My Journey to Ease Day 172 – Hypnotizing Myself

If I was ever going to have a binge week this was it.  Website issues, an angry student, having to make a tough decision – it was a perfect storm of stress.  And yet I didn't binge.  Last Monday was the first in the series of Hypnosis for Weight Loss Support.  One of the suggestions was to look down to the right before eating and ask yourself if you are truly hungry.  If the answer is "no" you do something else instead of eating – deal with your emotions by napping, exercising, journaling or calling a friend.  This worked!  One time I actually got the answer, "No, you just have a lot of crap going on."  I kid you not.  As soon as I got this answer my hunger shifted and I was able to move on with my day.

When the answer is "Yes, you are hungry" you next look down to the left and ask, "What healthy food will keep me full and satisfied 30 minutes from now?"  Then you look up the left and envision the healthy food you will eat.  This worked too!  What did not appear confirmed what I already know – that breads and cereals don't stay with me long.  I need proteins and vegetables foremost.

When I shopped for groceries I did not consciously apply this technique, but I do think it influenced what I purchased.  Next time I will consciously apply it , and I am sure I will make even better decisions.  Hypnosis is such a powerful way to help the mind work for the highest good, the greatest ease.  What an honor to share it with others.  What a bonus that my work with others help me too,

My Journey to Ease Day 46

"There's Too Much Violins on TV" AKA Rosanna Rosanna Danna, Saturday Night Life – by Stacy Renz, OTR, ERYT500, PYT, CCHt

I love suspense and mystery – Law and Order is my favorite show of this type.  I think I like it so much because they do not typically show the violence.  The emphasis is on solving the mystery, obtaining justice, and making me ponder issues that are not black and white.  Today I made a decision to stop DVRing shows that emphasize violence.  The new show Chase is a case in point, as is Criminal Mind.    While watching Chase this morning I realized that the state of being it brought about was dark and heavy especially around my heart.  DIS-ease.  Who needs that?  I have so many good things happening in my life – and details that require not only my full attention but a light heart, a positive aura, and EASE. 

I also have been checking out the new show Mike and Molly, which is about two overweight people who begin dating after meeting at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting.  I have also decided to stop watching it as it depicts violence of a different sort.  The whole story line centers around fat jokes which I just cannot abide.  The energy it brings me is not laughter but sadness and a feeling that it is just plain WRONG.  To me it is merely emotional violence toward the actors playing the parts and people everywhere who struggle with holding onto too much weight.  ICK.

Thinnervention with Jackie Warner is a show I am continuing to watch with mindfulness and caution.  Just like with Biggest Loser Home Edition with Jillian or whatever it was called (which I could not stand even through one full episode) , I question taking obese people and putting them through extreme workouts – practically dragging them and whipping them through – to help them lose weight.  Sure it is dramatic for television but will it have lasting effects?  It feels violent and unrealistic to me, and unless the counseling sessions go much deeper than it shows on TV, the hidden beliefs and emotional reasons for eating do not seem to be adequately addressed.  In fact the counselor today actually said, "Forget about the emotional reasons or thoughts, just say no."  Has SHE ever struggled with her weight?  That just seems STUPID to me.  See I am getting very UNeasy just talking about it.  I will probably see this one through to determine if I am wrong about it, but I am registering as officially UNEASY about these tactics. 

My Journey to Ease Day 31

It is 9:21pm and I am just getting to this post!  It was hard to zip off a post about ease this morning because I was feeling so conflicted about binging on pizza and merlot yesterday.  It was the first such binge that I have engaged in since the beginning of my quest to lose 30 pounds back in February (a goal that I have met).  I was feeling frustrated and over-tired and needy and my needs were not getting met.  So I did everything I have taught myself NOT TO DO – eating out of frustration, anger, overwork, and self-consciousness.  Being thin again has garnered me attention from men that I was not receiving before.  While this can be flattering under the right circumstances, much of it has been in the course of my work.  This I find annoying and distracting.  And the man I really WANTED attention from (my husband) was caught up in work and sports this weekend.  I felt one big ARGH.  In a strange way this binge did bring me a sort of ease – but not one that I want to get used to.  So it was an uneasy ease. 

