LA Yoga Magazine – Ayurveda & Health |
- Lessons for Mental Health in the Film Chasing the Present
- Your Energy Is Your Current Identity
- Cracked Up adds to Global Conversations of Mental Health
| Lessons for Mental Health in the Film Chasing the Present Posted: 14 May 2020 03:34 PM PDT 
James Sebastiano and Mark Waters are Chasing the PresentThe sound of traffic on a busy street. A contemplative and questioning voiceover from James Sebastiano reflecting on his history of drug use and abuse, his movement to vegetarianism and building successful businesses and his lifelong struggle with anxiety. James is the protagonist of this feature-length documentary Chasing the Present. His is a relatable struggle and quest. A yearning for ease, for meaning, for clarity, for happiness, for peace, for bliss. Throughout Chasing the Present, we follow James as he travels around the world and into his own stillness. He is looking for the path to presence and to mental health and wellness in the present moment. Some of James' quest takes place through conversation, some of it through practice, some of it through action, some of it through reflection. His insight into his own mental health is one that mirrors our own. It is a fitting line of inquiry for Mental Health Awareness Month….and for the rest of all of our lives. Join LA YOGA for a Virtual Screening of Chasing the Present on May 21. Chasing the Present is beautifully filmed and thoughtfully directed by Mark Waters. It criss-crosses the world with James’ visits to locations including the banks of the River Ganga in Rishikesh, India, and the Peruvian jungles. We also travel with him to Indonesia, Nepal, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US. It is framed by conversations James has with his father while sharing a meal in a diner. This sets up the conundrum James explains early on in the film, one that has meaning for all of us. "It's not so hard to go to India for a month and practice and feel good. Then you have to go home and explain it to your dad, your mom, your friends. It's challenging." Chasing the Present to Find Mental HealthAfter all, what can make the largest impact is our daily integration of our ability to surrender in the present, to fully know that we are our consciousness, and to experience the real happiness and peace that is possible. This is what James discovers on the yoga mat, the meditation cushion, in the plant spirit medicine journey, with teachers, and in conversations. James' many conversations with a wide range of noteworthy teachers and leaders is one of the gems of his journey. He is generous in his vulnerability and he and Mark Waters allow us to eavesdrop on the wisdom gathered in sessions that include Russell Brand, Alex Grey, Rupert Spira, Joseph Goldstein, and more. We fade out back to that conversation between James and his dad, sitting in a diner, talking about the importance of presence. Taking the chase into daily life, moment by moment, day by day. Watch the Film and Enjoy a Lively Discussion!Join us for a virtual screening of the film. The screening will be followed by a Q & A and discussion with James Sebastiano, film Producer Adam Schomer, and LA YOGA editor in chief Felicia Tomasko. Topics will include the film, mental health, yogic practices, and more. Buy Tickets for the Virtual Chasing the Present Screening. Only $8 for the ticket for screening and discussion.
The post Lessons for Mental Health in the Film Chasing the Present appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health. |
| Your Energy Is Your Current Identity Posted: 14 May 2020 08:53 AM PDT  Increase Your Energy for SuccessYour current energy state is a connector to help you move forward in life. Or not. How does your energy level feel right now? Imagine you're going to a job interview, trying to convince someone to hire you. What's your energy like then? If you're not enthusiastic, if you're not sharp, if you're having an off day, or worse, if you don't believe in yourself, it's nearly impossible to influence anyone to do anything. Energy is the key to success. The higher your energy level, the more efficiently your body will run, and the more efficiently your body runs, the better you'll feel inside of it. Every positive result takes mindful effort and consistency. If you want to make progress in your job or improve communication with your partner, you have to take the appropriate steps toward that goal. As a yogi, your energy comes from daily observances like nurturing your emotional, physical, and spiritual self. This is more than coming to a yoga class a few times a week. The discipline of the practices will pull you in the direction you want to go, but the work begins with you. To start the process, don't think too hard. Just start. Ask yourself, What's one simple thing I can do today to take a step toward a goal in my life? Practice the Morning Trio for Discipline and EnergyNow, let's get energized to take action and responsibility for our life choices with a discipline called the Morning Trio. The Trio is made up of the three practices that, when combined, will stimulate the mind and physiology to get your psyche in a positive place. It's like starting your morning motor. First, sit with your eyes closed and connect to your desire to live your best life. Get clear about what that looks like. Where are you? What are you doing? Who are you with? See and feel the entire place. Feel the courage of the warrior energy, and connect with your confidence. Your energy field will begin to shift with this thought. Motivation comes from within. Next, stand with your feet wide apart. Inhale to a count of 4, raising the arms above your head while rising up on the toes, embracing your vision. Then, exhale to a count of 4, lowering the arms to your sides, bending the knees, and bringing the heels to the ground, sending your vision out to the universe. Repeat this movement and thought 5 times. Finally, use an affirmation that inspires you. You have to say it like you mean it, so pick a thought, a