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"Transformation is through the body, not away from it. This is why no true master has ever advocating fighting or leaving the body, although their mind-based followers often have." -Eckhart Tolle
Last week I wrote about the difference between knowledge and knowing. I shared my experience with Eckhart Tolle and how the only true way to "know" something, is to experience it. What are you noticing...knowing? This week I encourage you to become curious about what and how your physical body is trying to communicate with you. I often say our physical body is a portal to what is really happening deep within. By deep within I mean beyond the mind and it's thoughts/story/narrative. For example, ever notice how physical pain causes us to "do" something when it no longer becomes tolerable? It's the moment when we feel "we have had enough of feeling tired/achy/lonely" (i.e.: suffering) and decide it's time to make a change. Time for transformation!!! Perhaps we decide to become conscious of our food habits and choose to eat better. Or, maybe it's time to lace up those sneakers and exercise. And for some it's time to ease up on the physical body and get a massage or finally try yoga, etc. And still for others perhaps there's a sense of the inner body that feels "off". Anxious, afraid, alone...endless cycle of emotional up and down. Why does connecting with the body matter? From a practical sense, we need it in order to live so why not take care of it the best we can? On a deeper level, the physical body is a powerful doorway for us to access wisdom and therefore transformation. Can't change what you don't know/want to know :) And while some wisdom traditions may teach denying the body and/or ignoring the body, in my experience, it is the exact opposite. We must pay attention and learn. Then apply those lessons in the form of action. How do we access the physical body, in a deeper sense? It varies. Yet one thread runs through all of it and that is the practice of presence...awareness. A.K.A - paying attention. Some of us pay attention quite naturally and either choose to take action or not. Doing nothing is also a choice :) Others of us engage in movement practices - yoga/running/walking outside/dance... to help us get in touch/feel the inner body. And still others rely on meditation, massage, or other forms of energy healing to assist in bring us into deeper awareness. There's no right or wrong way. And the "way" may change over time as you change. Nothing is permanent in this world of form. Ha! As I say during our weekly meditation classes, the only "wrong" way to meditate is simply to not do it all. And so it is with life and dealing with change. We will either consciously choose to listen to our body or not. Regardless, life / transformation happens anyway. We can embrace it (peaceful path) or fight it (suffering path). I don't know about you. I rather the peaceful path. Namaste, Stephanie
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Knowledge and Knowing by Stephanie The difference between mental concepts/thoughts (knowledge) and experience (knowing)... Earlier this month I had the incredible experience of embarking on a 6 month advanced training with Eckhart Tolle in California. Eckhart is author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Power of Now (translated into 33 languages) and the highly acclaimed follow-up A New Earth, which are widely regarded as two of the most influential spiritual books of our time. While I have devoured many of his books and teachings over the years...filling my mind with mental concepts / thoughts to understand what is required to live a life of presence and purpose... this was the first time I was in his physical presence. WOW. Words are not sufficient to describe the experience. Life changing. Special. Humbling. Vast. Joyful. Peaceful. To name a few. Yes, Eckhart re-iterated mental concepts and I gained "knowledge" We experienced lovely meditation, discussion, reflection, and group work. However, what impacted me the most, was the experience of simply being in his presence. No amount of knowledge, information, or mental concepts would come close to being in the experience. In essence, what I experienced with Eckhart and my classmates was a "knowing". I actually felt his teachings, came to "know" them in my being, rather than in my head. The concepts/knowledge morphed into experience/knowing. This leads me to what I want to share as it relates to you and those of you who are interested in our weekly meditation classes or any other endeavor that helps you awaken to life. Over the years while teaching meditation there's tendency for people to want to have lots of knowledge and information about what meditation is, how we do it, are we doing it right, etc, etc. Lots of thoughts! Our brain thirsts for endless knowledge and information in order to commit/believe. Our conditioned mind is so trapped in the doing of life, unless we know meditation is "doing something", we don't even give it a chance. We quit before we even show up for class. The paradox is-- in meditation, we aren't "doing" anything. To take it a step further, we are