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The Five Gifts of the Spine
The Indispensable Role of the Spine in Human Conscious Development
Function—I’m Alive and All My Parts Work
The first indispensable role of the spine is in making sure that you are alive and that all systems in your body are functioning. It is about basic survival. We all know that spinal injuries are potentially lethal. That’s why we strap people to boards and immobilize them when we even suspect one. There is a vital flow of energy and information through the spine that keeps the body working properly.
This is a gift we often take for granted when everything is okay, but as soon as something goes wrong, life gets more difficult. We have trouble carrying out our daily activities, feeling comfortable or being well. We may not even understand or appreciate the spine’s role in our health if we instead focus on the symptoms and effects of the stress we are feeling.
Normally, all the biochemical reactions that keep our different systems working happen effortlessly. When cells die or get too old, they are replaced and if there is a high demand on us and we undergo some wear and tear, we heal. When all communications in the body are happening properly through the nervous system and the spine, no thought is necessary. So we can focus on more important things, like our lives.
Healing is something our bodies were designed to do. Our bio-energy, i.e. the energy which keeps us alive, normally flows through every cell of the body. When it does, all the biochemical reactions necessary for life occur naturally, efficiently and effectively. When the flow gets sluggish, we feel lethargic and when it speeds up, we feel energized. This is the reason why movement and exercise feels so good. Moving the body and the spine stimulates the flow of vital energy to all of our cells and tissues. That’s why yoga is so good for us. Improving the movement of the spine improves the function of the body.
When the body is not functioning at its optimum capability, for example if there is a problem in an organ or tissue, then somewhere there is a disruption of the natural flow of this bio-energy. Amazingly, the body is holographic, meaning every part of the body is represented in every smaller part of the body. Therefore, the whole body is represented in the spine as it is in the ear (auriculotherapy), the eye (iridology) and the foot (reflexology). Aside from housing the spinal cord and nerves that actually go to those tissues, the spine will also show a distortion equivalent to the energetic distortion of bio-energy in the tissues. That’s why people find their overall health improves as their spinal health increases.
Proper function is fundamentally a matter of making sure that we have enough energy to survive. When we are having a challenge with the function of our bodies, we need to be diligent in making sure that we will have the energy we need to stay alive. People challenged with function need to take on extra rituals and routines that others do not need to do just to be able to exist, or perhaps more accurately, to feel comfortable with how they exist. Oddly enough, focus on these routines can result in a level of mastery of managing our bio-energy. Athletes, workout fanatics and health food enthusiasts are usually those who are most challenged in the area of function. Don’t you always hear them complaining about how sluggish they feel when they don’t get all their workouts done? And heaven forbid they should eat something unhealthy! You’d think they ate poison! But they do end up with the energy they need and they become very skilled in varied ways of doing so.
The worst thing for your bio-energy and the function of your body is immobility. Muscles and organs deteriorate and the system becomes more prone to disease. If you want to improve the function of your body, you need to move. The spine is vital to movement and indispensable in maintaining the proper flow of life force. Making sure your spine moves properly will have a huge impact on the flow of your vital energy. Moving it a lot will energize your body. For most people, their concern is not about how to receive this gift, it is making sure they do not lose it.
One of the best ways to build self confidence is to have good posture. If you want some self esteem help, take a look at how you stand. Good postures are critical for projecting a confident image.
As a chiropractor, people feel compelled to tell me how bad their posture is. Or else they make a show of straightening up as soon as I mention what I do. It’s too late! I’ve already judged you by then!
Watch the video and observe the transformation in this poor bloke’s posture as he goes from “could I please crawl back under my rock” to getting a standing ovation. Check out how his facial expressions change and feel the shift in his presence as the confidence builds. Can you sense the shift in his energy as he reaches the crescendo of his performance?
The video will ask you to watch it on YouTube. Just click the “Watch on YouTube” link and it will open in another window.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__Gs02ZmUmE
I want to hear from you. Please leave your impressions below and watch your posture!
