Suggestions for a Healthy Body Consciousness
Topics:
“Suggestions for a Healthy Body Consciousness”
“Yoga Nidra Benefits”
“Young White Tea”
“Dry Skin Remedies”
“Creativity During Yoga”
Sunday, May 03, 2015 (Private/In Person)
Participants: Mary (Michael) and Axel (Ricarro)
[Beginning of session omitted]
AXEL: There’s something completely different that I wanted to talk about and need your opinion about, which is Yoga Nidra, which is a relaxation technique during which you lie down and calm your body part by part with your awareness. I enjoy this exercise very much and have been doing it for quite a while, at least once, most often twice per day for 10, 15, sometimes 20 minutes. It seems that this simple technique is very effective in deeply relaxing my body consciousness, and because partially it's also a meditation, I was wondering if this is one of the meditations that you refer to as having the potential of reducing the requirement for sleep, and just in general what your opinion is on how beneficial that is for me, whether I should perhaps adjust my practice or whatever.
ELIAS: I would express that it is excellent, and I would very much encourage and advocate this practice. It very much can aid in relation to being more centered.
What I would also express is that you can use that as a tool in being centered in relation to what you were expressing at the beginning of this conversation: when you feel impatient. Not necessarily in the moment that you are feeling impatient or restless or anxious, but in your practice of this method you can use it as a tool incorporating that intention of being centered and balanced, in which you are generating that communication to your body consciousness in the meditation, in the relaxation. And therefore it is not necessary for you to fix your attention on it; all that is necessary is to set that intention when you begin the practice.
That will carry into other time frameworks and remind you when you begin to become agitated or restless or impatient, your body consciousness will begin to alert you, in similar manner to an alarm, and notify you, in a manner of speaking, that you are becoming agitated, you are becoming impatient, [and] signal, “Relax.” It is, or can be to you, a stab at how adept the body consciousness can be in harmony with whatever you do and whatever direction you move in, and how much of an aid it can be by merely incorporating different intentions with it and therefore generating automatically an instruction.
AXEL: I love that.
ELIAS: And the body remembers and it will respond, even to the point of when you feel that agitation or restlessness that the body will generate the initial alert and then itself begin relaxing without you thinking about it.
AXEL: That's what yoga asanas are also about, right?
ELIAS: Yes. You are conditioning the body consciousness to remember and to implement those memories automatically without being prompted.
AXEL: Yes. Cool.
ELIAS: Excellent!
AXEL: Pretty good. (Both laugh) Okay, a fun question.
ELIAS: Very well.
AXEL: Can you think of any herbal substance that you would suggest to me?
ELIAS: For?
AXEL: Whatever is fun or interesting or beneficial or curious. (Laughs)
ELIAS: Or curious? (Chuckles) I would express that you are quite capable of discovering the curious. (Both laugh) And quite adept at that exploration and discovery. (Both laugh)
I would express, in relation to this practice that you are engaging with your meditation, it may be very satisfying and beneficial to incorporate a cup of white tea. Not packaged white tea, but young white tea – fresh.
AXEL: Loose?
ELIAS: Yes.
AXEL: Dried? Yeah.
ELIAS: Yes.
AXEL: Is that the way I can buy it from tea vendors?
ELIAS: Yes.
AXEL: Yes.
ELIAS: Yes. Actual young white tea.
AXEL: I don't know what young means in that context, though.
ELIAS: Individuals that harvest and process white tea, especially in your time framework now in which many ingestible substances are mass produced and packaged, in relation to white tea, it is not merely a matter of the flavor but the affectingness of white tea. If it is processed, mass produced, what generally occurs is that the tea is harvested and stored, and it may be stored for considerably long periods of time.
AXEL: How do I make the distinction?
ELIAS: Generally if you are purchasing loose tea, you can inquire of the vendor, or you can ask the date.
AXEL: Yeah. If you have a direct connection to the producer or to the wholesaler in the country where it’s grown.
ELIAS: Yes. And you can ask them as to the date of the packaging of that tea, and that it is most effective and fresh if it is packaged within not longer than a six-month period. Also, when you purchase the white tea, ask the vendor, “Is this young?”
AXEL: Oh. So they use this term.
ELIAS: They know.
AXEL: Okay. Good.
ELIAS: For in that, listen in how they respond.
AXEL: Oh, so I should ask the question in that simple manner?
ELIAS: It will be a game, but you will know, for if they express, “Oh yes, yes, yes, yeah!”, engage a different vendor. For if they are dismissive of you, then it is not necessarily young.