This morning when I attempted to write this post I feeling this conflict of uneasy ease and was hoping that today I would eat like a thin person again.  I did.  But I realize that I am still vulnerable to some of my old habits of eating for comfort so I feel like it is back to a one day at a time sort of diligence and consciousness about eating.  And that is OK.  Though I would prefer to be immune to these old habits, I choose to make peace with this fact of vulnerability and move on.  I will address these issues in my hypnosis session this Friday with Andrea and in my cranial sacral session with Rosie.  This brings me a slightly more easy ease.  And on that note, good night!

Sept 8 Gratitudes, Intentions, AfFORMations, & Awareness

Today I am grateful for Sally's yoga class last night, the fun group at the stress class, my new hypno client, that Rosie enjoyed her CST, a full day of work today, that I have been getting things done when I think of them instead of procrastinating, inquiries about the teacher training program, getting 3/4 of my todos completed, that we are nearly done with Frank's medication, money in the bank.

• I eat small amounts of healthy foods which keep my body and mind running well.
• I am efficient with my time without over-multitasking
• I prioritize the most important tasks to complete and the most important tasks to keep on my schedule
• I go to bed by 10:30 which gives me a great night of sleep
• My mind is crystal clear allowing me to make great decisions and stay on top of tasks.
• I take my days off to do things completely non-job related – this refreshes me and allows me greater and greater clarity.
• I have supportive friends in my life who energize me and refill my cup.
• I know how to access the most powerful and positive aspects of my mind.
• I use my skills in healing, business, and time-management to their fullest.
• I keep myself grounded through the spiritual and healing practices I know and love.
• I let go of perfectionism, which is impossible, especially during hectic times.
• I release my obsessive compulsive tendencies of getting people to follow up with me and simply let go.

• I feel healthier and more energetic.
• I eat more nutritiously.
• Because I can easily set healthy boundaries with men who give me inappropriate attention.
• Because I like it and want to be.
• It is so nice to know that everything in my closet fits me.
• It allows me the energy I need to move through the upcoming challenges.

Sept 7 Gratitudes, Intentions, AfFORMations, & Awareness

• I know how to prioritize the most important tasks, including self-care
• I do all I choose to do out of exuberance, passion, and inspiration (NEVER out of fear, guilt, or pure obligation)
• I get plenty of sleep
• Eating healthy and light keeps me feeling balanced physically and mentally
• My spiritual practices keep me rooted and grounded in the present,
• I keep my body strong, balanced, and flexible
• I balance time with friends with time by myself to refill my cup.
• I take care of the tasks that are least easy first , which is energizing.
• I let go of perfectionism and tasks that are least important
• I maintain complete control over how I spend my time and energy
• I am truly the captain of my ship and I steer it exactly where I want to go
• I handle everything that comes up in order of importance and impact and with confidence, clarity, and competence
• I make grounded clear decisions
• I refrain from impulsive decisions based on fear
• I know how to get clear and balanced when details begin to overwhelm me

Your Thoughts Have Power

Sent to me by Becky Hartman from a friend…

Achieving Life Balance Through the Mental Practice of Yoga

Most people probably think of physical postures when they hear the word "yoga."  The physical practice is important and is one avenue to freedom and unity between the physical body, the mind, the emotions, the breath, and the spirit.  I was a very physical kid and practiced yoga postures back then via my mom's Lillias yoga cards.  I returned to the practice in1999 to help balance out the physical and mental stresses of life as an occupational therapist in a hospital.  I found the practice so transforming that I went on to achieve my 1000-hour certification with Integrative Yoga Therapy (IYT) and eventually opened Living Room Yoga, a healing center offering yoga classes, yoga therapy, cranial sacral therapy, hypnosis, and yoga teacher training.

