An introduction to the "chakra" system

by guest blogger Molly Coeling

Well hello, and welcome to my third article in a series of guest posts! My goal with these posts is to help familiarize and pre-educate you prior to a workshop I'll be offering in February at your very own Pumps Fitness! This workshop will give you a chance to experience and practice sensing energy and using energy techniques to boost your own health. More details will be coming soon; in the meantime stay tuned for a new blog post every Monday that will focus on energy and self-care. Check out my first two posts to get caught up:

Protect yourself from "energy vampires" with "energetic self-care"

What is energy and why does it matter?

If you are new to the world of "chakras" and "energy healing," I am so excited to share this information with you! Why? Because there is so much room for you to learn, grow, heal and thrive using these concepts and tools. When I first learned about energy healing, I realized that what I always suspected and felt was there, just under the surface, a whole layer to life that no one had taught me about -- that it is not only there but that I could actually begin to feel it and work with it to change my life! 

And now, back to the topic at hand: chakras. Chakras are spinning wheels of energy found throughout the body; in fact the word "chakra" is Sanskrit for "wheel" or "vortex." While humans have over one hundred chakras throughout the body, there are seven primary chakras and each one correlates with key physical and non-physical aspects of ourselves. When these chakras are healthy, open and balanced we in turn feel healthy, open and balanced. When we are feeling unwell, blocked or just plain "off," chances are that one or more of our seven primary chakras is out of balance. 

Each primary chakra is associated with specific aspects of your overall well-being and functioning in the world. In essence, chakras are impacted by your life experiences, and perhaps more importantly, by how you respond to those life experiences -- your thoughts, your emotions and your actions. Each chakra is also associated with one of the glands of the endocrine system; these glands are responsible for regulating the production and distribution of hormones into the bloodstream, playing a major role in major role in growth, development, and physical and mental health. 

So how do the chakras relate to your physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual health? Let me provide an example.

The first chakra, also known as the root chakra, is located at the base of the spine near your coccyx (or tailbone) and relates to your survival and security needs. On a physical level the root chakra is associated with the health of your skeletal system, colon, bladder, legs and feet. It is also associated with the adrenal glands of the endocrine system, which governs the "fight or flight" response. A person with a healthy root chakra will tend to feel safe in the world and will have a strong belief that they will have everything they need. A person with an unhealthy root chakra may feel a sense of lack rather than abundance, or they may be on the other extreme and function from a place of greed.

Such an imbalance may have resulted from an insecure childhood, for example having to move often, not feeling safe in their home, or not having enough money. Fear underlies both of the extreme reactions to an imbalanced root chakra, which is associated with the adrenal glands and their "fight or flight" response, which can lead to an imbalance in stress hormones. Taken to the physical level, a person with an imbalanced first chakra may tend to have spinal or skeletal issues or issues with the legs and feet.

In essence the chakras provide a sort of road map to your overall health, offering a link between your life experiences and your physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual health. Next week's post will provide specific information on each chakra and will help you begin to assess the health of each of your chakras, how this could relate to your overall well-being, and what you can do about it. Stay tuned!

About the Author: Molly Coeling, LMT, RMT, MPH is a Reiki* practitioner and teacher, as well as a clinical massage therapist. Her private practice is in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago. Check out her website here. 

*Reiki is an energetically based holistic healing practice that supports overall balance, reduces stress and supports the immune system. Reiki can help to relieve a variety of emotional, psychological and physical ailments including anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia and pain.

What is energy and why does it matter?

by guest blogger Molly Coeling

I am beyond thrilled that my good friends here at Pumps Fitness embrace and embody a holistic approach to health. I support their goal of providing opportunities for you to learn about and experience yourself as an energetic being as part of a holistic approach to fitness and self-care. Currently Pumps offers Tai Chi, Yoga, a "Stretch & Meditate" class and private Reiki sessions. In February I'll be jumping on the bandwagon and offering a workshop that will give you a chance to experience and practice sensing energy and using energy techniques to boost your own health. Details about this exciting workshop will be coming soon, and in the meantime stay tuned for a new blog post every Monday that will focus on energy and self-care.

Last week I posted about how to protect yourself from "energy vampires" and described for you some self-care techniques to practice. Over the next few weeks I'll be posting every Monday with the goal of providing some basic education on this whole concept of "energy."

But first it's important to clarify what I mean when I talk about "energy." So today I'll try to break down this relatively broad concept in this relatively short blog post. 

