Trauma-Informed LifeForce Yoga Gratitude Stair-Step Meditation With Liz Albanis| Ep 42

Your breath has been carrying you all day, even when you forget it is there. Host, Liz Albanis who is a certified yoga therapist and a registered senior yoga teacher, guides you into a grounded gratitude meditation. This practice stems from Lifeforce Yoga (founded by Amy Weintraub author of Yoga For Depression, Yoga Skills for Therapists and Yoga For Your Mood Deck). Liz credits her training with Amy, current owner of Lifeforce Yoga (Rose Kress) and her mentor Sherry Rubin for their tutelage.   Please note that this meditation involves kumbhaka (breath holds and retention) that is contra-indicated in pregnancy and many cardiovascular conditions. The imager (Bhavana) may be contra-indicated in psychosis and mania. The recording begins with setup guidance. An invitation to practice in what way is comfortable for you.  Use props if you want or need Keep your eyes open or soften, whichever feels best for you. if you want, You're encouraged to let this be “your way today” with no pressure to manufacture gratitude. Feel free to pause or discontinue the practice at any time if it doesn't serve you. A guided gratitude meditation that starts with comfort, choice, and zero pressure to feel anything on demand. Liz then guides a pranayama (yogic breath-work) sequence. This incorporates Havana (imagery) in the form of going up and down a mountain visualisation to pair breath awareness with real, specific gratitude.  Settling into a supported position with props and options  Breathing softly through the nose and using Liz's  voice as an anchor Welcoming sensations, feelings, and thoughts as part of the practice Letting gratitude arise naturally rather than forcing it  Noticing gratitude for breath and heartbeat  Loving through gratitude for eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hands, and feet Reflecting on support, technology, and the shift towards santosha Introducing optional kumbhaka and a paced mountain breath pattern Visualising gratitude across past, yesterday, today, and the future  Returning to natural breath, nostril awareness, and grounding to close Enjoy the practice!  Please note: This stair step practice stems from LifeForce Yoga. A style of yoga founded by Amy Weintraub, a pioneer in the field of yoga for mental health. A style developed for working with the mood. She is an inspiration to me and many!  It has been tweaked a little bit to focus on gratitude rather than energy or calm/anxiety. A heartfelt thank you to my teachers, Amy Weintraub, Rose Kress and Sherry Rubin. Click here for more information: Lifeforce Yoga (owned and run by Rose Kress): https://yogafordepression.com/ https://amyweintraub.com/ Important disclaimer: about the words “healing,” “recovery” and “therapeutic”: These terms are used throughout this podcast and accompanying content in a general, educational and experiential sense. They are not intended to imply or guarantee that yoga, yoga therapy, somatic practices or any other practice will diagnose, treat, cure or prevent trauma, PTSD, anxiety or any other medical or mental health condition. Individual experiences and outcomes vary. This content is for general informational and educational purposes and is not a substitute for personalised medical, psychological or other professional healthcare. Please seek advice from an appropriately qualified health professional regarding your individual circumstances. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love the show? We’d love a review! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Want to make video and audio editing quicker and simpler? Get 50% off the first 2 months of the Descript Creator Monthly Plan.  Instagram:  Youtube