Read Do It Gorgeously: How to Make Less Toxic, Less Expensive, and More Beautiful Products Online
Authors: Sophie Uliano
Do It Gorgeously: How to Make Less Toxic, Less Expensive, and More Beautiful Products (61 page)
I think this is best illustrated by the ancient art of acupuncture, which is now recognized even by insurance companies as an effective tool in healing all kinds of ailments. Acupuncture operates on the premise that this energy courses through invisible networks or channels called meridians. The meridians are like rivers that can get dammed up, so the acupuncturist will insert a needle to unblock these obstructions. Many other therapies, including yoga, chakra balancing, meditation, reflexology, and acupressure, also work toward the common goal of helping the body achieve perfect balance by removing obstacles to the energy or life force running freely through your physical and spiritual body.
I have had the fortune over the years to practice many of these therapies and
to see some work and some not. I have found that the most valuable of all DIY therapies is simple meditation.
MEDITATION CUSHION
This is easy enough for a total beginner to make.
YOU WILL NEED
1 old XL fleece pullover
*- Large bag of filling (ideally kapok, but if you can’t find it, you can use Poly-fil filler)
HOW TO
1.
Turn the fleece inside out and mark a large circle, 16 inches in diameter, with a marker. Cut it out.
2.
Pin the edges of the circle, right sides together, and sew a seam 1 inch from the edge of the circle, leaving a 5-inch gap for adding the filling.
3.
Turn right side out and stuff in as much filling as you can. It needs to be as thick and firm as possible.
4.
To close the gap, turn the raw edges under ¼ inch and, pinching the seams together, hand sew the edges together (you may want to go back and forth a couple of times to ensure it won’t come apart!).
MEDITATION
I suggest that you carve out just 5 minutes a day to start with. Anyone can manage 5 minutes, and these 5 minutes might completely change your day.
It’s up to you whether or not to use a timer. If you already meditate and know you can sit for more than 15 minutes, you may want to set an egg timer for a
certain period of time. I try for 20 minutes. If you’re a beginner, I would advise against using a timer, as you don’t want to get shocked by the sound after only a few minutes of quieting down.
- Make sure that you will be undisturbed. Turn off your computer and phone and tell your partner, kids, and pets that you are not to be disturbed. (Strangely enough, my dog doesn’t really understand, but you’ll find that pets love the meditation vibe and will likely lie lovingly at your feet.)
- You need to get really comfy. The best position to meditate in is seated cross-legged on a firm cushion that’s at least 6 to 8 inches high (when you are sitting on it). Sitting in this position encourages your spine to be erect and your head to sit where it’s supposed to on your shoulders. Ideally, you should make a meditation cushion. If sitting cross-legged is out of the question, sit comfortably in a chair with your feet firmly planted on the ground and your back erect.
- Close your eyes and relax your shoulders away from your ears. Draw the crown of your head up toward the ceiling and soften all your facial muscles.
- Begin to deepen and lengthen each inhale and each exhale by breathing in for 5 slow beats and breathing out for 5 slow beats.
- Each time your mind wanders, bring it back to focus on your breath.
- You’ll begin to notice a pause of a beat between each inhale and exhale. See if you can allow your mind/thoughts to become absolutely still in this beat.
- If you haven’t used a timer, you may just know when you’re done. Open your eyes gently and take a few normal breaths before getting up.
MEDITATION BLANKET
During the cooler months, it’s blissful to wrap yourself in a meditation blanket. When you meditate, your body temperature will drop, so you need to prepare. A blanket makes you feel very safe and cozy. A beloved friend of mine, Barbara, made one for me out of every imaginable shade of purple and blue. When I pulled it out of the bag, I burst into tears, as it was so gorgeous. Barbara is a passionate knitter, so she had a lot of leftover yarn to weave into her masterpiece.