White tea is harvested in a very specific manner, at a specific growth of the plant, and the purpose of white tea, and the reason it is even named white tea, is that it is harvested at a point in which the plant is very young. In a manner of speaking, it is a virgin plant.
AXEL: So timing is important as well as [inaudible crosstalk].
ELIAS: It IS important. And in that, in mass production they may push that time and express that it is young and it is not. In this, it does generate a difference in the quality of that tea. This is the reason that this is the tea of the emperors, for pastly, emperors were the only individuals that –
AXEL: Could have [inaudible crosstalk] logistics.
ELIAS: Yes. Yes, precisely.
Now; if you engage that question with a vendor and they actually ARE selling you young white tea, they will be proud of that, and they will express it very differently. They will not be dismissive of you, for they will express pride in their connections with the growers and with the process, and they will appreciate the significance of that tea. And therefore, they will respond to you very differently and they will not be dismissive. You will know the difference.
AXEL: Yeah, yeah.
ELIAS: And in that, it can not only be a benefit, but it can be a fun game engaging the different vendors. (Laughs)
AXEL: What about food in general? It's something we've never discussed. Sometimes I live on cheese and I was thinking, what if I ask Elias what foods are beneficial to me and he says, “No cheese”? (Both laugh) I eat a pretty mixed diet, depends on the season but there is fruits, vegetables, a little meat, fish, lots of dairy products, bread – lots of bread – a little pasta, a little rice, other grains or… yeah. I drink a lot of water, a lot of coffee. Alcohol almost not anymore. I think that's about it; that's about my diet.
And one time, like a year ago, I started eating smaller portions, like every two hours. Sometimes I eat too much in the evening and also sweets in the evening. And I eat nuts, cashew cores and peanuts.
ELIAS: Excellent! What I would express to you is, do you notice any dysfunctions with your body consciousness or discomfort?
AXEL: Absolutely not.
ELIAS: (Quietly) Then I would express that is your answer. (Laughs) You are not incorporating excess weight, you are not experiencing a diminished capacity in energy, you are not experiencing discomfort with your body consciousness. In relation to the few items that you consume that may be in general somewhat questionable, it is not bothersome to you, therefore I would express that… The only aspect that I would suggest as a benefit, and as what you may term to be a long-term benefit, would be to perhaps incorporate slightly more protein. Not soy; not soy, but slightly more protein, perhaps –
AXEL: I think I have a lot of protein with all the cheese and some fish and meat mixed in sometimes, all the milk?
ELIAS: Yes but – dairy generates a different type of protein. It assimilates differently in your body consciousness.
AXEL: You talk about fish and meat.
ELIAS: Fish, meat. I would express that the nuts or the beans…
AXEL: Beans? Lentils?
ELIAS: Yes! That it is not always necessary in relation to YOUR particular body consciousness that it be meat or fish, but to increase that intake of protein slightly.
AXEL: Okay. Good.
ELIAS: Other than that, I would express that you are generating considerable health. You ARE paying attention to your body consciousness. You are listening.
AXEL: Oh – my scalp has been itching. In general, my skin. You know my skin has been vey irritable even since I was a baby. Is there anything to improve that condition?
ELIAS: First of all, the protein will aid. That will be helpful.
AXEL: Lately my scalp has been itching.
ELIAS: I would definitely express to add protein.
AXEL: I've been using more moringa and yarrow oil for my skin. That seems to have a positive effect. Would you agree?
ELIAS: Yes.
AXEL: Or is there something else that you would suggest I apply to my skin?
ELIAS: Not necessarily an application to the skin, although you can. I would express that aloe is excellent in relation to your body consciousness. Also, I would suggest that you incorporate one to two tablespoons of olive oil.
AXEL: Every day.
ELIAS: Yes.
AXEL: Which I do anyway, I guess, on pretty much most days. I think I do.
ELIAS: Be more aware of the measurement.
AXEL: So not more than that?
ELIAS: You can.
AXEL: I can.
ELIAS: Yes. But not less than that.
AXEL: Not less than that.
ELIAS: Yes.
AXEL: Okay.
ELIAS: Therefore be aware of the measurement of how much you are intaking.
AXEL: Two tablespoons is not too much.
ELIAS: No. But I would express that less than that would be affecting also. Increasing your protein will aid in that situation. You can incorporate aloe, and you can also increase vitamin E if you are so choosing. And you can incorporate that as a supplement if you choose, which will be equally as effective as engaging vitamin E in any ingestible form.
AXEL: All right. Good. Excellent. Glad to hear that!
ELIAS: And do you engage a practice occasionally or regularly of engaging either sea salt and rose or peppermint in bathing?
AXEL: In bathing? I don't really bathe in a bathtub.
