at least one of the following:
  9. Nausea and/or vomiting
  10. Photophobia and phonophobia

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, photophobia is the intolerance to light especially painful sensitiveness to strong light. Phonophobia is an intolerance of or hypersensitivity to sound.

If you’re reading this and you suspect you suffer from migraines, I suggest you make an appointment with your family doctor as he/she will perform a physical exam to confirm this diagnosis.

So, it is a Migraine…Now What?

Since here is no cure for migraines, once you have been diagnosed, there are many suggestions as to how best manage your symptoms.

Headache doctors and neurologist recommend:

  • Drinking water
  • Getting regular sleep
  • Relaxation techniques

At Apana Bodywork we specialize in not only relaxation but resetting the nervous system, often mitigating symptoms of migraines before they start.

Trame Vibrational Therapy has a great track record for helping migraine sufferers. During my initial training I had 9 volunteers receive one Trame session every 3 weeks for a total of 4 sessions each. In exchange they made observations about the effects they felt from the sessions mentally, physically, emotionally and energetically.

There were 4 of 9 case study participants that suffered regular (at least once a month) migraines and the intensity reported was debilitating enough to affect their daily activities. Of the migraine sufferers, none of them experienced a migraine during the 4 months study, that’s 100% effectiveness for this small sample group.

Screaming in Pain

It’s really tempting to get angry at the pain. We’re missing out on work, family and play. We might be hiding out in a dark room waiting for the pain to pass. When we’re suffering for hours or even days it can be very frustrating to wonder when you will feel better. If you’re tempted to scream out in pain let me reinforce what the doctors say; it only makes the situation worse.  Your brain is trying to find balance and adding more volatility in the form of anger only gives the body more work to do to calm the storm in your brain.

Solution: Laugh at the pain.

This may seem like a ridiculous suggestion but when you laugh at the pain or think of the pain less seriously, you diffuse it and take away it’s power over you. Is it difficult to do? Yes. Will it help immediately? No. But, over time you will get better at detaching yourself from the pain making it less debilitating.

Relaxation Tips for Migraines:

  1. Feel another part of your body that doesn’t hurt

When we pay attention to another part of our body that does not hurt, our reality shifts away from the pain and we experience less stress mentally and emotionally helping ease the pain we’re experiencing.

  1. Wiggle your toes until you fall asleep

When you’re lying in bed and the pain is stopping you from falling asleep, try slowly and gently wiggling your toes. Start with your left foot and feel your toes wiggle gently and then wiggle the toes of your right foot. Keep alternating from side to side making it your job to only you’re your toes and commit to keep doing it while staying easy about the exercise. You will eventually drift off to sleep just keep at it no matter how long it takes. Surrender to this movement and you will distract yourself from the pain and sleep more soundly.

  1. Using another sensation

Using another sensation such as light physical touch or temperature interrupts the pain signal. Simply stroking your forehead, light massage or placing an ice pack on your head.

Migraines can be a real pain and necessitate days off work, missed family time and opportunities.   Finding ways to prevent them, in my opinion, is a smart way to go. In the absence of that, finding the strategies that best help you to manage the pain and minimize the length and intensity of your migraines is the second priority because you have places to be and things to do!

If you’d like to come in and talk more about what you’re going through as well as solutions we offer, don’t hesitate to reach out and contact Apana Bodywork at 647-801-2424 or find us on Instagram @apana.bodywork.

Check out our Youtube video talking more about migraines or watch below:

 

Are You Showing Up as Your Truest Self?

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How Trame Vibrational Therapy Can Help You Heal Your Mind and Body

Vulnerability has been researched extensively by one of my favourite experts on all taboo topics – Brene Brown. Leading by example during her TED talk that became the Top 10 most viewed in the world, she put herself out there confessing that she didn’t agree with her research findings. She has studied vulnerability for the past twelve years and has empirically proven that vulnerability at its core requires courage and simply can’t exist otherwise.

I don’t know about you but for me vulnerability didn’t come easy and still takes a few deep breaths to conjure the strength to put myself “out there” in moments when I’d rather put a wall up or pretend otherwise.

