Divas That Care Network

Soften & Shield

• Divas That Care Network • Season 15 • Episode 17

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Gia-Raquel Rose, owner of Airs Above Yoga, LLC and a real estate sales associate in Tewksbury, New Jersey has had a love for horses stemming from early childhood. Growing up in “horse country” afforded her the privilege of beginning to ride from the tender age of four. It was a childhood illness, which brought her riding aspirations to an abrupt halt. It took twenty years before she was able to reunite with her long lost passion for horses and their ability to heal. In that time, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communication from Arcadia University and became a twice two hundred hour certified yoga instructor in both Hatha and Vinyasa. It was the loss of her mother, Rose, to breast cancer, which ultimately shifted her trajectory from the corporate world to the internal work for which yoga, as a practice, is renowned.

We explore the powerful connection between meditation, pranayama, and upper chakra work as tools for discovering your unique creative purpose in the world.

• Meditation as the most effective practice for stimulating the upper chakras, especially the crown chakra
• Introduction to Nadi Shodhanam (alternating nostril breathing) as a balancing practice between left and right hemispheres
• How the right side represents masculine/solar energy (activating) while the left represents feminine/lunar energy (calming)
• Pranayama as the bridge between physical asana practice and meditation for the upper chakras
• Step-by-step guidance through a powerful meditation to connect with your higher self
• Creating energetic protection through visualization of white and gold light
• Opening a channel to receive divine guidance about your creative purpose
• The importance of surrender, trust, and receptivity when connecting to higher wisdom

Visit airsaboveyoga.com and follow @abovethegroundpodcast on social media for more practices and inspiration. Find all our episodes on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, iHeart Radio and anywhere you listen to podcasts.

For more Divas That Care Network Episodes visit www.divasthatcare.com

Speaker 1:

It's Divas that Care Radio Stories, strategies and ideas to inspire positive change. Welcome to Divas that Care, a network of women committed to making our world a better place for everyone. This is a global movement for women, by women engaged in a collaborative effort to create a better world for future generations. To find out more about the movement, visit DivasThatCarecom after the show. Right now, though, stay tuned for another jolt of inspiration.

Speaker 2:

Namaste and welcome to the Divas that Care Network. I am your host, gia Raquel Rose, owner of Heirs Above Yoga, and you are listening to Above the Ground podcast. If this is your first time, tuning in our network is going into its 15th year and listened to in over 30 countries. I would like to personally thank you for giving me the gift of your time, as it is always my honor to hold space with you, and today we are going to talk about a meditation and then I will lead you through a guided meditation on kind of again, I should stop saying favorites and playing favorites, because I say everything is my favorite. But we're working on our upper chakras this, this sequence, as I like to, kind of, tongue in cheek, steal that word from yoga but essentially working on the upper chakras, and we talked a little bit last episode about asana and different postures that can help to on the upper chakras. And we talked a little bit last episode about asana and different postures that can help to support the upper chakras Think third eye chakra and think crown chakra, located just above the crown of the head. And so meditation in and of itself is essentially kind of the best way to stimulate those upper chakras, especially your crown chakra. So when we talk about asana, a lot of people will get caught up in the you know physicality of the alignment between the posture and the chakra that it may help to support, benefit, balance, clear, etc. So, because we already discussed that to a certain extent, one thing that I don't talk about enough, that I truly do love and we'll probably start to bring more into our conversations, is pranayama, which is breath work in yoga. And when we're talking about specifically moving from the physical body and when I say physical body, we're talking about the torso and the legs and the arms right, like the things below the neck, where the bulk of the chakras are right we have our root, we have our sacral, we have our solar plexus, we have our heart, our throat, our third eye and our crown. So when we're discussing asana and how yoga can benefit each chakra or really the bulk of the meat and potatoes, if you will, of a yoga practice focuses on, maybe up towards the head and neck, but specifically more into the lower root, stabilizing chakras right your root chakra, your creativity seat, your sacral chakra, your power seat, your solar plexus and your heart, the bridge to the upper chakras.

