JoyFull Living by Louise Lavergne

If you hold a pencil in your hand for a few minutes, it will not have much of an impact on your arm. If you hold it for hours… your hand, your wrist and your shoulder start to hurt and over time this little pencil feels like heavy concrete and can cause your body severe pain and injury. There is one simple solution to ease or prevent the injury: Put it down! It’s the same when you hold your negative thoughts and worries about life’s problems in your mind for a prolonged period of time. It can cause serious mental and physical health problems. The same solution for preventing the ill-effects applies: Put them down.  Do something you enjoy: walk, run, dance –go to a JoyFull yoga class etc…. When things get tough and busy, the first thing we most often neglect is our physical and mental health. I hear people say they can’t afford the time, but with one class and/or taking a few minutes each day to focus on positive thoughts and gratitude, you can diffuse the ill-effects of stress and prevent serious illness.

As the title of Peter McWilliams’ book states: “You Can’t Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought.” The mind is like a magnifying glass; what we focus on, we multiply.  Émile Coué (1857 – 1926) was a pharmacist and psychologist in Nancy, France who had great success utilizing the power of positive thought. He referred to it as “The Law of Concentrated Attention.” He states that whenever attention is concentrated on an idea over and over again, it spontaneously tends to realize itself. If you are constantly mulling over the negative stuff, you keep creating more of the same.  Coué introduced the practice of “Autosuggestion.” He said that it was an instrument that we all possess at birth that has “a marvelous and incalculable power…” In times of stress and worry or depression, how do we turn to a more positive way of thinking? Being positive is a daily practice that can start the minute we wake up. Cultivating a positive attitude does not imply lying about the reality of the situation but rather putting it aside for periods of time to focus on more positive thoughts that make us feel good.  I have been sharing one of  Coué’s  most popular mantra-like phrases that has had great success for many people: “Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better” (French: Tous les jours à tous points de vue je vais de mieux en mieux).Bringing this phrase into a daily practice of deep breathing and exercise is a very powerful way to infuse the body with positive energy.

Mudra for positive energy

Here is a yoga meditation that has been known to be an antidote to negative thoughts and depression. It builds a new biochemical system and helps to allay fears and worries as well as give those who practice it regularly the capacity and strength to navigate through stressful and turbulent times.  It establishes a direct relationship with the body’s natural life force to stay strong in mind, body and spirit. Sit in a chair or on a cushion with a straight spine,

  • Extend the arms straight out in front of you, parallel to the ground.
  • Close the right hand in a fist, wrapping fingers of the left hand around it, bases of your palms are touching, keep thumbs together and pulled up straight.
  • Eyes are focused on the thumbs.
  • Inhale for 5 seconds, and, without holding the breath in, exhale for 5 seconds,
  • Then hold the breath out for as long as you can- Repeat mentally “Every day, in every way, I am better and better” 1 to 3 times or more (about 10-15 seconds or longer). Progress slowly; you can work slowly up to holding the breath out for 1 minute).
  • To end, take a simple deep breath – hold it- then exhale and take time for gratitude.

Remember to take time to breathe- and smile.

© Louise Lavergne 2001-2012 Louise is an international inspirational speaker, author, creator of JoyFull Yoga and JoyFull living coaching. She owns JoyFull Yoga LLC in Jacksonville where she offers private sessions and group classes.  For more information on classes in Jacksonville visit www.joyfull-yoga.com; (541)899-0707  For more JoyFull Living tips, on-line classes and information about Louise visit www.louiselavergne.com