Our energy extends beyond our physical body;
this is known as one's aura, biomagnetic energy field, or simply your personal space

The core and fundamental concept that is key to understanding energy is that everything is made of energy; in fact everything IS energy. The phone, tablet or computer that you are reading this on mis made of eneergy. The air you are breathing is also energy. The ground underneath you is energy. And most importantly, YOU are energy -- your physical body, your thoughts, your emotions, and everything that is a part of you is pure energy.

So let's get a bit more concrete. Energy vibrates over a wide range of frequencies. The higher the frequency, the faster the energy is vibrating; similarly, lower frequency means slower vibration. In order for objects such as a tree, bicycle, and your own body to be perceived as solid, they must vibrate at a very low frequency; in fact, the energy that makes up physical objects is moving so slowly that it appears to not be moving at all. Hence our perception that solid objects are static and not moving. 

It follows that energies that are vibrating at higher frequencies are not perceived as solid objects; however, this does not mean that those energies are not real and that they do not impact us and our world. For example, radio waves are very real, but we can't see or touch them; they are vibrating at a high enough frequency to be able to travel very quickly and, for all intensive purposes, invisibly.

An interesting example of energy we can't see but that we can still sense is the mechanism underlying "telepathic communication." This can be as simple as reading a good friend's mind or as trippy as feeling an unmistakable premonition that something tragic has happened to a loved one and finding out that they were having a heart attack at that exact moment. These occurrences are not inexplicable coincidences; they are the natural consequence of being energetically bonded to someone. We are tapped into these people energetically, and we are literally feeling the intense energy they are emitting.

So what is so exciting about all of this? Well basically, if we are all energetic beings we have a largely untapped avenue for healing, healthy living, and self-care. It turns out that we can all work with energy in very simple ways to produce powerful results. For some simple examples of how to begin to work with your own energy and protect yourself from "energy vampires," check out last week's blog post here.

About the Author: Molly Coeling, LMT, RMT, MPH is a Reiki* practitioner and teacher, as well as a clinical massage therapist. Her private practice is in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago. Check out her website here. 

*Reiki is an energetically based holistic healing practice that supports overall balance, reduces stress and supports the immune system. Reiki can help to relieve a variety of emotional, psychological and physical ailments including anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia and pain.

Too much hustle and bustle this holiday season?

Protect yourself from "Energy Vampires" with "Energetic Self-Care"

by guest blogger Molly Coeling

Do you feel like your energy is being drained lately? Do you ever wonder what you can do to protect yourself from the "energy vampires" in your life, i.e. those people, events, and tasks that seem to suck the life force right out of you?

As energetic beings, we are susceptible to all of the energy around us; in other words, we are "energy permeable." Despite this susceptibility, it is often difficult to notice in the moment when your energy is being needlessly drained. So step #1 is to simply NOTICE.

Noticing is easier when you are present in the moment and are able to tap into what you are feeling in your body. Some signs that your energy is being drained include:

- muscles tightening up
- holding your breath
- gritting your teeth
- a knot in your stomach
- feeling angry or impatient

If you are able to catch the "energy vampire" in the moment, congratulations! This is half the battle. If you can't make a quick exit to physically separate yourself from the "energy vampire," have no fear; there are other options.

First, simply breathe and try to relax your body and your mental state. Then, as a preventive measure, try one of these two simple techniques.

1) Draw your energy in: Imagine your energy field, which extends several feet around you; some people like to think of this as your "personal space." Using your intention and/or imagination, draw your field in so that it hovers just over your skin. Keep your energy in close to yourself rather than putting it out there for anyone or anything to draw from. 

2) Become a mirror: Again, imagine your energy field. But instead of drawing it in close to your skin, imagine it staying right where it is and becoming reflective, like a mirror. Use this mirror to deflect and reflect unwanted energy. 

Does all of this sound hokey? A bit far fetched? Perhaps. BUT if you have read this far, it is likely you are feeling the very real effects of needless energy drain, so why not try to feel the effects of conscious energetic protection? I challenge you to at least give it a try.

About the Author: Molly Coeling, LMT, RMT, MPH is a Reiki* practitioner and teacher, as well as a clinical massage therapist. Her private practice is in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago. Check out her website here. 

*Reiki is an energetically based holistic healing practice that supports overall balance, reduces stress and supports the immune system. Reiki can help to relieve a variety of emotional, psychological and physical ailments including anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia and pain.