When it comes to consciousness awareness, people usually find the principles I speak about make sense and are applicable in their lives. In terms of working with their spines to release tension and improve posture, they can usually understand how it relieves physical pain and not much more. There is however a strong correlation between the posture and tension of people’s spines and their ability to enjoy emotional, mental and spiritual well-being, in addition to the physical benefits.
Simply put, as we develop increasingly complex properties within our spine and its behaviour (e.g. it’s flexibility, range of motion, alignment, sensitivity and functionality), we also experience a corresponding progression in our level of consciousness and awareness. This direct correlation between our spine and level of consciousness is something that Network Spinal Analysis (NSA) practitioners have known but have had difficulty communicating to the public.
Dr. Donald Epstein created “The Five Gifts of the Spine” as an attempt to clarify the relationship between the spine and levels of conscious awareness. While it is a very clever and complex model, it still does not make the relationship all that clear. I’ve listened to him speak about them live, on audio and on video. I’ve read about them. I even had a two hour movie night where over 20 practice members watched in awe as Dr. Epstein discussed the gifts, but people still don’t get why working on their backs changes their lives. In the hopes of showing you the gifts that truly do reside in your spine, I will attempt to explain the indispensable link between your spine and the level of consciousness you enjoy in your life.
According to Dr. Epstein, The Five Gifts of the Spine are:
The Five Gifts of the Spine-The Indispensable Role of the Spine in Human Conscious Development
The baby begins to express emotions at a basic level. She’s happy when she is fed or receives attention. She’s upset when she does not have what she needs or wants. The range of emotions grows and the way she moves to express these emotions develops in the spine. If the spine does not move through a full range, only the concept of the emotion will be known. The feeling will not be embodied.
As she grows, she gets introduced to her family’s and society’s culture. She learns that it is okay for little girls to feel some emotions but not others. She learns that there are things she can do and things she cannot. We can start to observe who she is by how she holds herself. Her posture and body language tell us all about the person she is becoming. Will her sense of self be flexible enough to adapt and grow with confidence and passion through her teen years into adulthood, or will some traumas get locked in and cause her psychological distress later in life? The flexibility of the spine correlates directly to this.
As this person continues through life and does all the things she is supposed to in order to be a good member of the culture, she may ask, “Is there more than this? Is this all I’m meant to be?” As she explores who she thought she was, she may see that if she takes on new behaviours, i.e. things that she would never have done previously, she will start to become someone new. She may even realize that she can be anyone or anything she wants. She only has to take action and develop the behaviours of the person she would like to be. For this evolution in awareness to occur, the spine must be totally free of the tension that locks us into our “this is all I am” mentality.
She may continue her exploration and find that there is no longer a need to focus on herself, rather, her life becomes more about service and contribution to others. She finds that she considers the impact of every thought, action and feeling she has on the whole world. She may feel her connection to everyone and everything at times. This level of consciousness requires a spine that is flexible enough to handle a high level of energy. It almost seems as though it is not solid.
This progression of gifts that people receive as they grow and evolve are not accessed by everyone. Sadly, some people only experience the first two, remaining focussed on and locked into a reactive response to their perception of the world. The spine, its flexibility and movement plays a critical role in how easily a person accesses the energy of each level of consciousness. It is also the vital link to the experience being embodied and lived rather than just thought about. This is the reason why creating flexibility and complex strategies in someone’s spine can have such a positive and profound impact on the life they live. How well are you receiving these gifts?
Do you have questions or comments? I’d love to hear them. Please comment below.
I love being grateful for the life I have. I thoroughly enjoy finding a purpose in my life and working towards it. I think this is a very important part of how to make your dreams come true but it’s not all about getting somewhere or making things happen. Life is about living and being in attitudes of gratitude for the possibilities that exist in each moment.
One way to savour the moment is in enjoying a cup of coffee. You can have herbal tea if you like, but I love coffee. I also love the fact that the video I am sharing compares life to a cup of coffee.