We are all Imperfectly Perfect

The reason I believe this topic is so important is that we live in a culture where we are starved for real connections. We are all-tech-all-the-time and little face to face time. We are going a million miles a minute and crave human contact, but we can’t really connect if we’re faking it or holding back our true selves. It is important to get comfortable in our own imperfect skin so that we can show up more as who we are, in order to reap the social rewards.

We all have people in our lives that being completely ourselves comes naturally and then we have the relationships where we feel we have to put our best foot forward and strive toward perfection.

So how do we show up as our true selves when we are in front of people who expect us to be flawless? How do we shed all the layers of false beliefs that tell us we are not good enough and really show up as who we really are?

It’s entirely possible.

One Step at a Time

With a focus on personal development and the right tools, you’d be surprised at how quickly your internal world changes for the better.

I’ve seen clients in my practice that come in with laundry lists of issues like physical pain, depression/anxiety, difficulty communicating or relating to their kids or spouses, stress, difficulty getting motivated in their businesses, and so on.

Sounds like a lot to “fix” right?

It’s a lot simpler than drudging through all the issues and dissecting them at length. In my practice, it’s about recalibrating the individual so that their own innate intelligence takes care of the healing.

So how do we get this done? Trame Vibrational Technique.

Trame Vibrational Therapy

Trame is vibrational medicine. Just like a musical instrument that requires periodic tuning, so do you! We are very complex instruments that can play off key at times and this only means we need a tune up.

Signs you may need a vibrational tune up:

  • Lack of mental clarity
  • Re-living the past
  • Anxiety/depression
  • Lack of energy
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Issues with Sleep
  • Inability to settle
  • Pain in the body

And the list goes on!

As Albert Einstein once said, “the future of medicine will be the medicine of frequencies.” Trame Vibrational therapy is just that – a big step toward balance, harmony and re-setting the nervous system so that the body can heal itself.

Feeling empowered enough to be vulnerable no matter where you are or who you’re with is something that I’ve witnessed in my practice even when clients weren’t looking for it. They show up confidently with their children as well as at work, they become more resilient to very stressful situations, and they learn about themselves. But most importantly they are happier and feel more like themselves. Personal growth is why I do what I do. I know the pain of not showing up as myself fully and I want to share that gift with others.

Let’s Connect

If you’re looking to shed some layers that are holding you back from fully expressing who you are in the world, book your complimentary 30-minute consultation and learn how this is easier than you think.

I invite you to share your experience or ask questions in the comments. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and join our newsletter for health inspirations and tips. My YouTube Channel is also an amazing place to connect and learn.

To our health & wellbeing,

Madeleine

Healing Trauma in Children with Trame Vibrational Therapy

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Has your Child Experienced Trauma? 

First of all, you’re not a bad parent. Sometimes things happen that are out of our control and as parents we simply do the best we can in the circumstances we find ourselves in. Helping heal trauma in children is a topic that I take very seriously.  

In fact, my own daughter had a brain injury at birth resulting from oxygen deprivation. The cord was wrapped tightly around her ankles and doctors didn’t detect it until I was in labor. So – I hear you! I know what it’s like to want to do everything in your power to help your child heal. 

As parents, we always want the very best for our kids. But what can you do if your child is too young to talk through their fears or challenges? Luckily, I have a highly effective, yet gentle treatment to offer you – it is called Trame Vibrational Therapy. 

How Can Trame Vibrational Therapy Help your Child? 

This is a gentle hands-on treatment that takes between 15-35 minutes depending on the age of your child. This treatment resets the nervous system and clears out cellular blockages. Blockages are caused by unresolved emotions, physical injury and negative beliefs. This treatment will also re-align the body’s blueprint. This blueprint controls all of the information and energy that travels through the body and organizes the body from start to finish. 

After a traumatic experience these blockages can get stuck in the body – thus creating chaos. Children and even adults can find it extremely challenging to describe what they are feeling inside. Once the treatment is over, balance is restored and cellular memories and blockages left behind from trauma will be cleared out. Then, the body will undergo an integration period that lasts up to forty days. During this time, the body will adjust to its new condition, in order to reach its natural harmony and state of empowerment once again.  