word, or a short sentence that lights you up. You should feel the exhilaration of these words. Like a mantra, your affirmation is a tool of the mind. Chant out loud, and use your body to express the conviction that's deep in your soul. March in place, wave the hands, and use your body to concentrate on your outcome. Outside of class, you can use any expression you'd like, but today, because we're doing this together, we'll use the affirmation “I hold the key to my destiny”. Speak with certainty and intensity. Speak what you want to become. Asana for Deepening Warrior IWhat is it about the movement and placement of the legs and arms in warrior I that fills you with pride and bravery? How do you breathe when you feel this pride? What other postures evoke a courageous response within you? Crescent LungeEmpower your strong torso to lift up high, feeling the toes dig into the earth while your arms reach to the stars.  Humble WarriorTake a graceful bow in gratitude for all the people who have sup- ported you in your journey. How do you describe this feeling in the body?  FireflyThrow some unexpected physical adventure into your lesson by introducing variations of firefly, wheel, splits, or headstand. No one has to be a contortionist to work toward an advanced posture. The adventure is in the endeavor, acknowledging the intensity of a challenging movement. Motivation Off the MatWalk strong. First shake out your whole body to loosen up and get your circulation flowing. Taking longer strides, walk with authority, feeling yourself in complete control of your movement. Time is your most precocious commodity. You can't buy more of it, and once it's gone, it's gone forever. Use each moment of your day judiciously. Wise WordsTeacher Tip: As you tell your students to be present, to drop their thoughts of past or future, remind yourself to do the same. Be your most mindful self when you teach. After practicing the Morning Trio, ask your students to walk around the room and introduce themselves to one another. Instruct them to shine their bright spirits while greeting each other with affection. The post Your Energy Is Your Current Identity appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health. |
| Cracked Up adds to Global Conversations of Mental Health Posted: 14 May 2020 07:50 AM PDT   Darrell Hammond Doing Stand Up Comedy: from the film Cracked Up Cracked Up Now Streaming on NetflixIn September 2019, Santa Monica's second street was lined with classic rocks stars, counterculture icons, environmental warriors, music industry hit-makers, best-selling authors, trauma therapists, yoga teachers, and more. The colorful crowd lined up to get into the Laemmle Theater, to see their friend Michele Esrick, for the premiere of Cracked Up. Michele could have a been a film star of the gilded era. Her voluminous red hair, porcelain skin and starlet-smile is picturesque even by Hollywood standards. Yet, she chose a more impactful poise. Of the role of documentary director. Her debut film: The Wavy Gravy Movie: Saint Misbehavin' (2009) was an ecstatic exploration of Woodstock MC, cosmic clown and humanitarian, Wavy Gravy. A kaleidoscope of art, music and joy – the film brought a smile to all who viewed it, even The New York Times critics. The film that premiered in Santa Monica last September, was the portrait of another kind of clown; comedian Darrel Hammond. Hammond has held several records on Saturday Night Live, including longest running cast member, and most played character. His impersonation of President Clinton ran more then 87 times over 14 seasons. It's the kind of TV gold that inspired kids across America, to move to major cities to study and perform with groups like Uptight Citizens Brigade or The Groundlings. However, in Cracked Up we see another side of Hammond, the one who was a victim of childhood trauma, whose brain adapted to his circumstances by creating a life outside the material-realm reality. We learn the term "mental injury" and hear from experts such The Body Keeps the Score author, Dr Bessel van der Kolk. We are offered an intimate invitation to a fragile first-person account that could only be told by someone as brave as Hammond and by someone as safe as Esrick. During the theatrical and educational releases of Cracked Up, countless viewers contacted the filmmakers stating how much the movie helped them get in touch with their own trauma, and ultimately gave them permission to heal. Esrick remarks, "Two people have written to me that they decided not to commit suicide after seeing it. Mostly people tell me that the film makes them realize that they were not born broken." The film Cracked Up, its website, and accompanying materials offers resources for clinicians and survivors alike. Screenings, webinars, and more have begun a long-overdue global conversation on an experience far too many share. Esrick states, "Trauma is largely diagnosed in our society. Darrell was misdiagnosed 40 times over 30 years. We have a system that is treating the symptoms. If we don't process our trauma with a qualified trauma expert, we will stay sick and get sicker. We are treating the smoke and not the fire."  Cracked Up filmmaker Michelle Esrick Cracked Up is now available for streaming on Netflix increasing its viewership to the public, and eliciting an overwhelming response. Esrick reflects, "Healing ourselves is healing the world. We are not separate from one another. If the coronavirus is teaching us anything it is teaching us that we affect each other. We are all in this together." Cracked Up features an original song by Diane Warren, sung by Macy Grey. Watch the film on Netflix now. For more information about the film as well as educational screening licenses and other resources, visit: Crackedupmovie.com. Michelle Esrick can be found at: http://rippleeffectfilms.rmainweb.com The post Cracked Up adds to Global Conversations of Mental Health appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health. |
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