Overcoming IllusionWho are you? Do you define yourself by your career? Your gender? Race? Citizenship? Are you a mom? dad? husband? wife? brother? sister?
Many of us live in this illusion of who we are in this world and who we should be. There is no such thing. We are not this body, mind, or ego. These are all impermanent; eventually, none of these will exist, the body dies, and so does all of our identities. We are eternal, infinite beings. Once we realize the illusion we have created, we will see that no-thing we have attached to, including our own identity, really matters. The conflict in this world exists because of the struggle with illusions. The illusion of money, power, success, and especially the illusion of separation. Once we realize we are all the same and are all connected to the one Source, one Energy, the illusion of self, will disappear. And the TRUE Self will be the only thing left. The true self is really our pure inner energy, our pure inner being, that is one with the Universe. This means living in peace and harmony with ourselves and every other living being, without being attached. The universe will provide what is necessary, if we listen (to our inner guidance) and go with the flow and direction of life. On a practical level, to achieve this, takes some contemplation and meditation; Self awareness, and self observation. Catching the patterns of illusion and attachments and coming back to your inner truth. Sending Love and Light on your Journey! ~Elvira
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Quantum BiofeedBACK -What it can do for your HealthThe Quantum biofeedback machine is a unique tool that I decided to add to my practice almost 4 years ago.
I usually use this tool on the first visit of a Naturopathic appointment and most follow ups for assessment and treatments. What information does it give? In a very interesting way, it displays much information about the patient - physical, mental, and spiritual information. I am always looking for disease risks – and whatever I find tends to be a good predictor of what may happen should the patient not take action to change their lifestyle. The machine also picks up on issues from the past – whether it is an old injury or illness. It is imprinted into the energy field of the client which is why it is still detected. It can also pick up current information - through questioning and further investigation it can be confirmed or assumed a disease risk. I also look at toxins, nutrient deficiencies, infections– these are all potential risks which can be confirmed through further testing if the patient wants, however, I usually go ahead and offer remedies to start working on the balancing the body. If improvement is noticed- then we know something is changing and the body is starting to heal itself. Another big aspect of the machine is always the mental/emotional blockages – patients become more aware of what they are retaining – trauma, emotions, attachments – and the machine does a great job linking this to the disease state in the body. What treatments does it provide? I also do treatments through the machine. It works by balancing the body’s energy flow – and therefore healing can take place more easily. Think of it like other energy therapies like acupuncture and reiki – the flow of energy in the body is corrected. Most disease stems from energetic imbalances – starting in the aura, the chakras – and these are thrown off many times by emotional trauma. It is very important to address the whole person when healing the body. The therapies I use on the machine are usually merdian therapy, chakra balancing, rife therapy, allergy therapy, detox, hormone balancing...and quite a few more. Many times I use a direct “ZAP” of a condition that is indicated – such as an infection, lactose intolerance, dental disease, kidney stones. To have the best results with the machine, most people need a bi-weekly treatment at least 4-5 times, depending on the severity of the situation. How do you feel during and after? Most patients feel sleepy and/or very relaxed during the process on the machine. They ask me if its normal and I say yes! It’s a good thing. It is a sign the body is relaxing and starting to heal. Frequently, people will say they need to have a nap when they get home, or they slept very deeply that night. And sometimes, if the body is in need of a detox, the machine will allow for that- causing some frequent bathroom visits that day! Treatments together with the machine In my practice the machine is not the only therapy that I use so it is not absolutely necessary for everyone to come back so frequently unless they want the full experience of the machine and its effects. I also test all my supplements and homeopathic remedies on the machine. It is like muscle testing – with muscle testing a remedy tested will make the muscle stronger. The machine is testing how much the remedy resonates with the body’s energy. If it strengthens the body, the result on the screen will show that at least 80% of the meridians in the body were strengthened due to the remedy. I also notice that the remedies I give when tested will actually work well for the patient. This is why I find testing remedies so important – whether it s through this machine or muscle testing. Let’s say I may have studied a nutrient for a certain disease. Now this person presents to me with this disease and I believe they MUST need this nutrient. However, if the body does not respond well energetically, it may be doing nothing for them. But, test at a later date, it may help them. It all depends on what the priorities of healing are at that particular time. Who can use the machine? I can hook anyone up to the machine. I can even have an infant, a hyperactive child, or an animal. The patient does not necessarily need to be hooked directly to the machine, as the machine detects the energy of the patient even at a distance. It is safe and gentle for anyone to use. Conclusion I can honestly say that this machine has made a big difference to the results in my practice. It confirms my suspicions and gives much insight into the patient’s healing needs. Patients get to see a deeper and more detailed picture of their mental and physical health and make changes to their health more consciously. Find Truth Rather than CHangeAs humans, we are naturally going to make mistakes, behave in ways that we later regret, and harm ourselves or others whether intentionally or unintentionally. We are always striving to get better and change ourselves and this can be an ongoing lifelong battle. Some people are trying to overcome an addiction – whether to a substance, thoughts, relationships. The one thing that all these behaviours have in common is they are all a sign of disconnect to one’s True Self. We have this belief that we need to change, that we are imperfect. This is a lie. We are perfect as we are; we just don’t see it most of the time.