What is Involved in this Treatment? 

For children, this treatment may involve talking, moving around, and an ebb and flow (depending on the child). This is so that we are able to get all the hand positions completed. 

I’ve treated children that have experienced serious trauma such as – the loss of a parent, kids who have been bullied or made to feel unaccepted by their peers, and even those that wanted to avoid taking medication for their symptoms. I also have extensive experience working with children with severe autism.  

I invite you to share your experience or ask questions in the comments. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and join our newsletter for health inspirations and tips. My YouTube Channel is also an amazing place to connect and learn. 

To our health & wellbeing, 

Madeleine 

Paralysis of Perfection

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Do you ever feel like you need to be perfect?  Like you haven’t “figured it all out” yet. And even when you reach your goal you still don’t feel that sense of accomplishment.

Many people wake up each day judging themselves because of what they look like, comparing themselves to others or being hard on themselves for not measuring up to their own high standards.

The obsession with perfection isn’t something you’re dealing with alone. It’s a tendency that is rising in our youth today. According to the study published in the journal Psychological Bulletin:

“more recent generations of college students reported significantly higher scores for each form of perfectionism than earlier generations.”

We compare ourselves to filtered idyllic pictures on social media or to a friend or colleague who, from the outside, seems to ‘have it all’ and then we feel ashamed, isolated or even depressed and anxious when we don’t measure up.

Do you ever feel it’s easier to mask or push down those emotions so that you don’t have to deal with them? Is talking about an issue difficult for you?  Vulnerability can be scary and sometimes we simply don’t have the words to adequately describe what we’re feeling. The truth is we all have moments, days or even years spent in survival mode. When we really aren’t living our ‘best life’ as Oprah loves to say.

We’re Not Here to Be Perfect

The truth is we’re not here to be perfect. We’re here, in my opinion, to discover who we really are and be that out in the world. We don’t have all the answers and who are we to judge ourselves as we figure that out? Isn’t that why we’re here; to learn, grow and find out what gives us the most satisfaction?

Isn’t it time to let go of perfection and be true to ourselves? We learn by screwing up and the more we resist the mess, the longer it will take to learn that lesson. 

I believe that if we pay attention to what our emotions are trying to tell us and are aware of our effect on those around us, we can make little refinements each day, not to be perfect but to be ourselves with complete acceptance, warts and all.

When I see clients in my practice increase their self-awareness, soften their expectations of themselves, it helps me to deepen my belief that change is always possible, that no one is stuck in their perfection and that there are always choices available for growth and expansion of self.

I invite you to share your experience or ask questions in the comments. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and join our newsletter for health inspirations and tips. My YouTube Channel is also an amazing place to connect and learn.

To our health & wellbeing,

Madeleine

Are Your Chakras Blocked?

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Have you ever had a healer tell you that your chakras are blocked? Perhaps you felt something tense up in your body, or you experienced that tightening in your stomach when you had to give a speech. However it comes, we can learn to listen to our bodies and let the message that is hidden underneath come up to the surface and speak to us.

3 Signals from your body that you have a blocked chakra:

  1. Tightness. Sometimes a blocked chakra can feel tight. In the same way a muscle can feel tight, if we know the location of our chakras, we can tune in and feel if they are out of balance. For example, a blocked throat chakra often feels tight. Why does this happen? We could be holding back saying something we really want to say. We could be twisting the truth a bit when we do express ourselves. Or perhaps we simply don’t feel heard.
  2. Discomfort. An imbalance in a chakra can also feel down right uncomfortable. That pang we feel when a loved one is hurtful toward us, or when we don’t feel good enough, can bring about that not so pleasant blockage in our heart chakra. Our heart chakra represents the love we have for ourselves, others and our connection to our bigger/unconditionally loving self.
  3. Knot. Have you ever heard someone say that they feel as though they have a knot in their stomach? That spot just under their ribcage that houses the solar plexus chakra is our will center. It is the place that turns into a fist when someone is trying to control us, or we are doing something we don’t really want to do. You’ve felt this when forced to work over a weekend or if a partner makes you take those dreaded dance lessons. If a chakra feels like a knot you can be sure you have a blockage there that needs to be cleared.