Speaker 2:

When we start to talk about the upper chakras in the throat, they're a little more, I guess, literally or physically, however you want to phrase it condensed through from the throat to the crown of the head. So there's literal less space in theory between them than there are in the chakras in the body. So when we're talking about that and we think about asana or physical movement as a way to stimulate those chakras, we start to become slightly more limited in how to use the physical to support the. I'll call it metaphysical, although I don't love the connotations that go with that word, so we'll call it the less space that these quote unquote chakras will take up. While not necessarily true, we're talking about when we're looking at the chakra in relation to the size of the body or the placement of the chakra within the body. So when we talk about stimulating those upper chakras, meditation is a huge part of that. It's definitely a way to start incorporating those chakras into your practice. It's why we have, it's one of the reasons why we have Shavasana, it's one of the reasons why meditation and yoga are. You know, our limbs together go hand in hand. And breathwork is another great way to start supporting those upper chakras.

Speaker 2:

Now, breathwork in and of itself with regard to asana yoga is the two cannot be extricated from each other. Breathwork is a part of yoga, it is a part of the asana. So I kind of will chastise myself for not having spoken more thoroughly about it to date, and maybe I'll do it. Just a about breath work. Different forms are more suitable for different things, so I'm going to, because it's probably one of the most familiar breaths, I'm going to touch very briefly on ujjayi breath, and that is the ocean wave breath. That is a breath that you traditionally shouldn't say, traditionally I I have to stop myself that you typically will find yourself practicing in a vinyasa or a strengthening, a little more fast paced class. It is a, is a breath that fires the core, is a breath that fires the body and that creates balance, and I'm not going to go into how to practice it, because we'll save that for another episode. Because there is a breath that I want to go into before I start our guided meditation today and that is probably, if I had to pick a favorite and play favorites again, probably my favorite breath.

Speaker 2:

It's called Nadi Shodhanam and it is a balancing breath between the left and right hemispheres of the body. So, as I know I've mentioned in the past, if you're not familiar, essentially in yoga the theory is as follows that our body is divided into left and right hemispheres. There are nadis, that kind of balance and flow. This creates the kundalini energy. This creates the channel up the spine through the chakras, et cetera. It's very, very complicated when I tell you that I'm giving it like the broadest brush stroke, I'm almost ashamed to make it that base, but for our purposes today, essentially, the left side of the body is responsible for the feminine aspect. It's related to the moon, it's related to cooling, to calming, to subduing, while the right side of the body, the hemisphere of the body, is dedicated towards the masculine, the active. The sun is the planet, it is associated with and I shouldn't really say planet, but moon and sun right, solar and lunar. The sun is dedicated to the right side of the body and, like I said, that heating active side.

Speaker 2:

So when we're talking about pranayama, nadi shodhanam is one of its meanings, one of its practical uses is to balance the left and right hemispheres by controlling the breath intake through the nose and it's kind of a fun one. I find it very, very relaxing and with enough practice you can actually lose the hand itself, because your hand will play a part in this and simply begin to focused. With focus, I should say, have the breath pause in each nostril. And so I'll explain it Essentially, depending on how you would like to like. Let's say, for example, it's the, it's the three o'clock, slump right and you're in the middle of your afternoon and you are feeling a little bit downtrodden or tired or just trying to get through the end of your day. If that was the case, you're going to want to begin and end on the right side, and that's breathing in the breath through the right nostril and exhaling through the right nostril, because that right side again is going to stimulate that heat, that fire, that passion, that sun energy, that masculine active energy. Let's say other way around it's towards the end of the day and you practice your yoga at night and you're trying to calm down from a hectic day, start to relax, tap into your body just kind of chill. Then you're going to want to begin and end through the left and that will start to switch you over into that relaxed state of mind in theory, right Now I will say that I also there is a practical application for this for anyone with road rage, as you can practice this breath while you are driving.

