Yoga was the first step in loving and caring for my body

Nicholas Fiorito, Ki Yoga Trainer, Path to Enlightenment Trainer

Whenever I have the good fortune to welcome a new member to one of my classes, inevitably I’m often asked, “What made you start practicing yoga?”

Nicholas Fiorito

I think anyone who’s adopted this physical and spiritual discipline has their own unique story about what inspired them to embrace a yoga discipline - and I’m no different.

In short, I started yoga in order to change my lifestyle. 

I first began taking yoga classes back when I was in graduate school at Harvard Divinity. Interestingly enough, although my studies in philosophy and religion were inspired by my inner desire to find some meaning in an otherwise meaningless life, I didn’t approach yoga with any spiritual aspirations.

Interacting within a self-serving society can be daunting at times. I found myself growing increasingly more frustrated with individuals who often spoke freely of a spiritual existence, but practiced very little of those teachings in their own day to day lives. Soon I found myself living a life of physical extremes to try and combat my outward and inner dissatisfaction with life. 

After years of multiple martial arts programs and literally hours spent pushing myself at the gym, my body had fallen victim to my own persistence. My joints ached regularly and I could no longer go on simple runs or even do menial exercise without finding myself utterly exhausted afterwards.

I had convinced myself that all this physical activity was truly for my overall health, but what I started to understand was that I was using them to deny feelings and emotions I couldn’t process any other way. Unhappy with myself and the life I was leading, I took out all the frustration and negativity on my body, which now was becoming unusable.

Fully embracing yoga and all of its spiritual healing properties was the first step I took to really loving and caring for my body and myself. To say “thank you” and “I love you” were huge steps in my journey to obtaining an inner lifestyle of wellness and happiness.

Many years later, I still find meaning and inspiration from my yoga teachings and hope to continue living a healthy life filled with joy and utter appreciation for the gifts I’ve been bestowed.

Though personal exploration is never easy, maybe it’s time you examine your motivations in life and determine if a change of lifestyle is in order. 

“Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured.”

B.K.S. Iyengar

Acupuncture today - it doesn't require arrows

by Olga Ivashkov, Health Consultant

For many of us, when we think of the word “acupuncture” we think back to our childhood when mom used a needle to dislodge the splinter we got in our finger from playing outside.

Remember how that felt?

We recall that pain when we think about having dozens of tiny needles inserted into our skin – regardless of its healing potential.

Olga Ivashkov

And while there might be a little pain and discomfort initially, the incredible benefits of this ancient practice are invaluable. In fact this holistic treatment has been known to positively treat conditions such as neck or cervical pain, lower back pain, sciatica, anxiety and depression, insomnia, migraines, sinus problems, and the list goes on and on.

So how does acupuncture really work?

Traditional Asian acupuncture is based on ancient Chinese theories of the flow of Qi (a fine, essential substance which nourishes and constructs the body) through distinct channels that cover the body like nerves and blood vessels.

According to this theory, acupuncture adjusts the flow of Qi in the body - leading it to areas where it is insufficient and draining it from areas where it is stuck and/or superabundant. In this way acupuncture restores the harmonious balance of the body and its parts. In Chinese, there is a saying which states, if there is pain, there is no free flow; if there is free flow, there is no pain.

Acupuncture promotes and reestablishes the free flow of Qi.

The word "acupuncture" actually means "to prick with a needle" – coined by William Ten Rhyne, a Dutch physician who brought this technique to Europe in the 17th century.

In China the history of acupuncture can be traced back to ancient warriors, who survived the misfortune of being struck by arrows during times of war. These warriors reported that although they were injured, their previous diseases and pain in other parts of the body had lessened in intensity and were even miraculously cured. An interesting and incredibly undesirable way to discover the healing powers of acupuncture, don’t you think?

It appears that similar practices were used in other parts of the world as well.

 
In the tropical rainforests of the Amazon, a tribe reportedly used blowpipes to insert tiny arrows into one part of the body to cure a malady in another. In Africa doctors pierced one part of a patient's body to treat another part of his anatomy. Anthropologists have even discovered that inhabitants of the Arctic and Northern Tundra regions used sharp stones for similar healing purposes.

So regardless of your preconceptions of acupuncture, it’s worth doing some research to see if this ancient practice can heal what ails you. Just be thankful your treatments won’t include being struck by the enemy’s arrow.

Change always comes bearing gifts

By Craig Ruvere

The realities of life can often burden our very existence – preventing us from seizing each day as a blessing filled with infinite possibilities.

Our chaotic lifestyles often limit the amount of time we’re willing to set aside in order to reconnect with our inner spirit, which needs continual nurturing and attention in order to flourish. This valuable reconnection helps rejuvenate and reignite the soul by allowing us to examine our thoughts, our behaviors and our actions – leading to a better understanding of how to improve the person we are to ourselves and those around us.

Sadly much of society fails to see any benefit to just “being” in the silence for an extended period of time.

Craig Ruvere, CGI

Many of us can’t sit in a room without the sound of television noise littering the background; few can drive in a car or walk through a retail store without chatting away on their cell phones; some can’t even enjoy the peace and tranquility of nature without dragging out portable radios to pollute the sound of birds singing sweetly or a gentle breeze caressing trees.

If I didn’t know better I’d say that we’ve become a society that’s afraid of silence.

Artist Jean Arp once said, Soon silence will have passed into legend. Man has turned his back on silence.  Day after day he invents machines and devices that increase noise and distract humanity from the essence of life, contemplation and meditation.

