Okay, so I have been absent for quite a few weeks now, and I apologize. I truly appreciate all of you who read the blog and find useful ideas to use in your life.

Recently I have found myself very distracted by the Seattle sun (and work, of course!) and I am going to give myself permission to take a couple more weeks off, and return to blogging more regularly in September.

In the next couple of weeks, I will announce some BIG NEWS! It has been a great year for growth, and more is on the way.

Also, I would love to hear from people who do read the blog, either via email at alingabodywork@gmail.com or in the comments. I am interested to hear what you like most, what doesn’t work for you and maybe there is something that I haven’t included so far that you would like to see more of.

A final note to say that the reason the subject line says, “Summer Holidays” is because Aussies and Brits use the work ‘holiday’ instead of vacation – think Cliff Richard, “We’re all going on a Summer Holiday”. Here’s a link in case you have forgotten (gasp!)

For everyone in the northern hemisphere, enjoy the summer holidays!!

My little guy has been a bit crook over the last week. It is hard for everyone when kids are a bit crook. So what does ‘crook’ mean?

~Crook

1. To be crook is to be ill, sick, or under the weather. Typically the phrase used is: “He’s a bit crook” or “Ah, is she a bit crook?” or “He’s crook as a dog!” You get the idea.

Aussie’s still use crook as an alternative to the word thief, but a lot of people use it when referring to someone who is sick.

*Sorry for the infrequent Aussieisms! The lure of the sun here in Seattle has me dropping the ball on my blog responsibilities. At the moment expect an Aussieism every couple of weeks, but I hope to get back to a weekly Aussieism when September rolls around and the Autumn leaves are in full swing!

Connecting to the heart is the gateway to peace. It’s a necessary component to feeling peaceful & is essential in aiding the body to clear unnecessary energy. When you’re disconnected from the heart this results in anxiety and edginess. Ego & the mind take over & the intuitive heart is unable to help.

From a five element theory perspective heart is the supreme controller, overseeing everything and maintaining order. If the supreme controller is unable to take control, there is inner panic and loss of control compromising peace and harmony. The healthy heart exhibits insight and understanding, maintaining order in bodymind. (Traditional Acupuncture: The Law of the Five Elements by D. Connelly)

A great meditation to ‘get to know’ the heart is to sit in a comfortable position, place your attention on the heart, noticing the sensations, tightness or lightness, and w/ your intention, allow yourself to sink deeper into the heart, into the heart space! In this space it will be light and spacious. Allow yourself to hang out here. The ability to connect with the heart space is a key skill to learn and will help you attain greater peace and harmony.

To connect to the heart also gives you an external awareness  and experience that is clearer, less charged (once unnecessary energy is released) and it helps you feel more outwardly connected to the things around you and to the people around you. Take the time to connect to the heart space, feel that blissful feeling of connectedness, and then step out into the world aligned with a feeling of peace. Lead with the heart!

Here’s a little bit about the new kid on the block, Emily McCullough. Such a great practitioner, we are sooo lucky to have her!! And stay tuned, in coming weeks we will get to hear more cool stuff about her martial arts background.

Emily McCullough has been practicing bodywork for people and dogs since 2006, with the belief that movement of the body and spirit through massage and energy work can increase the quality of life of each client.  Emily is a licensed massage therapist with an endorsement in small animal massage, a Reiki practitioner, and often uses elements of Lomi Lomi (Hawaiian massage) in her sessions.

While volunteering at the Woodland Park Zoo, Emily learned about small animal massage therapy and decided that she wanted to continue to work with animals regularly.  That, combined with a background in dance and an appreciation for several movement therapies, led her to attend Northwest School of Animal Massage and Brenneke School of Massage.  Since obtaining her license, she has worked within a chiropractic office offering treatment massage to people, and at a hydrotherapy pool giving therapeutic and palliative care to dogs. Whether providing therapy for a puppy recovering from knee surgery or for a person experiencing pent up stress, Emily creates a safe place for each client to realize their potential—whether that means running up a hill or feeling at peace with the world!

Interested in keeping mind and body fit, Emily practices a mix of martial arts which includes Kali, Jun Fan/JKD, kickboxing and grappling.  These arts have contributed to an ever-expanding interest in the mind/body connection that Emily brings to her massage work. She also enjoys knitting, reading, and spending time at home with her family and two dogs.

What does your emotional terrain look like? Really, it is something worth exploring. If you stop for a moment and connect in to the heart, or sit and focus on connecting to the body, notice what surfaces in your mind. Can you identify an image of a landscape that represents how you feel?

Is it rocky, a jagged cliffs edge, is it a picture of rolling hills, a long stretch of sandy beach, a lake by a mountain?

When you explore things using creative imagery it can free the mind up starting a process of exploring how you are feeling without plowing over the same old stories and feelings. Not to say that the same stories and themes won’t be a part of this process but by exploring things using creative imagery it can help people move past blocks.

Explore the current terrain, noticing the details exploring it fully in a gentle, curious way, and notice if the terrain changes. Sometimes changes can be quick and dramatic, changing from a jagged cliffs edge to a tranquil oasis full of coconut trees and crystal blue water. The key is to follow the journey without judgment. It does take some practice, but with practice using this type of body-centered meditation can help you gain insight into what you are feeling.

Having our eyes open and aware of our emotional terrain is a good thing.

Insight Reiki sessions use a similar process. Receiving Insight Reiki helps to bypass the logical mind, allowing your creative mind to guide the way which can often be effective in freeing emotional blocks.

Try out this meditation then come visit again, and tell us, what does your emotional terrain look like?