Be prepared to be moved. Watch it and please leave your comments. I would love to hear your take on it.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3NgzQ9Pcsg&feature=related
Working hard to create a beautiful cup to hold your life is rewarding. Just remember that you don’t need an elaborate cup to savour every delicious drop of life that’s in it!
People often call upon the power of subconscious mind to attract what they want into their lives. This is popularly referred to as the law of attraction and it is frequently associated with ways to create wealth. Greg Frost, author of the article that follows, relates the power of subconscious mind to health, well-being and how to create happiness.
In his article, he discusses many of the benefits of harnessing the power of subconscious mind like beating depression, healing from health issues and creating happier relationships. He compares the subconscious mind, which has no limits, to the conscious mind and its limitations imposed by our beliefs.
What I’d like to bring to your attention about the subconscious and about mind power is its ability to hide the things we do not want to face in life. Anything that we push to the back of our minds gets dumped into the subconscious. And do you know where the subconscious mind physically resides? It’s in the back of your body. Those thoughts are stored in your spine through tension and posture.
Do you know why the spine is the back of your mind? Because you can’t see it! It takes care of everything behind the scenes, whether it is helping you attract what you want or hiding the things you don’t want to deal with.
Have a look at Greg Frost’s article and leave me your comments. Also think about anytime you’ve had a twinge in your back or neck. Was there something in your life that you needed to address but were not willing to face?
By Greg Frost
The subconscious mind is very powerful. There are important mental and health issues that many people are not aware of. You can learn how to direct the power of your subconscious mind in ways that are beneficial to your life and to those that are around you.
The subconscious mind has no limitations. It believes what you present to it and acts upon it. The conscious mind acts upon what it believes in. If you present it with other thoughts that are opposed to its thought patterns it rejects and blocks them. This is due to the beliefs and thought patterns that have accumulated for many years. That is why it is easier to manipulate a child than an adult.
When you present the subconscious with new beliefs it believes them. It is limitless. You can achieve many things using the subconscious that are not possible with the conscious mind.
Many people have turned failure to success in their careers and in business using this powerful mind power. Whether it is getting that dream job, getting a promotion and pay raise or getting success in business ahead of competitors it has been done.
People have created joy, happiness and positive relationships while others have attracted love and friendship at home and in the workplace living fulfilled lives. Others have overcome stress, depression, anxiety, fear and phobias in their lives as well as procrastination and are able to act immediately and do their work in time.
One can live a life of abundance and prosperity by creating wealth and attracting riches. When you apply this mind power you gain more confidence and your efforts are directed towards achievement.
In health you can eliminate pain and achieve better health as well as attract mental health and harmony. This includes lowering high blood pressure and eliminating many other diseases including depression by focusing on the positives instead of the negatives and learning to stay positive by attracting positive thoughts and feelings in your life. You can develop a sense of self-worth, gain confidence and self esteem.
Attracting enthusiasm and excitement can be achieved easily.
You can learn to be positive and maintain positive thinking and attitudes in order to attract positive people in yourself as well as positive results in anything you want to achieve in life.
Creating the life you want using the subconscious mind is easy. Take for example losing weight. Many people who follow weight loss diet and exercise programs fail to lose weight in the long-run. They try to do so with their will power using the conscious mind and although they lose weight in the short-run they feel exhausted and frustrated. When they use the subliminal aids convincing the subconscious mind to eat healthy foods and exercise regularly willingly, as a result, they lose weight with little effort.
Mental and health well being means living a healthy life and enjoying your life to the fullest, working productively and efficiently, achieving your dreams and living a long healthy life.
Click Here to download your FREE “Secrets Of The Subconscious” package. It normally sells for $47 but for a limited time only, you can grab it for free. Unlock the full potential of your mind with this free package at http://www.mindsecretsexposed.com/freegifta.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Frost
Harnessing the power of subconscious mind is up to you. You really need to make the subconscious conscious. This means to bring awareness to the fact that it is working for you whether you pay attention to it or not. Are you are directing it to attract what you want, or through avoidance, are you asking it to hide what you don’t want.