actually un-learning and emptying the mind of information and knowledge. And so.... Similar to my experience with Eckhart, I can explain to someone conceptually (i.e. imparting knowledge) what meditation is, the benefits, etc. Basically giving enough information to help the conceptual mind "understand" and perhaps be convinced that it's worthwhile...because the mind values "information" and knowledge over "experience" or knowing. And this is what we must unlearn if we are to awaken. However, anything I tell you conceptually is very surface level, appealing to the surface "I". So while knowledge is valuable-- because yes-- the mind wants it and won't quiet down until it gets it... The only true way to "know" something, is to experience it. When we know something, we connect with the deeper "I" and have a connection beyond concepts. Words become insufficient. Are you following me? If you are thinking about trying something, stop. The mind is addicted to thoughts. Instead, try something. Feel it. Experience it. Get to know it. Unless you experience meditation, it will be a concept. Unless you taste honey, it will be a concept. Unless you walk the beach in CA, it will be a concept. As in meditation, as in life. We must unlearn that knowledge is more valuable than knowing. When we are cut off from knowing, we are cut off from ourselves...and life itself. Friends, this is what we must unlearn if we are to awaken and feel peace and joy in life.   Last Day of Sanctuary Specials Ends Saturday 12/15/18
15% Off Gift Certificates - In Person or On-Line, All Day - Saturday, 12/15/18 Bronxville Wellness Sanctuary Gift Certificates can be purchased in person or online here for dollar amounts or specific services. When purchasing online enter code GC15 at check out to receive your 15% off discount. Thank you for allowing us to serve you for the past 7 years!!! We look forward to many more!!! "Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." -Mother Teresa 7 Days of Sanctuary Spa Specials Continue thorough Saturday, 12/15/18!!
As mentioned last week, we're grateful to be celebrating 7 years of being in business serving you! Our 15% off specials continue this week with the following: Monday Special: 15% Off Massage Tuesday Special: 15% Off Learn to Meditate Wednesday Special: 15% Off Reiki To Book: Call us @914.337.9356 or book online here. Spots are limited! Spa Gift Certificates - Give the Gift of Sanctuary for body, mind & spirit.
Massage, Facials, Energy Healing, Meditation.... Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax :)))) A 4-week live program with Stephanie designed for deepening the practices of Meditation & Energy Healing shared in her Empowered Video Series... Watch Info Video Below!! Starts: Tuesday, 11/27/18 Ends: Tuesday, 12/18/18 Time: 7PM-8PM Location: Bronxville Wellness Sanctuary 14 Studio Arcade, Bronxville, NY Cost: $125 Every Tuesday for 4 weeks, Stephanie will use meditation and shamanic tools such as journeying to help you cleanse and renew. End 2018 calm, cool, collected & clear. Seed intentions for 2019. Kindly Note: Class size is limited. Registration & Payment Required in Advance Here. Empowered Video Series with Stephanie Part 4: Inner Peace, Pathway to Thriving How do we use meditation and energy tools to cultivate inner peace & thrive? Over the past 4 weeks Stephanie has shared meditation and energy management tools to help you thrive. This week she shares how these tools come together to help us create inner peace and stability in our life. She also shares her intention of deepening these practices with an upcoming group program. Watch Video Here. "I believe that to have world peace we must first have inner peace. Those who are naturally serene, at peace with themselves, will be open towards others. I think this is where the very foundation of universal peace lies." -His Holiness the Dalai Lama Note: This post also appears on Stephanie's ThrivingYouThrivingLife website.   Empowered Video Series with Stephanie
Part 1: Meditation How does meditation empower us & help us stay on the path to thriving? In this video Stephanie shares what meditation is, what it isn't, and a simple practice. Watch Video Here. "An act of meditation is actually an act of faith--of faith in your spirit, in your own potential. Faith is the basis of meditation. Not of faith in something outside you--a metaphysical Buddha, an unattainable ideal, or someone else's words. The faith is in yourself, in your own ‘Buddha-nature.’ You too can be a Buddha, an awakened being that lives and responds in a wise, creative, and compassionate way." -Martine Batchelor Note: This also appears on Steph's thrivingyouthrivinglife website. Empowered Video Series with Stephanie
Thriving or Surviving? What is required to stay on the path to thriving? Stephanie is very excited to share her empowered video series with you throughout the month of October. Watch the intro video here to see what you can expect. "You cannot expect to achieve new goals or move beyond your present circumstances unless you change." -Les Brown Note: This also appears on Stephanie's thrivingyouthrivinglife website. |
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