What do we do to clear these blockages?

We can simply sit with ourselves, quiet our mind and place our hands on the area that is screaming out at us, and listen without expectation. It’s that simple. Your bigger self is an expert at relaying the information that is crucial for your conscious evolution. All we need to do is listen to the subtle messages that come up.

Learning how to hone your intuition will make this process much easier. I will share more on different types of intuition in my next blog.

For now, tune in and listen to the signals your emotional guidance system is broadcasting. It doesn’t take over-analyzing or complete stillness, but it does require you to stop, tune in to yourself completely and let go. The messages are always more subtle than we expect. We may think it will sound like a blow horn but in reality it’s more like a wise whisper.

If you need any help clearing those blockages that is my specialty and I’m here to help. There are many avenues, like Master Reiki healing sessions to become aware of beliefs that are running the show and clearing them. Reiki Level I courses are for those who know they are healers themselves, or Trame Vibrational Therapy to reset the nervous system and clear out unresolved emotions. There are many ways up the mountain, I know you will find yours!

If you need guidance on which is the most suited for you take advantage of my complimentary thirty minute phone consultation.

I invite you to share your experience or ask questions in the comments. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and join our newsletter for health inspirations and tips. My YouTube Channel is also an amazing place to connect and learn.

Wishing you a Happy New Year.

To our health & wellbeing,

Madeleine

Breaking Up is Hard on Your Heart…Literally

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When I found out I had fallen in love with a fictitious person over the internet, I was heartbroken and a little humiliated. I started to go back and re-trace my steps. How had I fallen for this scam and was I completely nuts to care for a complete stranger?

It’s not surprising that once we’ve been hurt, we (and our brain) don’t want to feel that pain ever again. Even mentioning a memory can trigger us to feel those painful emotions all over again. So what do we do? We put up a wall around our hearts to protect us from the hurt.

What is a Heart Wall?

A heart wall is just a layer of energy around your heart that was created by all those trapped emotions of rejection, pain and loss. This heart wall serves as a barrier around your heart that acts as a protector against future pain. Although intended as a protective mechanism, it actually isn’t protecting us at all.

The interesting thing I’ve noticed is that when we are hurt we not only close ourselves off from the “bad stuff” but we also block ourselves from receiving all the good feelings as well, like love and appreciation. We lock our heart down so that we don’t feel pain but that blocks us from feeling love too. It’s a two way street.

Why Are We Blocking Ourselves from Love?

So, why do we block ourselves from love when that is the very thing we crave most after a breakup?

It’s our brains’ fault! Our brain wants us to avoid pain and move toward pleasure. Did you know the parts of our brain that process pain light up after a breakup?

“The brain studies show us that romantic rejection hurts just like physical pain, and it is like cocaine addiction.”

So here we are addicted to love and in fear of actual physical pain! No wonder we shut down!

The ironic part is that being in a committed relationship, specifically a marriage, protects our hearts. A Harvard Health article refers to the Framingham Offspring Study where “married men had a 46% lower rate of death than unmarried men”.

Experiences like the one I just went through can make people less open to trusting others but it’s not in our best interest to hide away from the world if it keeps men alive longer.

But what about women? Does being in a happy marriage protect our hearts too?

According to a study by the Journal Heart, it does. The risk of (dying of a heart attack) was significantly higher (42%) among those who had never married.

It looks like being in a happy marriage is protective to our hearts. Not only that, heartbreak can make us shut down our heart connection when we need its guidance most. Our heart is the connection to the other side, to our intuitive, unconscious or bigger self. It holds so much wisdom and comes in handy all day long for those of us who listen. If we shut down because of a heart wall, what are we listening to now? Not our guidance, not ourselves but our fear and pain and who knows where that will lead us?

What are we editing in our experience so that we don’t have to deal with pain from our past?