The secret about how to create happiness is knowing what you want. When you focus on what you want, the power of subconscious mind works for you by attracting it into your life. When you focus on what you don’t want, your subconscious gives you more of what you don’t want.
I found an article written by this bloke in England named Paul Dalton. Yes we share the same name and write about how to be happier in life. I like to describe the recipe for how to create happiness in any situation. He talks about the fact that your happiness and well-being is something that is always with you but may sometimes be overshadowed by your stressful thought. I completely agree! Many people think, “I need a change in my life,” in order to be happy. They think, “How can I have more fun when everyone around me is such a downer?” While managing emotions and understanding feelings is part of it, the biggest thing is that no one else is responsible for your happiness.
When you cut out the middleman, and you learn how to get a positive attitude regardless of the external circumstances, you will never have a problem finding happiness.
“Happiness is a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which, if you sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” – Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1804-1864
A concept I often hear from people who are struggling to connect to a greater sense of happiness in their lives, is that they believe they would be much happier if it weren’t for the actions and attitudes of other people.
This covers a multitude of sins. For some it is the frustration of other people acting in unjust, uncaring, self-centred ways. For others, it is that their nearest and dearest are not understanding enough, or are thoughtless, or are disrespectful of options other than their own.
I hear comments like, “How am I supposed to be happy when they are being like that?” or “I try my best to be happy but they make me so mad.”
It is very intriguing; the amount of people who come to me asking for guidance on how they can get other people to change, so that they can be happy. That is not something I have ever been able to help with, nor will it ever be.
As a coach, I can only help the person I’m with. All I can do (and all that is ever required) is to reconnect each individual to their own wellbeing and to help them see that they are the cause of their own happiness, not other people or things.
If there is one principle that underpins just about every aspect of my work, it would be that everybody’s wellbeing is an innate part of their nature. There are no exceptions. Wellbeing is innate and it never leaves us, contrary to the notion that we can often feel like it does.
Whenever we think that our wellbeing has packed its bags and gone for a hike, the truth of the matter is that we are just masking it with our stressful thoughts.
We know that on a cloudy day the sun still exists, even if we can’t see it or feel its warmth. Our wellbeing works in the same way. The moment we drop our stressful thinking, it is like the clouds dissipate so that the warm light can radiate through once more.
We never have to work at re-creating the sun, because it never really goes anywhere.
But we’ve not been taught to think that way. We’ve learned that wellbeing is transactional.
We’ve had a life time of conditioning that has taught us that our emotional experiences are intrinsically linked to what goes on around us. And a big part of that has to do with other people; what they think, what they say and what they do.
If they behave in ways that are in conflict with how we think they should be behaving – or if they seem to be attacking us for not seeing things the same way they do – we suffer. We suffer because we’ve learned to believe that our happiness is dependent on agreement.
This has been going on for years. As children we quickly recognised that there were rules to follow, if we wanted to hold on to a sense of safety and belonging. When we did what we were told, all was well. And when we were naughty, or pushed the boundaries, we were punished and brought back into line.
The moment an infant start to become aware that he or she is sharing this world with other beings, they cannot help but assume their feelings are the result of what those other beings do. They are so dependent.
But prior to that awareness they are simply little bundles of pure wellbeing. As long as they are not hungry or uncomfortable they are at peace; completely in touch with their innate wellness.
Have you ever noticed how babies don’t need therapy?
This powerful, infantile idea that other people are the cause for our wellbeing is why so many of us spend our lives looking outside of ourselves in order to get it back.
This manifests itself in one of two ways. Either, we focus our efforts on trying to control and manipulate others into being the way we want them to be, or we are constantly trying to please them; going along with their desires at the expense of own. Whichever strategy we adopt, our intention is the same; to be reunited with our own wellbeing.
If wellbeing actually did work that way then this would all seem perfectly logical. I please you; you reward me with a good feeling. You please me; I return the favour.
But it doesn’t work like that.
The moment we get that our wellbeing is not, and never has been, anything other than an absence of our own stressful thinking, we are finally free to see our true nature. We are the cause of our own emotional experiences.