All the efforts that we are trying to make to change ourselves could be non-existent, if we just connected to our inner truth. Our inner Self. Our highest Self. This may sound intangible or all that might be going through your mind is “how??” When you are battling that thought, that behaviour, that emotion, that person – stop and realize what’s really going on here: You are a spiritual being living in a human body to experience life so that you can elevate your consciousness and grow as a soul. This human body is impermanent - your soul lives beyond this body, has lived many lives, and will live many more. You are an Infinite Being. This body is standing on the place we call Earth, which is a tiny ball spinning in a vast and gigantic universe. Does this moment that you are battling right now, really matter? Can you let go and be at peace, right now? Once you realize the truth of who you are, and why you are here, and that you are one with the Universe, all those battles will dissipate. Instead of trying to control and change yourself and others, the truth of who you are will radiate. This radiance will affect all those around you. Others will sense your peacefulness because you have found it within. Your whole external world will change, because you found yourSelf. Contemplate, contemplate, contemplate....this is how you can reach the truth. Sit alone, in nature, in a place you can call your sanctuary. Meditate, whether in a group setting, or at home with a guided meditation. Be in the moment of every situation, and remember who you are. Watch the physical world as if you are watching from the outside. Be in your body, interact with the world, but do not be attached, as it is only a game. This is how you will find peace. Why Dance Is My New Meditation What is meditation? Many people think it means sitting silently trying to get rid of thoughts. Meditation is about being in the present moment which brings the mind to stillness, but it can require far less effort than most people think.
A moment of connection, bliss, presence, stillness – this is all achieved through a state of awareness. I used to go to ecstatic dance sessions which involved movement of the body in a free way – no particular steps. This was meditation for me. I realized recently that even structured dance (such as salsa, bachata, kizomba, bellydance, etc), once the body relaxes and feels the music, it is meditation. The music itself comes from a higher source through the person who wrote it, and the dancing is an expression of the song’s energy and our own true being. It’s one thing dancing alone, like I used to do in ecstatic dance, which often took me into a trance like state. Dancing with a partner also becomes a meditation. Once you feel your partner’s energy and connect, it becomes a dance of two souls. The woman follows the man’s moves and if they are both present in the moment, the connection as the leader and follower will remain throughout the dance. This, in and of itself, is a form of meditation. I’ve gone as far as go into a trance like state, and many times dance with my eyes closed, to enhance my sense of feeling through touch, sound, and instinctual connection to the partner I’m with. If dance is not your thing, I encourage you to find a form of meditation that resonates with you. It could be martial arts, exercise in any form, an instrument, any creative project, being in nature, with animals, chanting meditations (much like we do in Kundalini Yoga) or silent meditation. It is through being in the present moment, in bliss, that we connect to divine source. Then we realize our true essence – the essence of pure consciousness. therapeutic yoga with catsCats are very unique animals that offer humans not only companionship but healing energy. As healers, they help their human companion reduce risk of heart attacks, overall cardiovascular disease, and depression. Cats are particularly special because of the purring noise they make - this alone is soothing and therapeutic for the nervous system.