But avoiding the silence does have its benefits I suppose. It prevents humanity from having any meaningful, impactful thoughts about the people we are in life, love and everything in between. I guess we’re not really afraid of “silence” per say, but the truth it might reveal.

The only way for us to fully seize each and every day as a blessing is to be completely honest with ourselves. To stop trying to cover up what ails us and instead try whole heartedly to make a positive transformation in the person we are right now. For only then will change truly come bearing gifts.

PERSONAL CHALLENGE:

As Arp says, we continue to create machines and devices to distract us from the essence of life.

Find some time in the evening hours or on the weekend to turn off all the distractions around you (cell phones, computers, televisions) and just allow yourself to be in the silence - accepting whatever thoughts and ideas might pop into your mind.

Perhaps light a few candles for illumination and watch the dancing flames as they relax and unwind your spirit from the chaos of a busy day or work-week. Encourage your family to participate – helping to reestablish relationships that may have become strained or uncomfortable.

Though machines and devices will continually be created to cover up the silence, each of us possesses the ability to control them.

Welcome to CGI’s new motivational and inspirational blog for healthy bodies, happy hearts and peaceful minds.

We’re so glad you decided to join us on this journey – to Come Get Inspired.

 

Price Pritchett once said that, Change always comes bearing gifts.

And that is what we hope to provide with this blog – thoughtful “gifts” you can take along on your day or pass to others, as we continue our quest to rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit in this continually challenging society.

Our goal is to inspire you to think about something you might not have thought about before. To learn a new way of looking at things, and possibly even at yourself. After all, Growth is the only evidence of life. – John Henry Newman

We’re excited to feature a rotating panel of talented and inspiring individuals - sharing their thoughts, their expertise and sometimes even their humor in a welcoming, almost story telling manner.

We hope you’ll visit us often and find just what you need, when you need it to help promote and support a life of spiritual well being. Enjoy your visit!

Craig Ruvere, Marketing Manager at CGI

Your life's journey - with no definitive end

By Craig Ruvere, CGI Holistic Fitness and Spa

I’m often deeply inspired by the profound readings and teachings of those who continually strive to live the most useful, purposeful life possible. I suppose I’m drawn to them because of my inner desire to find such an existence myself – though I’ve yet to achieve it.

The other day while flipping through a few books and magazines at a local retailer, I came across the following passage by life coach Ros Bott.

“I, too, have goals in life that have not happened yet. Life would be dull without having something to aim for! Self-development and setting goals is an ongoing process, and I too need coaching and support in achieving the next steps in my life. Success is nothing to do with reaching those goals, it is to do with who you are being while you are working towards them, and living a life of integrity and passion and joy.”

“Who you are being” – that sentiment struck a chord with me and seemed to linger on my mind for the remainder of the day. After all it’s a rarity to find a quiet moment during the chaos in our lives to look within and truly understand the people we are each and every day.

That evening as I struggled to drift off to sleep, I found myself asking the question, “who was I being?” And soon I realized there’s no greater challenge in life than looking deep within one’s self and admitting your failings. For so many of us our inherent defensiveness often keeps us from acknowledging our shortcomings - especially to ourselves. But I think we all reach a point in our lives when the person we believe ourselves to be often falls short of the person we actually are.

A commanding king in Antoine De Saint-Exupery’s book The Little Prince proclaims, “Then you shall pass judgment on yourself. That is the hardest thing of all. It is much harder to judge yourself than to judge others.”

Unknowingly to me I had allowed anger, jealousy and the burdens of life to harden me – blind me from what was truly important and the many blessings I had already received.

But as long as we’re living and breathing here on this earth, we all possess the ability to alter who we are - to look beyond one’s own defensiveness and denial to recognize and accept that none of us are perfect and each of us could stand to improve some part of ourselves.

And so I began my journey for personal growth by enrolling in a Yoga class. I’ll admit I was somewhat skeptical about the benefits of Yoga - especially after discovering some of the interesting and challenging poses practiced throughout the class. I worried my body would not be limber enough (or shall I say coordinated enough) to master the positions. Not to mention I assumed I’d be unable to control my laughter as my body twisted and contorted into the shape of a pretzel.

The word Yoga actually stems from the Sanskrit word “yuj” which means to join or unite. This joining encompasses all aspects of an individual from body with mind to mind with body – creating a more spiritual, more valuable life. It has been described as a “scientific system of physical and mental practices,” which originated some three thousand years ago in India in order to bring out one’s highest potential.

The more I learned about this ancient practice, the more I realized how much my life could benefit from its teachings. And after several months of diligence both physically and mentally, I’m beginning to see that we can control the people we are in life; unfortunately it takes humility and a great deal of patience.

But as I said above it’s a journey with no definitive end. I still experience anger, jealousy and a plethora of other emotions every human being faces on a daily basis – we’ll never fully escape that. However it’s what you choose to do with those feelings that matters most. Right now I’m understanding that while you can acknowledge their presence, letting them control your life is futile.

Pop and classical singer Josh Groban sings the lyrics, “I am not a hero. I am not an angel. I am just a man.” What I’m doing is nothing extraordinary or beyond the reach of every living, breathing human being walking this earth – regardless of their age. What I am is just a man who’s coming to understand that sometimes to attain the most useful, purposeful life possible you must first accept who you are being. Only then can you find yourself “living a life of integrity and passion and joy.”

For more information on practicing Yoga, visit www.cgifitness.com.