Out of my training with IYT, my rehabilitation background, and my desire to help people achieve balance on all levels of being, I developed a style of yoga therapy called Life Balance Yoga Therapy.  At the beginning of each Life Balance Yoga class, students are asked to observe sensations in the body, thoughts moving through the mind, any emotions present, how it is in the breath, and how connected to spirit they feel.  Then they are asked to inquire of the higher self what is most needed from the practice of yoga to enable them to return to peace, bliss, and ease.  In keeping with the teachings of Joseph LePage, founder of Integrative Yoga Therapy, the Life Balance Yoga teacher provides a class to give each student "a little of what they want and a little of what they need."  It is not uncommon for students to express gratitude that the class seemed to be geared especially for them.

What seems difficult for many yoga students is translating what they learn in class to a home practice.  They may not remember the postures or draw a mental blank when they try to practice them at home.  One way to immediately begin to incorporate yoga into your life is a daily practice of observation on all levels of being.  This can be as transforming as a physical practice, and it only takes about 10 minutes.  It  is basically the same practice we do in Life Balance Yoga at the beginning of each class.  Simply

1. Observe sensations in the body.
2. Notice the thoughts that are moving through the mind.
3. Become aware of any emotions present.
4. Notice how you are breathing (shallow, medium deep, hard to inhale?  hard to exhale?).
5. Notice how connected to spirit you feel.

In addition, I add the following to my daily practice:

1. List of gratitudes.
2. List of daily intentions.
3. List of affirmations (a form of self-hypnosis!).

Personally, I have been doing an email gratitude exchange with a friend since 2006, adding daily intentions, affirmations, and observations more recently.  These practices keep me from self-delusion and take away my need to hide through over-eating or over-workng.  Staying completely conscious and aware enables me to address issues while they are still small, allowing me to reside more often in the state of peace, ease, and bliss spoken of in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.  I believe in the power of these practices so much that I assign them as homework to my weight-loss clients.

I now invite you to begin these simple yet powerful practices as well.  Whether you record them in a journal, exchange them with a friend, exchange them with me at Stacy@livingroomyoga.biz, or post them on my Heal Yourself, Heal the World Blog, I am confident that you will find them to be a powerful, transforming influence in your life.

Daily Gratitudes

Begin Your Daily Mental Yoga Practice Today!

I have been practicing daily gratitudes, intentions and affirmations for several years now.  It has been such a powerful tool in my life that I have decided to offer a place your you to post yours too as you wish.  Because it is a part of the "homework" for my clients who are releasing extra weight I have added awareness categories as well..  Here are mine for today:

Aug 15

Awareness of body:  Right sided discomfort.  Feel dehydrated.

Emotions:  Hurt and anger about everyone but two people cancelling at the last minute on me (or not bothering to cancel at all).

Thoughts:  I can't believe the people that I changed the date and time for are the people who cancelled at the last mnute.  I am mad at myself for bending over backwards for people I thought cared about getting together as much as me but who obviously didn't.  I wish I didn't have these feelings.

Breath:  Deep

Spirit:  Hard to feel connected when I am feeling hurt and angry.

Gratitudes:

Today I am grateful for Lily, Jennifer, and Aaron who came out last night and for the fun time we had, for Justin who brought me a new drink gratis when I spilled mine, for a Sunday stretching out before me, for dancing.

 Intentions:

To hydrate myself well, to eat healthy and light, to read the paper, to putter around the house.

 Affirmations:

Everything that is happening is what should be happening.

These feelings will pass.

Aug 14

Aug 13

Awareness of body:  Tight calves, slightest discomfort in the right shoulderblade.

Thoughts:  So glad I slept so many hours.  So glad I seem to be getting emails.  I hope the emails that I didn't get yesterday were not crucial.  Man it's hot in here.

Emotions:  Calm.

Breath:  Deep

Spirit:  Connected

Gratitudes:

Today I am grateful for SLEEP, the new computer at work that is super fast, that I seem to be getting emails today, that it is FRIDAY, my message with Melinda later on today, that Greg didn't sort through the filing stuff last night so I do not have to feel obligated to work on it on my day off.