The presence of a cat during a yoga class can be an interesting experience. In certain classes in Toronto I allow my cats to join us (provided that no one has allergies or fears). They teach us and heal us at the same time. The young cuban cat (Pippa) is playful and sometimes hyperactive, but give her some time, during most yoga classes she tends to calm down. She loves to sit and stare at our crazy poses, or she is looking for comfort on a blanket nearby - she just wants to be part of the class on her own yoga mat. When savasana comes around, she's ready, seeking out the best student to cuddle with. Sometimes it is based on the coziest blanket she can find, but more importantly - who needs the most healing today. She cuddles right in the spot between the knees and thighs, or closer to the feet. She chooses a person she knows will welcome her. My male older cat (Nico) also has a wonderful sense of who may need healing during the class. While the class is on he scopes the entire room, and sometimes circles 3-4 times. He is gathering information - who is here, what are they feeling, and most importantly, who wants to give me the most attention?? Towards the middle/end Nico finds himself sleeping in his beanbag bed, awaiting savasana. When he feels like it, many times he will get up, and walk over to the suitable student, finding that nice warm spot to settle in. Again emitting healing energy and warmth, he is there to comfort and soothe while basking in the love the student has for his energy. There is a third cat (Chimpy) but she listens to the class from afar. More anti-social in nature, she prefers to come around whenever she feels like it. However, she is quite aware and also enjoys hearing us chant and laugh. She even will rest in areas of the house where the most healing energy has been created - in the yoga space or in the clinic room. All the cats are so aware of the healing energy we are building in the class, they love being part of it and adding more to it. It is always a treat for them to have attention from loving human beings, because all they want to do is share their love and healing energy in return. When a yoga class is happening, cats remind us of how to be in tune with our true feelings, our inner child, the deep love we have in our hearts. The calming effects of the class are enhanced 10 times just through presence of these loving creatures. Who needs a therapist? All you need is a cat yoga class! Attachment = MiseryAll unhappiness stems from one thing - attachment. Attachment is a broad term - but it encompasses all the things we hold on to - including misery and dissatisfaction. Why would we have attachments if it causes so much misery? There must be a benefit. The main benefit is safety and comfort. We attach to things so we do not have to face what it feels like to be free and perhaps a little bit vulnerable. We don't like change. We want attention, for people to feel sorry for us, or somehow we are punishing ourselves for whatever reason. Humans are complex and we were placed here on this planet to go through all this suffering in order to wake up and realize the suffering actually can be overcome by simply letting go of attachments, control, and fear. Trust that things will be ok no matter what is happening at any given moment. Even the worst situation, death, war, torture, etc.. all these things can be overcome by releasing attachment, rising above and beyond the physical and realizing that we are immortal beings, we have lived many times before, and this one small lifetime is just a fraction of what exists. We are so consumed by our physical reality we forget who we are and why we are here. We are here to grow as souls and elevate each other - become awakened and awaken each other. To love and be loved. Be love.
Humans have been playing a game for many thousands of years, and its those who see the game and watch from the outside who realize that there is more to life than this "game". It is also important to remember that all experiences, good and bad, are happening for a reason. Those who are not awake are just as important as those who are awake and aware. We need each other to grow. The universe is balancing itself out no matter how much destruction there is in this world. But if you can become awakened and rise above it, live with love and compassion, be love - life will become much more simple. Those small things that bothered you will no longer bother you. Those big things that bothered you will no longer bother you. Life becomes a meditation - where you grow, learn, and move on. Stop dwelling on what was - and be in the present of what is. Be thankful every moment of every day. Even if you slip into some negative mindset - catch yourself - pull yourself back out of it and remind yourself of who you are - an infinite being of love. Be satisfied with what you haveIt is human nature to compare to others. There's a tendency to want what we don't have and not appreciate what we do have. Here is a perfect example:
I was in Cuba, thoroughly enjoying the sunshine, warm weather, and ocean. One day I was in the bank there and a Cuban employee started to talk to me and found out I was from Canada. Then what he said thoroughly surprised me: "I would rather have seasons that change, you know, spring, summer, fall, winter.. Its always so hot here, I don't like it." Of course any Canadian hearing this would say NO WAY, you should be grateful for what you have. I tried to tell him that... but he was stuck on not being satisfied with the weather he gets to have daily. I realized how much humans lack gratitute, which causes a lot of misery and depression. It is a sickness of human society. Canadians just want the constant warm weather, Cubans want cold. A curly haired person wants straight hair, visa versa. Why are we never satisfied?? We tend to attach so much to the physical body, our physical reality, and forget who we are and why we are here. Our circumstances tend to take over and we get sucked into this constant attachment, dissatisfaction, and always wanting more. How to break this cycle? Be grateful. For everything. Find the goodness in everything. Things that seem negative and bad are actually a lot to do with the human perspective. Good and bad is based on opinion - my reality of a situation might not be the same as yours. You choose your reality. So you can complain and say that you hate winter, or you can look for the goodness in what you have - snow is beautiful; look - how it covers the earth like a beautiful white blanket, it represents hibernation