It ain't all roses all the time, is it? In writing copy for my new website in the fall of 2015, I decided to share a brief glimpse of my 'dark ages'. My long term clients knew me then, some of them aware of the circumstances and others oblivious - only realizing when my name changed a year later when the divorce was final. Many of them didn't know I was pregnant, and somehow I worked through the fabulous first trimester all-day-sickness and found hope. It was a hell of a year losing a pregnancy I wanted, regretted, prayed over, learned to love again and then lost. All while separated from the relationship that made it came to be. Wanting to understand. Wanting him. Not wanting him. Hating him, and yes, forgiving him. Teaching my clients gave me a reason to get out of bed. To … [Read more...]
Breathing – Becoming – Embodied
"Now and again, it is necessary to seclude yourself among deep mountains and hidden valleys to restore your link to the source of life. Breathe in and let yourself soar to the ends of the universe; breathe out and bring the cosmos back inside. Next, breathe up all fecundity and vibrancy of the earth. Finally, blend the breath of heaven and the breath of earth with your own, becoming the Breath of Life itself." - Morihei Ueshiba When I contemplate breathing and eating and intimacy it's a conversation between beings, a communion of self with the external world, bringing parts of our environment and nourishment and lover into ourselves and a part of us being released back out into the atmosphere as we exhale, eliminate, separate from other and reconnect with Self. Reuniting. … [Read more...]
Love Your Sadness {Danielle LaPorte}
I sent a written work from one of my favorite women, Danielle LaPorte, to a friend and client the other day. They've been grieving the loss of a family member and also experiencing some pretty intense nerve pain from their cervical spine's current state. Connected? Possibly. They did get checked out medically and have been addressing the physical realm with some exercises and stretches. Either way - grieving and sadness have a place. They need a safe harbor to tuck into until they're ready to venture out to sea again, and I believe that safe harbor is our consciousness, which inevitably includes our body. Emotions are felt in this body of ours, and can be loved, processed and healed over time with embodied practices. My client responded with "THANK YOU! That was amazing. … [Read more...]
Action > Fear
I believe action is greater than fear. Many times fears originate and are fed by the "What If?" game we play in our minds. What if, instead, we asked "Wouldn't it be great if...?" We can overcome many self-imposed fears by taking clear, consistent action. Growing our capacity and resilience along the way. At the bottom of this post I've included 3 questions - choose one and comment after reading! Many people fear injury. We don't train for that race, or try a new sport, or play and run with kids. We feel stuck in our body as it is because the fear is stronger than the belief that we're capable. Competent. Safe. Strong. Ready. Many people fear embarrassment. We don't go to the gym where others might see us sweat, or we forgo the yoga class invite from a friend because … [Read more...]
The Difference Between Busy and Being
My work is increasingly bringing me into conversations with clients with long histories, stories of loss and grief, loneliness and dissociation, trauma, and now as adults - they deal with the ongoing complexity of things like pain, anxiety, insomnia, digestive issues, and more. And I love working with these people one on one, because the commitment and honesty I see from them is inspiring. To reconnect after years of neglect or pain, into the body, coming home to Self - It is often a rocky path that I'm glad to support. We celebrate a joyous homecoming. A new way of being with Self - which inevitably means a new way of being out in the world, and in relationship. Enter: Interoception, Embodiment and Body Intelligence Our bodies and brains are wildly intelligent - And we are wild … [Read more...]
Mantra for Self Blessing: Ayur Mantra with Donna Farhi
My beloved primary teacher, Donna Farhi, has shared a gift of this chant for us to all enjoy. Chanting mantra has grown into my life this past year, and continues to help me ground and refocus, and step into more compassionate perception for myself and others. Try it and tell me what you think or how you feel afterwards. Namaste, friends. Cheri PS: I'm offering a Free Audio Collection available to you now at my membership site. You can create an account for free! Click here to get access when you register and log in. … [Read more...]
GROWTH: Doing Stuff We’ve Not Yet Done
Growth means doing stuff we've not done yet, right? Well, here I go! I've done a particular Peace Chant lots of times with my primary mentor, Donna Farhi, and colleagues, and in my personal practice over the past 5 years. Even though I sang in choir and even had solos through middle and high school, I have never done karaoke. And I mostly sing in casual, comfortable places like my car. Or with close friends. Or the shower. I teach for a living, using my voice, but singing mantra feels sacred and I don't wanna mess it up. And for a long time, it had been a solitary, secret practice. I'm getting comfortable now sharing my voice in new ways with chanting and mantra. It started as an intention of mine in october 2015 to begin bringing it into my teaching. What's that saying - … [Read more...]
Emotions: Feeling, Accepting, Witnessing through Embodied Practice
Emotions are energy. Feeling emotions means having an experience in the body. Being embodied allows us a deeper experience with our emotional and spiritual self. For better or worse, it does. And this morning, in bed yet at 10:02, I have a hangover. From grief. Each feeling has a certain frequency or feeling to it, and we each express and experience them in our own way. I know without a doubt that if I can breathe and be with the sensation of the emotion - in my body whether sitting quietly, observing it, knowing I'm safe even while it erupts from my chest and throat into a massive cry or moving with it, through it - running, dancing, yogaing - I can identify it more clearly. I can ride the wave of it coming and passing more skillfully. Emotions are temporary visitors … [Read more...]