If you’re looking for a book to assist you as you navigate the ups and downs in life while you peel away the layers of worldly expectations, this read may be for you.
Have you ever wondered about your life’s dreams and what happened to them? Have you ever had dreams for your life? This book is a wake-up call. A reminder that it is never too late to fulfill that desire burning deep down inside of you. The piece of your soul that is ready to shine and light up your life! Inside the pages of Living, Loving, & Unlearning, I’ve created an easy to follow guideline for you to do just that. As you discover the purity of your own soul, and purpose of your existence here on earth, you will begin to feel the freedom to live your life, your journey, and your truth.
To listen to my talk at Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA, please click here. This will give you an inside look into Living, Loving, & Unlearning, how it came about, and how it may help you in your own healing. As an added treat, my brother, Norm Weintraub, also performs a very special song about our Dad and his impact on our lives.
To order your copy of Living, Loving, & Unlearning, please go to my website at cynthiabrennen.com.
I forgot. I forgot balance is the key to everything. So when I injured my knee, it not only woke up the interconnected muscles and vessels within my body, it woke up my mind. I had already been nursing an achilles tendon injury when I received this second wake-up call, so it became very clear that something needed to change in order for me to unclog my pathway to health.
I love my walks. Experiencing nature with the sun warming my shoulders brings joy to my soul. The only problem is it became too routine. Too much of anything can tip the balance bar and throw you into the abyss if you’re not careful. I forgot to mix up my exercise and stretch other parts of my body, and stretching was exactly what I was missing. Remember the day when you could stretch for two minutes before a run? Now, learning the hard way, I’ve discovered I need to stretch 20 minutes before a walk! My new routine consists of some yoga poses, breathwork, stretching, and fascia rolling. Yep, good old fascia rolling. I remember my chiropractor suggesting this years ago. I felt uncoordinated trying to roll on this hard tube, not to mention it hurt, so I gave up. Not a good decision. If I had kept it up, along with stretching, I may not be in the position I am now. I’ve also discovered a wonderful hand held fascia roller that gets into the tight spots a floor roller cannot. The combination works wonders.
By definition, fascia is a thin casing of connective tissue that surrounds and holds every organ, blood vessel, bone, nerve fiber, and muscle in place. The tissue does more than provide internal structure; fascia has nerves that make it almost as sensitive as skin. When we have stuck energy in our body, it can’t help but clog that connective tissue, creating pain in the body.
Many of you reading this may be experiencing, or have experienced, similar injuries or ailments. You understand the patience that is required to heal. When I had my frozen shoulder 10 years ago I embarked on a similar journey. It’s so important that we listen to our bodies. Our minds may try to trick us and tell us to ignore the pain and move on, but wisdom tells us otherwise. It’s not easy for me to take days off from walking but I’m learning to accept that my yoga/stretching routine may be all that my body requires that day. When I listen, my pains respond with relief.
In doing my own research on fascia I’ve learned a few things that have helped me release the sticky stuckness. I talked about this in my last post, Back in the Saddle!, addressing the emotional side of feeling stuck. When we store stress and unresolved emotions how can it not stick to your bones? In my case, literally. It’s when we make the decision to really do something about it that release is possible. Here are some wonderful fascia busting tips that can bring fluidity back into your body, mind, and soul:
*Stretch at least 10 minutes a day.
*Add collagen to your drinks/smoothies.
*Hydrate with water. Recommended amount is half your body weight in ounces.
*Practice a relaxing yoga such as Yin Yoga.
*Meditate and practice breathwork 5-20 minutes daily. Diaphragmatic breathing (breathing from deep down in your belly rather than your chest) is optimal.
*Roll out your tight spots with a fascia roller.
*Mix cardio into your exercise. Swimming and biking have been great for me! Less jarring on the tendons.
*Take saunas. Especially after a workout.
*Practice Block Therapy. A wonderful new practice in breaking up the fascia.
*Get a nice deep tissue massage (if deep tissue is too painful for you, ask for lighter pressure) and drink lots of water afterward. I had an amazing one recently and felt so much better.
*See an acupuncturist. This has really helped me with healing and with sleep. I also get a shot of B12 on my visits.
*Work with your chiropractor/physical therapist on proper form for stretches.
*Be true to yourself. Express your thoughts and feelings. Honor YOU.