and sleep before a brand new beginning. Thank the universe for giving your the opportunity to experience all the seasons including winter. Every experience has a lesson, a gift. You can choose to see only the negative and be miserable, or, connect the ultimate joy of life...joy doesn't come from external, material things. True joy, satisfaction, and gratitude, are all within. Meditate on this. Spiritual Lessons From my Electric CarI decided to recently invest into an electric car – the Nissan Leaf - as it suits my way of living by contributing less to emissions and global warming. I chose to trust my intuition and went for it without much thought – perhaps it’s the impulsive Aries in me. I usually find my decisions with the least thought turn out to be the best decisions. And here is what my Leaf is teaching me... First – it is a symbol of growth. On the outside, it looks like a fancy, perhaps materialistic product of modern society. I look at it differently. It is a symbol of my beliefs and growth as a human. I’ve never actually invested into something so expensive that I can call my own. It represents a part of me that craves independence and stands up for her beliefs even if others frown upon it. And, it may just be a car, but I intend to inspire people to get one like mine, to help save the earth. Small steps can make a big difference – even if it’s one person at a time. Second - non attachment to money. I had to trust the universe that money is energy – it comes and goes. I had to give up a big portion of my savings which was easy yet difficult. Non attachment and trust is necessary in this case. As the employee at the dealership was counting some money I brought, I watched and said – “Actually I don’t really care that much about money – its just pieces of paper!! Non-attachment... money comes and goes.” They probably thought I was crazy at this point. Her response: “well you may not care about money but a lot of people do!!” (she said this light heartedly, but it made me realize how consumed by money this world really is, and I am trying to separate myself from this). I encourage everyone to do the same – stop being a slave to money. Enjoy life for what it is, we are here to help each other, grow, and elevate ourselves. Material things will never bring true happiness. Third – Slow down, be in the moment, have patience. One thing I realized after driving this car for just a few days is the battery gets drained much faster during high speeds. My pace of life is going to change a bit now by request of my car. I may not always take the highway and speed to my final destination the way I used to. What has happened is I am literally enjoying every moment of driving, slowly accelerating and slowly turning, seeing everything in the moment, and this slower pace has actually reduced my anxiety while driving. I feel like I am living “yoga” while driving – I’m meditating and fully aware of my surroundings. This car doesn’t give many options for driving fast without draining the battery quickly – i take this as a way to slow down and enjoy the ride. Yet another symbol – slowing down and enjoying the ride of life. Its not about the destination, its about the journey. Re-Discover Your Creative SideThis is my creative journey – How I started to make gemstone bracelets and reactivated my second chakra creativity.
Ever since I can remember, I was always a very inclined to draw, colour and create arts and crafts. I would always say – I’m going to be like my brother – a graphic designer. Once I started my schooling in the health sciences, let’s say, around 20 years of age, all that disappeared. I became more left brain dominant – more scientific and logical. As the years went on, I lost a part of myself. That part remained hidden throughout all the rest of my education – into my naturopathic training. My creative part was struggling to come out. After my yoga training, I realized i could be creative by offering unique yoga classes. And that’s what got me in touch with that missing part – but still, it wasn’t enough. When the creative part of you is not being utilized, life can become dull, and passion is hard to find when you are in the same routine. I started going to a women’s circle a few months ago which required us to bring out that beauty and creativity – so we made bracelets from gemstones. One thing led to another – now I’m making them for students, patients, and the world. Making a bracelet is now a creative outlet – it’s like a meditation. Each bracelet comes out unique and expresses a story. Like drawing painting, or sculpting, it is an expression of a thought process, intuition, emotion, and even an expression of the divine running through me. Once this part started being expressed again, I felt again like my child self – the one who was so joyful when her creation was done – a sense of accomplishment and connection to her true nature. Once this part is activated, there is a sense of flow, within and without – the second chakra which is associated with creativity, is more balanced and flowing – which may turn to physical changes – more hip mobility, hormones will balance, and urinary symptoms will improve. So my suggestion to you is, if you are feeling suppressed, because you are bombarded with your daily life challenges, making money, being a caregiver, and so on....start putting yourself first. Find the truth within you, what do you need? Maybe you need to draw. Dance. Sing. Paint. Sculpt. Redecorate a room. Design something in any way. Find 5 minutes of your day, to find your inner child, the carefree creative part that longs to be expressed. You will thank yourself. a natural anti-histamineQuercetin is a plant pigment ("flavonoid") and antioxidant that is found in foods like leafy greens, berries, tomatoes, and broccoli. It helps reduce inflammation in the body and can be taken in supplement form in higher doses. Since it reduces inflammation and is a natural anti-histamine, it is automatically indicated for allergies, asthma, skin reactions, and hay fever. Quercetin can help reduce the release of histamine from certain immune cells so symptoms of coughs, watery eyes, runny nose, hives and swelling can be minimized.
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AuthorElvira is a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor and Certified Yoga Instructor. She combines her knowledge of the naturopathic modalities with mind-body therapy, yoga, ayurveda, exercise, and energy healing. Archives
January 2019
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