Ho’oponopono

I’ve recently been using this healing practice called Ho’oponopono (ho-o-pono-pono) which is an ancient Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness.

It is very simple and so powerful.  In any order, you say the following statements over and over…

“I love you, I’m sorry, Please forgive me, Thank you.”

A shaman and therapist in his 70s, Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len, used this method to cure a complete ward at the Hawaii State Hospital of criminally insane patients…without ever seeing any of them. Every day he would study an inmate’s chart and then look within himself to see how he created that person’s illness. As he improved himself, the patient improved.  The crazy thing is, he never actually met with any of these patients!

The ward was a mess.  Psychologists and staff were always quitting and many people would walk through that ward with their backs against the wall because they were afraid of being attacked by patients.

Dr. Len never saw patients, he only stayed in an office and reviewed each of their files. While he looked at those files, he would work on himself. As he worked on himself, patients began to heal.

“‘After a few months, patients that had to be shackled were being allowed to walk freely.  Others who had to be heavily medicated were getting off their medications. And those who had no chance of ever being released were being freed.  Not only that, but the staff began to enjoy coming to work. Absenteeism and turnover disappeared. We ended up with more staff than we needed because patients were being released, and all the staff was showing up to work. Today, that ward is closed.”

So, what was Dr. Len doing that caused these people to change?  He says that he was simply healing the part of himself that created them.  He believes that total responsibility for your life means that everything in your life, since it is in your life, is your responsibility. In a literal sense the entire world is your creation.

Holy smokes!  So if we really believe in taking total responsibility for our lives, then everything we see, hear, taste, touch, or in any way experience is our responsibility because it is in our life. This means that terrorist activity, the president, the economy or anything we experience and don’t like is up to us to heal.  They really only exist as projections from inside ourselves. The problem isn’t with them, it’s with us, and to change them, we have to change ourselves.

But, it’s so much easier to blame than to take total responsibility!  Actually, Dr. Len believes that healing really just means loving yourself.  If we want to improve our lives, we have to heal our lives.  For Dr. Len to cure the mentally ill criminals, he had to do it by healing himself.

What I like most about this whole thing is how simple he did this.  He just kept saying over and over, “I’m sorry, I love you” as he looked at each of the patients’ files.

So, loving ourselves is really the greatest way to improve ourselves, and as we improve ourselves, we improve our world.  Just think how powerful this is if we really believe it…whenever we want to improve anything in our life, there’s only one place to look: inside ourselves. And when we look with love, we have the power to change anything!

Here’s a video of Dr. Joe Vitale talking to a group of people in Maui about this practice.

Imagine living in this new year in Magic and Miracles?  What is possible for you in your life when you live this way?

Posted in Personal Development | Tagged create your mood, Law of Attraction, Personal Development | Leave a comment

Ashtanga Yoga is a Growing Trend in Portland

Ashtanga Yoga in Portland, MaineThere are hundreds of different yoga styles, each with a different focus and set of characteristics.  Ashtanga yoga, a style that originated in India and is gaining popularity all over the world, is a practice that aims to synchronize the breath with a progressive series of postures, or asanas.  The practice follows a set progression of asanas to build internal heat, increase strength and flexibility, and calm the mind.

In Portland, most yoga studios and gym classes tend to follow the Vinyasa tradition, or a mixture of different styles, but there are two studios in town that specialize in Ashtanga yoga.

Ashtanga Yoga Community Portland, located downtown on Congress Street, offers both Mysore style and led classes.  In Mysore style classes, the teacher is there to guide you through your individual practice, but they do not call out instructions or lead the class.  Each student goes through the sequence of asanas at their own pace, following the rhythm of their own breath.  Led classes are guided by a teacher who calls out the asana and the class moves in unison.

Studio 72 is another Ashtanga studio on the East End on India Street.  This studio provides a more intimate setting and offers both guided classes and Mysore style, depending on the schedule.

Both studios oofer world-class teachers who welcome beginners, advanced students, and drop-ins for out of town visitors with an established practice.  If you are interested in exploring yoga and the Ashtanga tradition, Portland is the perfect place to start your search!

Posted in Fitness in Portland, Portland Maine Activities | Tagged health and wellness, yoga | Leave a comment

First Time Getting a Massage? Here’s What to Expect

Massage in Portland, MaineAs a massage therapist, I am so used to physical touch that I often forget that it can be intimidating for people who have never before had a massage.  Some people are so nervous or unsure that they never even try – imagine all that relaxation they are missing out on!