When we feel insecure, that is our insecure thinking at work. When we feel love, it is because of our loving thoughts. When you feel happy, sad, angry or joyful… that is an inside job.
When the mind is clear of all thought, the only thing you are left with is the peaceful innate wellbeing you were born with. It is like a quiet flute faintly playing against the din of a big brass band. To hear the flute, we don’t need it to play louder; we need the rest of the band to pipe down for a bit.
There is such a beautiful simplicity to it. It is so kind. You can be connected to your wellbeing and happiness whenever you want, and you don’t even have to do anything to get it; just be still and see that it is your thoughts that have been distracting you from the truth.
In fact, living with your stressful thoughts is like walking around with a close up magician all day long. Even though you know it is just a trick, you still keep getting caught out. You might think:
“Oh no, my partner’s not happy, I have to feel bad too!” and then it can dawn you, “Doh! Fell for it again. It is just my thoughts tricking me.”
And with the openness that follows, realise that you can be of greater service to them, and yourself, when you come from a space of peace, love and compassion, rather than stress and confusion.
HOMEWORK:
Spend some quality time with yourself, reflecting on the important relationships in your life. Notice where and when you have been making other people the custodian of your happiness.
Asking yourself these questions may help you get clear:
• Who have I needed to be happy in order for me to be happy?
• What have I been wanting other people to do in order for me to be happy?
• How have I wanted them to change?
• Who have I blamed for making me feel bad?
• Who have I been trying to please?
As you identify areas of your life where you have been making your happiness dependent on the actions and attitudes of others, notice how much effort that has required from you. What has that cost you in terms of energy and peace of mind?
Now, I’d like to invite you to relax to look inside.
Begin by acknowledging yourself for the positive intention you’ve had for attempting to connect to your wellbeing this way. Then, with a sense of peace and inner knowing, recognise that there is a part of you that has always been well, regardless of whatever has been going on in the outside.
Pay attention to where that wellness resides, and let it begin to spread throughout your whole body, as if you are smiling from the inside out. Stick with that authentic experience and really feel it.
Then, from this space, think about how you will reclaim responsibility for your own happiness in each of those areas you thought about. Imagine how wonderful your life could be when you cut out ‘the happiness middleman’ and decide to feel good on your own terms.
Take great care. Namaste.
Paul Dalton is a Personal Development Coach / Trainer with bags of experience in helping people change their lives for the better, combining skills from: hypnosis, neuro-linguistic programming, life coaching, leadership effectiveness, metaphysics, motivation techniques, and more.
Paul is also the proud creator of http://www.life-happens.co.uk – a Personal Development resource website for everyone interested in the fields of human potential, self-improvement and positive living.
Visit http://www.life-happens.co.uk today for:
* FREE “Deep Daily Relaxation” Hypnotherapy MP3 (22 mins)
* FREE Personal Development Podcast: Life Happens LIVE
* FREE “5 Steps to a More Fulfilling Life” E-Course
* FREE Articles and Daily Coaching Blog
* FREE Life Happens Café: Personal Development Forum
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Dalton
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6531735
Not to bad eh? I like how he included some homework too! Just remember that “inner child” who already knows how to be happier in life. Just put all the grown up stuff aside for a little while and let yourself be happy and playful.
Please leave your comments. I want to hear what you think!
Want to know how to get a positive attitude? Try the good ol’ death crawl! While part of me kind of wants to do this, I have to admit, I cringe just thinking of the experience this poor fellow must be going through. Aside from building a stronger core and arms, this guy is learning about how to build presence and managing emotions. Hopefully you have someone in your life who believes that you are way more than you think you are. Watch this video and leave me a comment about the meaning of motivation.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSM1mvMypWU
Are you up for it? If you’re wondering how to get a positive attitude or how to be happier in life, there is nothing like some grueling physical challenge that pushes you beyond all your limits. A coach yelling, “Don’t quit!” in your ear does not hurt either.
Some of us find a lot of reasons to be unhappy. Maybe we need to start finding another focus for our attention?