Like a snowball rolling downhill, our pain only gets bigger and bigger the more we ignore or sweep it into the background.

In order to release it, we need to let go of the past beliefs and actually do the work of our unconditional loving selves to bring back balance.

I’ve seen countless strong yet heartbroken individuals in my practice as a Trame Vibrational Therapist. People are trying to get out of situations where they feel emotionally handcuffed and stuck. After each session we see progress in terms of getting more clarity about a path out and a greater ability to handle stressful situations in a way that honors who they are and what they really want.

Perhaps asking ourselves how we want to feel is a good place to find inspiration to go down that sometimes bumpy road of healing.

I invite you to share your experience or ask questions in the comments. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and join our newsletter for health inspirations and tips. My YouTube Channel is also an amazing place to connect and learn.

To our health & wellbeing,

Madeleine

References:
Busch, L. Y., Pössel, P., & Valentine, J. C. (2017). Meta-analyses of cardiovascular reactivity to rumination: A possible mechanism linking depression and hostility to cardiovascular disease. Psychological Bulletin, 143(12), 1378-1394.
https://theanatomyoflove.com/the-results/the-rejected-brain/

Are You Holding Back?

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I held back who I was for the longest time and it made me miserable. I’ve come a long way since those difficult teen years. It wasn’t a single moment of change, it was a process.  I’m still evolving and letting go and probably will be for the rest of my life.

And now I ask: Are you allowing who you really are to fully shine through? Or, are you tamping down, shutting in that beautiful soul that is unique to you? (Like I was, and still do to a certain degree.)

Perhaps somewhere along the line someone said or did something to hurt you, to make you feel like being yourself wasn’t okay. It may be the fear of being hurt again that keeps you quiet, or in your shell. Speaking from experience, it’s painful to stifle, hold back or withdraw who we are.

Whatever that person said or did, whatever it was that made you think that it wasn’t your birthright to be who you are was wrong. None of it was true. When you’re being yourself it feels good and when you’re not, it feels bad. Simple right? Um … not for me it wasn’t!

What makes your soul shine?

Nothing feels more exciting or satisfying than when you express who you really are. This can take many forms and often we can’t find a “proper” label for it so we think we are weird or we don’t quite fit in.

Trust yourself to know what makes you happy, what feels whole and right for you. You could keep going as if nothing does, but you will always know that isn’t right, it causes suffering and deep conflict inside. There is nothing worse than split energy. Half in, half out. It’s pure misery.

It’s hard when life takes over and continues to expect certain things or behaviors from you, day after day. One thing is certain, everyone wins when you honor who you really are because, even if it’s hard or challenging or goes against the grain, it gives others the permission to do the same. And as we do this, we all have the opportunity to grow and expand who we are in the world.

I’ve Been There

I speak of this because I’ve been through it. There have been many situations in my life where I wasn’t completely honest about who I was, so I would be liked, or respected, or approved of. I believe everyone feels this way at times, some more than others. We all want to be loved and approved of. We all have fears and insecurities. What differentiates us is courageously being who we are, even if it’s not popular, ‘normal’ or expected.

I, myself, have been on a lifelong path to become more and more who I am. I knew as a young teenager that I would continue to find insight through my whole life and, as predicted, here I am at thirty-eight years old still making little discoveries about myself. Slowly, I’m allowing them to be expressed into the world. Not surprisingly, I become happier and happier the more “myself” I become.

I’m Here to Help

My work is all about this idea. It’s about giving people the environment, the respect, and the non-judgement to release what is holding them back from being who they really are in the most painless way possible. I love this field because I’m in the presence of brave people showing up for themselves and making changes. I get to hear amazing, heartbreaking and inspiring stories every day. I admire their dedication and join them in their commitment to become who they really are, and in turn, I become more who I am each day through this work. I’m still evolving and letting go, and probably will for the rest of my life, and that’s a good thing.

I invite you to share your experience or ask questions in the comments. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and join our newsletter for health inspirations and tips. My YouTube Channel is also an amazing place to connect and learn.

To our health & wellbeing,

Madeleine