I have put together a few pointers for newcomers who may want a massage but aren’t quite sure what to expect.

  • Cleanliness – You should expect your massage therapist to provide a clean environment with fresh linens changed between each client.  Your massage therapist will also expect you to be recently showered.  However, most massages include the scalp area, so you may leave with messier hair than you arrived with.
  • Hydration – Massage therapy helps to release unwanted toxins in the body, so it’s important to be well-hydrated when you arrive.  There will also be water for you to drink afterwards – you should definitely take advantage of this.
  • Nudity – Although it may be easier for the massage therapist when you are unclothed but covered, you can and should wear whatever makes you most comfortable.  Many newcomers feel better wearing underwear for their first massage, and that is totally fine.  You will always be draped.
  • Body Manipulation – There are thousands of ways to do a massage.  Your massage therapist will ask about problem areas, past injuries, and muscles that may be tight or sore.  This is your opportunity to tell them where you have pain or stiffness, what may make you uncomfortable, and even where you might be ticklish.  When you are getting the massage, just allow yourself to relax.  The massage therapist will move your limbs or tell you when they need you to move.  Unless they ask you to do something, just lay back and let them massage your cares away.
  • Comfort – You are there to relax and be pampered.  If you feel too warm or cold, if the pressure it too much or to little, or if you experience anything else that makes you uncomfortable, just tell your massage therapist.  Massage professionals are exactly that: professional.  Chances are they have experience in most situations, so don’t be shy and feel free to express yourself – especially if it’s a sigh of contentment.

If you have questions, please put them in the comment section or email me directly, I would love to hear from you!

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Kettlebells: An Awesome Exercise Option

Kettlebell Classes in Portland, MaineKettlebells are a really popular weight training tool that can give you a lot of bang for your exercise buck.  They were originally used in Russia and have become popular in the United States, especially among athletes.

In addition to resistance training, kettlebells also provide cardiovascular conditioning, increased endurance, improved agility, and better balance.

Because they are new to most people, and because they can be pretty heavy, it’s important to have proper instruction when you first start using kettlebells.  The exercises can involve swinging and jerking, which works well if you do it right, but it can be tough on your muscles and joints if you’re not doing it correctly.

If you want to try a kettlebell workout, check out some of these classes offered in Portland:

  • Body by John – Tons of kettlebell classes, personal training, boot camp, and other fun fitness activities.
  • Iron Balls Fitness – Instructor Frank Navarro offers private and group instruction.  He has trained police, firefighters, and college athletes, so if you’re the intense type, this might be the class for you.
  • The Body Architect – Kettlebell classes are offered five days a week and all levels are welcome.

It’s never too late to try something new, and kettlebells are a great way to get fit and stay that way!

Posted in Fitness in Portland, Portland Maine Activities | Tagged fitness, health and wellness | Leave a comment

All We Need Is Love

It seems that in all of my readings lately there is a central theme of Love.  So, on this Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d reflect a bit about this beautiful four letter word that is both a noun and a verb.

My friend gave me this little book to read called, The Lazy Man’s Guide to Enlightenment by Thaddeus Golas.  It was published in the early 70s.  I gather that he explored many mind altering drugs to assist him with his theories, which makes it a fun little book to read!

Check out his first lines in the book.

I am a lazy man.  Laziness keeps me from believing that enlightenment demands effort, discipline, strict diet, non-smoking, and other evidences of virtue.  There is a paradise in and around you right now, and to be there you don’t even have to make a move.  All potential experiences are within you already.  You can open up to them at any time.

The central theme of this whole book is love.  It is the love that is in and around us right now which is this paradise of which he speaks.

He writes,

One of my psychedelic excursions had gotten off to a bad start, and I was sinking to a really satanic bummer.  As I looked about me at people turning evil, shrunken, colorless, odd, and weird, I suddenly thought, ‘Well, what did you think it was that needed to be loved?’  And just like that the doors opened and I was in paradise.

Now, I’m not going to run out to find some LSD to come to this same realization.  But gosh, that little question comes in handy when my mind turns to fear or judgement of another person.

When I’m able to switch into a mode of loving him or her, all of my fear goes away.  It’s interesting, because the other person doesn’t need to change a thing about their looks or actions for me to feel differently.  I just need to change my own perspective from fear to love. Continue reading

Posted in Personal Development | Tagged create your mood, healh and wellness, Love, Personal Development, personal development blogs | Leave a comment