Intentions:

Today I intend to drop stuff off for charity, choose to do activities that refill my cup, enjoy my massage, eat foods that are good for me and contribute to a thin light body.

Affirmations:

Everything that is happpening is what should be happening.

It is safe for me to reside in peace, bliss and ease and allow life to flow as it will.

I am present to each and every moment of my life.

I enjoy life to the fullest

My metabolism and appetite support and strong, lean, healthy body.

Aug 12

Awareness of body:  Slight discomfort in right shoulderblade, right buttock.  Fatigue.

Thoughts:  I wonder why Lynda is not on the schedule.  Feeling tired.  Feel the need to disengage from work.  I resolve to relax tomorrow and disengage from work.

Emotions:  Calm.

Spirit:  Connected.

New Awareness:  My giving cup is getting low – time to refill my cup.

Gratitudes:

Today I am grateful for the new computer at work, finding a new computer guy we can count on, new clients and students.

Intentions:

Do the laundry, get groceries, prepare the digestion class, make T's disk, have the computer successfully installed with no glitches,figure out Lynda's appt.

Affirmations:

I listen to my inner voice and honor its wisdom.

I rest when I am tired.

I set and keep healthy boundaries with others.

I do good work and people are happy to pay for it.

I accept the endless flow of good coming to me.

Everything that is happening is what should be happening.

Aug 11

Awareness of body: The slightest discomfort down the right side.

Thoughts:  I look forward to seeing Melinda today.  I have got to get the house straightened before 11:00.  I wonder what the moon people are saying about the cosmos.  Lots of weird internet and other miscommunication going on.  Can't wait for girlz night this Saturday.  With all the weirdness going on in the cosmos I wonder if Henrick will have a tough timie setting up the computer tomorrow.

Emotions:  A tiny bit of melancholy.

Breath:  Deep.

Spirit:  Connected.

Gratitudes:

Today I am grateful for new students last night, the opportunity to "try out" to teach at St. Pete Times, feeling positive about the hypno session yesterday, Greg being so sweet and serving me dinner, Linda offering to send me cinnamon sugar in a bottle!

Intentions:

To straighten the house before 11am, be present and effective with M, R, and T, do my best work, enjoy the wind, eat light and healthy in support of a light healthy body, maintain optimism.

Affirmations:

Everything is going exactly as it should.

I embrace the good that flows to me with open arms and heart.

I channel the good that flows to me and through me to others.

The inspiration to write grows in me and a theme to write on each day in my blog comes to me easily.

Hypnosis, Yoga, and Weight Loss: My Story

We all know that in order to lose weight we must burn more than we take in.  But those of us who have either been heavy all our lives or who have gained and lost weight repeatedly throughout our lives know that other factors are at work that make this simple truth not so simple at all.  Due to the roles food plays in our lives – comforter, emotional fulfiller, an antedote to boredom, a chemical trance, a quasher of emotions - losing weight creates a cascade of internal events that spans our physical, emotional, intellectual, and energetic selves.  This cascade of events often results in our gaining back any weight lost as soon as we stop dieting – and sometimes gaining even more than we lost.  

I know what I am talking about.  I begain dieting in the 5th grade and have lost and gained up to 35 pounds many times in my life.  In 2006 I lost 35 pounds on the Weight Watchers program.  I can be quite focussed and disciplined when I put my mind to something so losing the weight was really not difficult.  I remember just wanting to get the weight off me as quickly as possible nd I excercised like crazy and decreased by calorie intake drastically to do it.  When I reached my goal I remember being scared to death of putting the weight back on.  Since I did nothing to change my relationship to food during that period of weight loss that is exactly what happened.  By February of 2010 I had gained almost 30 pounds back.

I had been contemplating taking weight off again for a few months- even putting it on the vision board that I developed for the Mapping Out the Next Phase of My Life Class that I presented in August of 2009.  However, the stress associated with the recession of 2009 kept me from feeling able to move forward with my goal.  Yes, I definitely used food to cope with stress, worry and unhappiness and I was unwilling to give up my drug during this scary time of financial uncertaintly.  What I did do in early 2009 was obtain my certification in hypnotherapy.  Little did I know how key that decision would be in my own weight loss journey.