Even if you are a complete beginner at knitting, you can make this easily—actually, it’s a perfect beginner’s project. Simply gather a bunch of yarn; different colors will look great. A chunky wool or cotton yarn will work best for this blanket. Ask anyone you know if they have any leftover yarn, or go looking in crafts stores or online. I always buy organic yarn. It’s so worth the extra expense.
1.
Use a 4.5 circular needle and cast on 150 stitches.
2.
Simply knit each row (garter stitch) until your blanket measures 3½ feet.
3.
Cast off.
CHAKRA BALANCING MEDITATION
I know that for many of you, the very notion of “chakra” anything conjures up images of weird crystal-swinging, long-ponytail-wearing men in Velcro-closed sandals. However, understanding the basics of how the chakra system works is worth a little investigation. As in acupuncture, the chakras are simply centers of energy. When they’re out of balance, they mess up the free and even flow of energy throughout your body. The word “chakra” means “wheel” and when in balance, they are thought to rotate in a clockwise direction.
As a beginner, all you need to understand is where your chakras are located, what each one facilitates, and how to restore their natural balance. Each chakra has a color, which makes them really easy to visualize. There are seven chakras; they start at the base of the spine with the root chakra.
- First chakra: The root chakra is stimulated by the color red and rotates at the slowest speed of all the chakras. It’s located at the base of your spine and is concerned with survival and safety. When out of balance, you may feel fearful, anxious, and insecure.
- Second chakra: The sacral chakra is stimulated by the color orange and is located 2 inches below your navel. It’s concerned with sexuality, creativity, intuition, and self-worth. When out of balance, you may feel emotionally blocked and explosive, and lack energy.
- Third chakra: The solar plexus chakra is stimulated by the color yellow and is located 2 inches below your breastbone. It is concerned with personal power, ego, passion, anger, and strength. When out of balance, you may lack confidence and feel depressed.
- Fourth chakra: The heart chakra is stimulated by the color green and is located behind the breastbone, in front of your spine and between your shoulder blades. It is concerned with love, compassion, and spirituality. When out of balance, you may feel self-pity, paranoia, and insecurity, and you may be afraid to let go.
- Fifth chakra: The throat chakra is stimulated by the color blue and is located at the V of your collarbone. It is concerned with communication, sound, and creativity. When out of balance, you may feel shut down, quiet, and unable to express yourself.
- Sixth chakra: The third eye, or brow, chakra is stimulated by the color indigo. It is located in the center of your forehead, above your eyes. It is concerned with higher intuition. When it’s out of balance, you may lack assertiveness and be afraid of success.
- Seventh chakra: The crown chakra is stimulated by the color violet and is located just behind the top of your skull. It concerns itself with the inward flow of wisdom. When out of balance, you may feel frustrated and joyless.
Here is a simple meditation to heal all the chakras.
- Imagine you are looking down through your body from above and there is a pole running through all of your chakras, head to toe. You want to visualize the chakras whirring
clockwise
around this pole. - Start with your root chakra and visualize it as a bright red ball spinning clockwise. Visualize inhaling and exhaling the color red for 2 minutes.
- Move your way up through the chakras, visualizing them as the appropriate stimulating color ball. Continue to breathe in and out the corresponding color.
- Finally, visualize a white light flowing down from above, through your crown chakra, and down through the other chakras as they spin in their vibrant colors, down into the earth. Visualize your entire body as a white, glowing being.
- Take a few normal breaths and open your eyes.
MASSAGE
Who doesn’t
love
a massage? It may be easier to perform a massage on your partner than you think. You just need to learn a few basics.
Good massage is all about the techniques you use. Here are some really effective ones that will make your partner very happy. The following chart shows the pressure points that you can focus on. Placing one thumb on top of the other and massaging in small circular motions is extremely therapeutic in dealing with areas that may be in need of a little healing.
- 1. Effleurage (smooth, rhythmic stroking): Place a little oil in the palm of one hand and rub your hands together to warm the oil. Use the whole surface of both hands. Place them over the low back and stroke firmly up to the neck, then circle around back to the lower back. You can repeat this for a good 5 minutes.