Speaker 2:

I highly highly recommend sitting in traffic, being frustrated, any of those things. If you are alone or don't mind people looking at you, having your hand over your face and breathing in this very specific, targeted way, then I can say that starting and ending through the left side of the nose is a great way to kind of take a step back, take a deep breath and bring yourself out of that aggravated headspace. Essentially so, to give you exactly how to perform this and why I bring this up, is I like to think of breath work as similar to the heart chakra, a bridge between asana and again, I can't. It is all one Right, it is all part of the same thing. But when we start talking about the upper chakras and you know we're not really going to be able to put our head into a warrior to write that's kind of the concept that I'm coming from.

Speaker 2:

Breathwork is a way to stimulate, obviously, the throat chakra and in this case specifically, a little bit more targeted towards the third eye chakra, but ultimately leading to the crown as well and clearing and creating those channels so that the energy can flow freely. That's our goal in theory again. So, because of that, breathwork is a great way to consider. If you want to put a label on it, consider incorporating as asana for the upper chakras While it is not technically true and it is pranayama and it's all its own and it's a part of a yoga practice, a part of a yogic lifestyle philosophy. However, you want to again label it Pranayama in and outlines to go through the actual mind chakras, upper area and still keep that physical aspect to deepening your practice into a meditation.

Speaker 2:

So, coming from that point and coming from that place, you're going to incorporate your hand. Right or left doesn't necessarily matter If you want to take it one step further and you're going to try to, let's say, let's say I'm going to use my right hand because I want to have a little more energy from for the rest of my afternoon. So, in theory, you're going to take the ring finger and the thumb of whichever hand and again, I'm taking it a step further, you can use whichever hand you prefer, the left hand if you want to again stimulate the left side. We're going to go with the right hand for this one and you're going to take your index finger to the opposite nostril and your thumb to the same side. So thumb on the right nostril, ring finger on the left to middle finger and index finger over the middle of the nose, and then what you're going to do is take a nice deep breath.

Speaker 2:

And for those of you that are not watching this and are listening to this, I encourage you to go check out the YouTube channel and check it out. It's on Airs Above Yoga. So, beginning by blocking or closing off the left nostril, breathing in through the right, holding that breath, plugging the right nostril and breathing out through the right, holding that breath, Plugging the right nostril and breathing out through the left nostril. Repeating this, breathing in through the left nostril, plugging and breathing out through the right.

Speaker 3:

Again, inhale up through the right, close Exhale through the left, inhale through the right, close Exhale through the left Inhale through the left, close Exhale through the right and so on and so forth.

Speaker 2:

I'm already feeling better, already, feeling a little more in my body. Now, if, for some reason, you have any contraindication that are sinus related or, you know, breath work, if there's anything going on with you pulmonary system, obviously I will leave that to a medical professional. But this is a wonderful way to begin to deepen your breathing, have conscious, conscious choice and and focus over your breath and its ability to still your body, still your mind, reset your nervous system and practice a form of quote, unquote asana, which is truly pranayama, but we'll call it asana for the upper chakras, as it begins to stimulate the throat, the third eye, specifically for this, for this particular pranayama. Now, all of that being said, we are here to talk about meditation, and so when we talked about inversions on our last episode and we talked about stimulating those upper chakras, the point of that right is to create. It's to create something out in the world, to to kind of start to tune into what, what your, what your purpose is for yourself, on on this spinning ball of rock that we call a planet, and what you, um, not only what your passion is, because follow your bliss, follow your passion right but also like what is it? What is it that you are here to create, right, like if we are all beings just just moving, just moving through, like there's a reason. I believe there's a purpose, I believe there's a reason. So what, what's yours? And so this meditation, I hope, is going to give you maybe me also, you an insight into what your creation might be, what it is that you were here to, that you are here to not cultivate, because we kind of did that last time, but to actually bring into existence, from nothing into something, and I hope that this meditation can help anyone who listens to it tune in, quiet down and receive guidance from their higher self, divine source, whatever you call it, whatever you believe in I support you and you're right to believe in it and also allowing that channel to open up, through you to receive insight for your highest and best good. That's what we're here for Now.