With all this very valuable information being noted, I will never give up my nature walks. I only need to remember to keep them in perspective. Reminding myself it’s the joy of the walk in moderation, along with other forms of exercise. If I walk a mindful mile feeling at one with nature it is far more beneficial than racing through five miles. After all, what value has life if it isn’t enjoyed?
Click here for some valuable information on diaphragmatic breathing and block therapy.
A special thank you to my friend and energy healer, Marci Lubore, who kindly directed me toward this wonderful fascia roller and block therapy. She works wonders through many healing modalities including essential oil blends and energy work. For more information and scheduling, she can be reached at Healing Touch Energy Therapy at marci.lubore@gmail.com.
It’s amazing how fast six years flies. But then again, it feels like an eternity. So much has happened in those gut-wrenching joyful years that I completely forgot to write. I recently wrote Sacred Selfpartly to see if I would have the strength to push the publish button. Writer’s block? More like one big life block. I went through a divorce, moved from New York to Florida, closed up my practice and started over again; and then the whirlwind of March of 2020 began. That sent us all into a tailspin of sorts, but who knew it would manifest so many happenings in the way that it did. Almost like a tornado that spins out of control, and then when everything and everyone drops, the wreckage is so overwhelming you don’t know where to begin. Instead of waiting, I’m choosing to put my foot in the stirrup and begin again.
Interestingly, I’ve been preparing to write for the past few months. I even created a beautiful writing room decorated in pinks and greens surrounded by photos of all that I love. The room is certainly delicious eye candy but I couldn’t bring myself to sit in my lovely green velvet chair and peck the keys. My recently injured knee was even screaming at me to explore what the heck was holding me back, literally feeling stuck in the bowels of cement. A piece of this exploration led me to an amazing Shaman who so clearly directed me toward the center of my healing. The first words I spoke to him when I walked into his space filled with serenity and breathing crystals were, “I’m feeling stuck.” He looked at me and said, “You need to be writing.” Those five words shook me to the core. My soul screaming, “Finally, now listen!” More healing evolved in that session as I laid down on the warm amethyst crystal mat, my legs literally vibrating as we moved into sound healing ringing with tuning forks. With every deep breath, angels began surrounding me, especially Archangel Raphael who is the healer of spiritual and physical ailments. We then delved into a few of my past lives which opened me up to more healing, bringing me full circle to challenges and joys in this life. I left the session with a new perspective and understanding of my sticky stuckness.
There are times in life when we get thrown. As someone who rode horses in my younger years, I couldn’t have imagined how the phrase, “when you fall off that horse, you get back on”, would play out in my life. At 12 years old I took that very poignant phrase quite literally. Every time I fell off I did get back on that horse, fearing I may never get back on again. My memory brings me back to a time when I was jumping through a series of hurdles and my sweet horse, Early Aurora, tripped and threw me through the air, landing with a loud thud. It knocked the wind out of me, which was very scary. If you’ve ever had this happen to you, you know what I mean, you think you’ll never breathe again! Thankfully, I was at a horse show so they were prepared for these kinds of accidents. I remember hearing the whirring siren of the ambulance coming closer and I began thinking, “No, no, no, breathe and get back on!” My fear of giving up was greater than living in fear. What is life, after all, if we live it feeling fearful. Aren’t we here to experience it all, every risk, bump, and bruise? That’s what I was thinking as I lay on the ground. I caught my breath and stood up just as the ambulance reached me. My expression determined, I walked over to Aurora (who was patiently waiting for me), put my foot in the stirrup and got right back on. She was always my fellow warrior so it wasn’t surprising that with renewed resolve, we held our heads high, looked at the jumps once again with our focus clearer this time, flew through them and thrived!
And so it goes, we move forward in this world with the intention to thrive. We all have the ability, the only requirement is to live in faith and trust, knowing that first step builds the monument to your dreams. Every dreamer deserves that castle in the sky, and it is with love of ourselves and others, that that Light in the sky becomes a reality. What is your purpose here on earth? Take that first step; put your foot in the stirrup, focus, gather your strength, and jump! Your Spirit will thank you.
Aurora and I thriving at the Philadelphia Spectrum, circa 1973
*If you’re looking for an amazing heart opening, shamanic experience, click here to schedule a session with Don Reed Simmons at the Om Shoppe in Sarasota, Florida. More information can be found about Don on their website if you scroll to the bottom of the main page and click on “Our Staff/Team”. Happy inner exploration!
Cynthia Brennen, LMSW 