Don't Believe These 5 Myths These myths sabotage results and keep people miles from their goal weight. The truth is that strength training is one of the best things you can do for your health, fitness and appearance. Don’t fall for one of these 5 myths and miss out on tremendous potential results. Strength Training Myth #1: Muscle Can Turn Into Fat  Why would anyone want to build muscle if they think it could morph into fat over time? Don’t worry; this myth is seriously false. Muscle tissue is muscle tissue. Fat tissue is fat tissue. One will never become the other. Strength Training Myth #2: Strength Training Makes Women Bulk Up  Sure, strength training increases the amount of muscle on your body, so many women take this to mean that their body will become body-builder-esque. Not quite the look you’re going for… The truth is that the female body simply doesn’t naturally contain large enough levels of testosterone to put on bulk muscle without a very focused and dedicated effort. Rest assured, ladies, the effort you spend on strength training will get you closer to that lean, toned look you want. Strength Training Myth #3: Strength Train Enough and You Can Eat Anything  To many people throw away their hard-earned fitness results by eating too much of the wrong stuff. Even if you strength train daily at an intense rate, your total calories still matter. To top it off, most people overestimate how many calories they burn as well as underestimate how many calories they eat. Talk about a fattening combo. For best results, maintain a calorie-controlled diet filled with fresh, wholesome ingredients in addition to a regular, challenging strength training routine. Strength Training Myth #4: Strength Training Does Not Burn Fat  This one couldn’t be more false. Muscle is actually your number one ally against fat gains. One pound of muscle burns 10-20 calories each day, just living and breathing. Regular strength training helps you increase your muscle mass as well as preserve existing muscle mass, turning you into a fat burning machine. Strength Training Myth #5: High Reps And Light Weights For Toning  This myth, made popular in the 90’s, says that very high repetitions of very light weights would result in a toned physique. Sorry, not true. These high repetitions will increase your muscular endurance but will not add strength or tone. In order to truly challenge your muscles, heavier weights with lower repetitions are a must. Start with an 8-10 repetition range and push your muscles with each set. Include strength training as a part of your fitness routine and finally achieve a fit and toned body. Our custom-made fitness programs remove all of the guesswork for you. We know what works, and we make it our mission to see you reach your goals. Call or email today and we’ll get you started on the program that’s best for you. For Best Results... Want to get the most from your workouts? Follow these 5 tips: Be Consistent: exercise at least 4 times each week. Be Challenged: change your routine often. Be Patient: don’t forget that true fitness results take time. Be Excited: find an exercise program that you love. Be Coached: call in a professional, like us, for real results. Call or email today! Call Today For Your Free Consultation! Email: pumpstrainingandpilates@gmail.com Phone: 219-548-3480 Website: Pumps Fitness

MONTHLY CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT ON……  Vera Bobek!

DECEMBER 2014

My name is Vera Bobek. I have been coming to Pumps Fitness for more than 3 years.  I have 3 children, 5 grandchildren and live on a farm 25 miles from Valparaiso.  My daughter, Julie, saw my posture deteriorate including:  rounded shoulders and a noticeable forward lean.  She surfed the Internet for a fitness studio within 30 miles and found Pumps Fitness.  Then Julie called and interviewed the owner/pilates trainer inquiring about the pilates program, certifications, experience and environment.  She was pleased and purchased me a pilates private training package.

Now, it was up to me to make the move and try pilates.  I was reluctant and kept putting it off for this would be a new experience for a 68 year old.  A fitness studio for me?- I’m a farm wife who knows plenty about manual labor and farming but not much about fitness. Yet, I knew my body was in need of more exercise and mobility.  I wanted to be able to pick up that piece of paper that fell on the floor like I used to when I was 20 years younger not just look at it and try to figure out how to pick it up or ignore it.

 So, I finally took the big scary leap and tried a private pilates session.  What an experience!  The session was fun, hard and rewarding.  I left feeling confident and alive.   I was not intimated or scared for the second session.  Don’t get me wrong, pilates is difficult.  I had so much to learn and understand about my body and muscles.   But I was determined.  I was starting to wake up muscles that I didn’t even know I had.  This experience and process just amazed me.   Immediately, I began to feel better about myself, my body movement was becoming more natural, my coordination was improving, my flexibility was taking shape and pounds started to drop off.  Today, I feel more fit and healthy.  I don’t take any medications.  I can pick up that fallen piece of paper.   My grandkids and I can play softball or soccer when they come to visit.  I am grateful and happy that I decided to follow my daughters lead and try pilates at Pumps Fitness.

Staying fit and healthy takes commitment, time and hard work.  I enjoy going to Pumps Fitness twice a week participating in either a private or partner pilates session.  Mary, my pilates trainer, has helped me achieve my fitness goals.  She works with my limitations while still pushing me to new fitness levels.  She is always patient and encouraging which I greatly appreciate. 

I strongly recommend Pump Fitness to all my friends and family.   This studio has great trainers who look after your needs and goals.  The classes and facility is great for all ages and fitness levels.