Speaker 2:

Having said that, when I do these guided meditations, I also kind of put myself into a an open, receptive state and again, as a reiki master and practitioner, you know, it's something that I do quite frequently and I'm I'm practiced in that. So, if you're not, if this is not something that you do all the time. Please don't be frustrated if the first time you try it, you don't get some sort. You know, I'm not saying that you're going to follow this meditation and then be struck by lightning with this amazing billion dollar idea. No, this is. This is a stepping stone to get you there and I encourage you to listen to it as many different times as you like and I encourage you to try every meditation that I put out and I encourage you to try any form of meditation that calls and speaks to you, because we are all special snowflakes. We are all different to you because we are all special snowflakes. We are all different and we need to celebrate that and not quibble over it. So if this is not the right meditation for you, please, that's okay, that's fine, but I'm putting it out there into the universe, I'm creating it, it is my creation for you and it is ultimately a channel. I believe and you can roll with me on this or not, but I believe that what I am channeling through these guided meditations is coming from source divine above me. I am just the conduit, much like the Reiki energy that I pass through into my clients and and friends. So with that in mind, I'd like you to begin to set yourself up in whatever way is comfortable for you, and I will say cause I've mentioned this in one of my earlier episodes about Shavasana and the different ways to take it is maybe challenging for some people. I, for example, don't love, because of my neck injury, to stay prone.

Speaker 2:

We're talking about stimulating the third eye chakra. If you're comfortable and you want to try to meditate prone and I would say, you know, on your yoga mat, for example, and you know, palm stacked, forehead, resting, so that you can breathe, if you can breathe comfortably prone, or if you sleep prone and you want to have that connection between the third eye and the ground, I encourage you to potentially try this meditation in that position. Only if it's comfortable for you. Otherwise, again, you can set yourself up with your legs up the wall. You can set yourself up in a traditional meditative seat to align the chakras so that the crown chakra is at the top.

Speaker 2:

And when you're talking about your traditional meditation seat, if you have a meditation pillow, ideally your hips are just a little bit a smidgen. If you will elevated above your knees, it reduces the angle, makes it a little more comfortable. You're sitting forward on your sits bone so that as you lift up and back, your spine kind of balances naturally and removes that kind of discomfort of sitting too far back onto your sacrum area. But again and as always, comfort is the most important thing. Your level of comfort is going to be what allows you to deepen and tune in. So even if you're just laying flat I know that's not traditional, but I can't speak enough to the ability of quieting down being directly related to how comfortable your body is so it is not taking you out of that space of receptivity. So hopefully in all of my cues I have allowed you the time to set yourself up comfortably so that we can begin our guided meditation on what you are here to create.

Speaker 3:

And so, with that, either lowering your gaze or gently closing your eyes and beginning to draw your awareness into your body by connecting with your breath, allowing the breath to flow through all the points of contact between yourself and the ground beneath you, and truly begin to feel very, very heavy and weighted on the floor and yet, at the same time, completely weightless in the support that the earth provides as you continue to breathe, begin to relax every single muscle in your body fully and completely into that support. Know that in this space you are completely safe, completely protected, completely protected. And take a moment to set your intention to receive in this safe and sacred place and sacred place, whether you see through your mind's eye, whether you hear whispers from your higher self, whether you feel sensations in your body with a sense of knowingness, in whatever way you are most comfortable receiving. Set that intention now. Please show me my path. Allow me to my highest good and, with this seed of intention, begin to visualize a white light surrounding your entire body in whatever position you find most comfortable, and know that this light protects you and keeps you safe and also creates around you the space to receive. Allow this light to dissolve any and all blocks which might serve what you think but not what is true. Deeply breathe and trust this light to dissolve anything in your energetic field which might be in the way of receiving guidance for your highest and best good. Take a few breaths here. Begin to notice if you feel anything, if you see anything through the eye of your mind as this light begins to brighten in on and around you.