ELIAS: It matters not. You can incorporate the shower. But when you –
AXEL: Once a week I put a little peppermint oil on my face, because you once recommended that to someone and I've just started doing it because it doesn't take me much to do it. I make my fingers wet, put a few drops of peppermint oil on it and rub it over my face. That's what I have been doing.
ELIAS: What I would express is you can either incorporate a dilution of peppermint oil when you shower and merely apply that in relation to your skin and rinse off; it is not necessary to incorporate it for any length of time. Or, you can use a combination of rose petal and sea salt and do the same. You can likely apply that to all of the areas of your skin and rinse it..
AXEL: How do I mix the rose petals and the sea salt? Do I make a tincture, or…?
ELIAS: You can either incorporate an already prepared oil from rose petal, or you can acquire rose petals yourself and combine them. You can either crush them with a mortar and pestle and combine them with the sea salt, or you can combine them with the sea salt without crushing them. I would suggest crushing them.
AXEL: And oil.
ELIAS: Not necessarily.
AXEL: But I don't see how I apply salt and petals to my skin. It will simply fall off.
ELIAS: Precisely.
AXEL: Ah!
ELIAS: Yes. It is not meant to stick to your skin. You place that in your hand, you apply to your skin and it will rinse off. It will fall off, and it is… You merely rub slightly and rinse off. It matters not that it falls off.
AXEL: And how often?
ELIAS: I would express once, twice per week.
AXEL: The peppermint oil or the rose petals and sea salt.
ELIAS: Or the rose petal and sea salt. Rose petal and sea salt is very stimulating of the skin and encourages your skin to produce oil.
AXEL: And I was doing well with stimulation as we discussed.
ELIAS: Precisely. And in that, oil is not required, for you are stimulating your skin to produce its own oil.
AXEL: Good. That sounds good. I can't wait to try that! (Both laugh)
So last but not least, any suggestions about my yoga practice?
ELIAS: In what capacity?
AXEL: Well I don't know. It's just because we have some time left. (Both laugh) And Elias, that was one of the best suggestions you've ever given me that was in the session five years ago where you suggested methods of using which I could release energy. I think I did all of them. (Elias chuckles) And the yoga has become such a passion. I'm forever grateful to you that you suggested that, and… It's just a fun question. It's not really a...
ELIAS: How creative are you being now?
AXEL: Creativity is not a main aspect of my yoga practice, because I seldom practice at home. I usually visit classes, so I follow the flow or try to make a combination between my flow and what is suggested by the instructor. I guess my direction is to be self-centered and to generate a positive body feeling, develop fitness because that helps with concentration once again.
ELIAS: Definitely.
I would offer the suggestion that occasionally, engage your imagination and creatively add one slight alteration to a movement. Change it in some slight manner in relation to your imagination and your body consciousness. And in that slight change – no important change – allow yourself to express that slight change in your class and continue to do it for a period of time, and in that, observe throughout that period of time which other individuals pick it up and begin doing it also without realizing what they are doing. (Both laugh)
AXEL: That is fun.
ELIAS: That allows you to incorporate and infuse some of your creativity in your yoga practice, which will also keep it fresh and exciting and add an element of interest in relation to how you influence other individuals merely through suggestion without words, by engaging one slight alteration of movement. Initially the individuals will likely not necessarily notice, but they will begin to notice quickly even if they are not aware of themselves noticing, and it will be perhaps fun to watch how quickly – or slowly – some individuals begin to mimic what you are doing. It also is an excellent exercise in observing how you influence.
AXEL: Mm-hm. I love that.
ELIAS: And giving you in a manner of speaking that feedback, for you are all always influencing but you do not necessarily see how you are doing it, and you do not necessarily see a result of what you are doing and what the influence is. This would be an excellent example of merely generating an action and observing how it influences other individuals, or notice how it may influence other individuals to generate their own variation without being aware of themselves doing it – for some individuals may use that suggestion as permission to also be creative.
AXEL: Yes! Very good.
ELIAS: (Chuckles) Excellent! That may be quite fun.
AXEL: Yeah. Very well!
ELIAS: Very well. I shall be anticipating our next meeting, and perhaps it shall be soon and we can discuss your further adventure (laughs) – in your new romantic direction. (Both laugh)
I express tremendous lovingness to you, my dear friend, as always. And in great friendship and appreciation, I anticipate our next meeting.
I express great encouragement to you, my friend, and well done.
AXEL: Thank you, Elias.
ELIAS: (Laughs) Au revoir.
AXEL: Au revoir.
(Elias departs after 32 minutes)
Copyright 2015 Mary Ennis, All Rights Reserved.