I began conducting weight loss hypnosis for clients both in groups and individually as my contemplation regarding my own weight loss continued.  My contemplation included gathering information on what foods help with stabilizing blood sugar and what kind of time would be required for me to fully commit myself to "the project."  I determined that I was unwilling to do the tedious recordkeeping required by the Weightwatchers program and did not have the extra time or energy required to add in hours and hours of exercise on top of the yoga classes I was already teaching.  I engaged in online research on how many calories I would need to take in to lose weight at my current level of exercise and determined it was around 1200 calories.  I also looked into meal replacement plans to help with the time management aspects of dieting.  I continued to be unready to actually undertake my own weight loss until all the sudden I just was.  I sincerely believe that all the hypnosis sessions I did for others was all the while causing shifts in me that brought me to the point of being ready to begin.  Armed with the information I had gathered over the previous three months, I simply began.

For the first time doing what needed to be done to lose weight has felt easy.  I am not hungry.  I am satisfied with small portions.  No matter what is going on, who I am with, or how I am feeling, I am content with sticking to my eating plan.  Furthermore, I am able to clearly see in the moment those times that I would normally binge myself into a food trance and simply choose another way to cope.  I believe all these factors are directly related to hypnosis as these are common suggestions I make in hypnosis sessions.  Even when two weeks go by and I do not lose weight I feel ok about it because  I am not rushing to the end of the diet.  I am practicing a relationship to food that I fully intend to maintain for the rest of my life.  I eat to live.  And I know the extra weight will come off.  How could it not?

I give so much credit to self-hypnosis for the ease in which I have been able to release the extra weight.  However, I know that other practices have greatly contributed as well.  Integrating the philosophy and pracitice of yoga over the past 10 years has led to waves of internal shifts that have helped me overcome periods of great anxiety and depression.  A daily gratitude, intention, and affirmation practice (which is essentially self-hypnosis) has been transformative as well.  So far I have released 22 pounds.  I am confident the practices of hypnosis and yoga will enable the rest to be released in good time so that I may enjoy looking, feeling, and being my best self for the rest of my life.

Out of my experiences I am developing a program that I believe will help others permanently release their excess weight.  This program is geared toward changing clients' relationship to food and to themselves utilizing the tools of yoga, yoga lifestyle coaching, and hypnosis.  Click here to read more about the Change Your Mind, Change Your Weight Program. 

Deep Hunger

The last couple of days I seem to be filled with a deep unsatiable hunger.  My in-laws just left after a 12-day visit.  They come every year.  Every year that they come my husband transforms into someone else.  The someone else does not seem to like me very much.  He comes to me at least once a visit accusing me of talking down to him and tells me that I have said something offensive to his parents.  Every year I walk on egg shells hiding my true self as  I stuff down my feelings and my words with sugary treats eaten alone in hiding.  This year I vowed ENOUGH.  I would not hide.  I would not be silent.  I would not stuff my feelings and words down with food.  Sure enough after only two days it began.  My husband once again accused me of talking down to him  He attempted to monitor my conversation with his parents.  This time I was sure that truly the issue was not with me.  I became so furious that the tears flowed uncontrollably.  His mother walked in on the tears.  My husband attempted to cover up the cover up by telling her I wasn't feeling well.  I stopped him and said, "No.  I am going to tell her the truth."  And I did.  To this she responded, "You have never offended us and I have never heard you talk down to anyone."  A huge weight lifted off my shoulders.  My husband walked out of the room and hasn't spoken about it since.  Even though the remainder of the visit I felt distance between us, I was no longer uncomfortable with his parents.  Now I am wondering why I am experiencing this unsatiable hunger.  Is it because I sense it will take a little while before my husband and I feel close again?  Is it because the door of communication seems shut?  Is it the lack of closure?  I am not sure of the answer but I want to refocus my efforts in releasing these last 13 pounds.   

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