Speaker 3:

You Begin to breathe this light into your body, allow it to clear the channels, allow it to create the space, not only without, but to feel yourself soften Soften through your body, soften through your breath, soften through your mind. Release the feeling of have to, release the feeling of force and release the feeling of control. Soften into a space of surrender. Trust this light and begin to know with every fiber of your being how truly safe you are within yourself In this moment, in this sacred space, in this energetic protection light flooding around you. Begin to see, almost like a teardrop, how the light and the shape begins to reach upward. Allow this light to hold you at the bottom of this teardrop, but reach up so far above you to create a connection with your higher self, with the part of you that is also part of the divine and allow the very top of this teardrop to become golden in color. If you have softened into this place of surrender and if you know that you are completely safe, that you are completely safe, allow the golden top to gently roll open like a flower blossoming, and allow this opening to be your channel, protected by the gold ring to the divine.

Speaker 3:

Nothing but good, love, light, peace and the simplest of knowing may enter the sacred space you are now engaged in with your higher self. Begin to relax your breath once more and set your intention into this to receive your guidance for your purpose and why you are here and what it is that is yours to create for the highest and best good of all, and then simply breathe softly and receive Thank you. And when you have received your guidance, begin to visualize the gold at the top of your teardrop, begin to fold back up just like a flower as you gently seal your sacred space from this connection to your higher self, thanking the divine that lies within you for this communication that you have received. And then begin to watch the teardrop and the channel that it creates begin to lowering itself back into the shape of a perfect circle of light around you and allow the gold that formed the top of the teardrop to now gently encompass the entirety of this white light around you, protecting you fully and completely as you come away from this meditation. Space is around you and whenever you need to know you are protected, you can create it. You can protect yourself energetically and communicate with your higher and divine self anytime you feel. Taking a few moments to bask in this white light, sealed and protected in gold. Feel your truth, feel what it is like to trust in this guidance and to soften into this space, knowing that you are guided, protected and safe. Gently begin to deepen your breathing and set the intention now to ground your awareness back into your body and do so by beginning to make small and gentle movements, wiggling your toes, moving your hands and feet, beginning to feel solid and grounded within this energetic shield of protection, knowing that you now have the ability to safely connect with your own intuitive guidance from a place of love and passion and joy, more deep breath and gently beginning to open your eyes.

Speaker 3:

I hope that you have found this meditation not just useful for you but healing and if, for some reason, you find that you might need a little extra time in that receptive space. Feel free to pause the meditation until you receive your answer, your guidance, your truth, and I encourage you at that point to continue so that you properly ground yourself. As you come out of this meditation, I hope that you feel inspired. I hope that you feel protected enough to go out into the world with your creation and set it free, because it probably will benefit more people than you know. And I believe in you.

Speaker 3:

And I hope that this meditation helps you to also believe enough in you to create with wild abandon for the highest and best good for yourself, for the planet, for the people who live in on it, maybe even for the animals, but above all, for the harm of none and the highest and best good of all. With that, I want to tell each and every one of you how much I appreciate you for sharing your space with me and ask that you please feel free to share the same with your loved ones for more goodness. Follow me on all the socials at above the ground podcast and visit my website, airsaboveyogacom. As always, don't forget to check out my other episodes and all of my amazing sisters at divasthatcarecom. You can can find us on Spotify, odyssey, apple, amazon, iheart Radio or anywhere else that you feel guided. Again, my name is Gia Raquel Rose, owner of Heirs Above Yoga, and you are listening to Above the Ground Podcast, where every day is a good one.

Speaker 1:

Thanks for listening. This show was brought to you by Divas that Care. Connect with us on Facebook, on Instagram and, of course, on divasthatcarecom, where you can subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss a thing.