 We all have subconscious thought patterns that limit us from our greatest potential. Thoughts like “I’m not good enough” or “I can’t” are ingrained in us at a young age. Even though we don’t consciously think these thoughts, they impact every aspect of our lives.
You may wonder why you aren’t achieving your goals or why you’re experiencing plateaus in your health, career or relationships. Even though you have the best of intentions, something doesn’t work out or you end up self-sabotaging. Somewhere along the way, you picked up a belief that is preventing you from getting where you want to go. The fastest and easiest way to clean your subconscious mind is through Kundalini Yoga and meditation. Your mind is like a dirty windshield full of 1,000s of thoughts that prevent you from seeing clearly. Through the science and technology of kundalini yoga, you’re able to get past what you are not to experience who and what you really are. Kundalini Yoga is the yoga of awareness that began somewhere between 1,000 and 500 BC. It was originally a secret system known only amongst a few yogis. Yogi Bhajan who was a Master of Kundalini Yoga by the age of 16, brought the teachings to the West in 1969. Now, you can find classes all over the United States. Kundalini Yoga is unique in that it focuses more on mental flexibility than physical flexibility. Rather than doing a flow, you do kriyas. Kriyas are a specific and complete set of actions that produce a certain result. They were passed down to us through Yogi Bhajan from the great yoga masters and are not to be changed. However, you can do exercises for less but never more than the time listed. In a Kundalini Yoga Class, you can expect to do breathwork, meditation and kriyas (yoga sets) while listening to and sometimes chanting mantras. The mantras carry an ancient and healing sound current designed to target your subconscious mind. This sacred combination works to replace unhealthy thought patterns with better, healthier thoughts. In class, old thoughts and feelings may come up. That’s because you are processing and clearing away the blocked energy. Most students report feeling more energized, relaxed and clear-headed after class. Scientifically, Kundalini Yoga works with your endocrine glands which produce hormones to help your body function. The glands work with the nervous system, the endocrine system, the chakra system, other glands and the organs. The Pituitary Gland is known as the ‘Master Gland’ because it controls the entire glandular system which includes the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals, pancreas and reproductive glands. The Pituitary Gland secretes hormones that affect growth, blood pressure, protein synthesis, digestion, etc. Through the practice of Kundalini Yoga, you train your glands to secrete properly for optimal health and energy. Kundalini yoga is a spiritual but not a religious practice. A lot of Kundalini practitioners choose to wear white clothing. This is because white contains all colors and is known to expand your aura about 1.5 feet. Some teachers and students cover their heads. The reason is when the kundalini energy rises to the crown chakra, you can sometimes get headaches or spaced out. A head covering helps you to focus. Kundalini yoga is a healing technology that is available to anyone interested in experiences that establish an aligned relationship between the body, mind and soul. You could read for hours about what Kundalini Yoga is and how it works, but this is a practice that must be experienced. It’s unlike any other yoga or fitness program I’ve found. Once you start to tune into the kundalini energy that has been dormant inside of you for your whole life, you won’t want to turn back. For me, it was like waking up from a dark dream and realizing a new reality filled with so much love and light. It's not that all my problems have disappeared, I simply don't consider them problems any longer because I see them from a different perspective. I’ve never been more passionate about something in my entire life. The science and technology of Kundalini Yoga has healed me. My vision is to guide as many people as possible in healing themselves. That's why I'll continue to share these teachings with you. Stay tuned for quick yoga and meditations coming to your inbox soon. Blessings, Greta  “We are at a crucial change of the time—a change of an Age. The basic sensitivity of people to their own psyche and to each other is shifting. Now we must all experience and know our mind so we can choose to act in an elevated and effective way. Nothing less will be acceptable in this Age of Awareness.”
-Yogi Bhajan Since the World Wide Web first became public in 1991, humans have had access to more information than ever before. Speed up to today when almost everyone is attached to a tiny computer at all times. Needless to say, the past 30 years have been dramatically different compared to the 30 years before that. Time continues to speed up as do our electronic devices. It’s hard to keep up with the latest technology that we now rely on for alarm clocks, navigation and constant communication. How do we explain these drastic and fast-paced changes? Moreover, how do we thrive in an ever changing world that demands our constant attention? With so much information available, we need to learn how to use the data instead of letting the data use us. Humans need to get back to trusting their intuition more than artificial intelligence. We need to develop new ways of coping and connecting in the New Age. We are officially on the cusp of the Aquarian Age. The Piscean Age was governed by the patriarchy, machines and organized religion. The new Aquarian Age is dominated by energy, awareness and information. Everyone can sense this shift in society, consciousness and how we perceive the world and each other. In the last Age we faced challenges like tuberculosis and smallpox. As we progress into the New Age, we’ll continue to confront spiritual ailments, depression and stress-related psychological illnesses that are now rising at a rapid rate. It is up to us to build the foundation of the New Age. I feel called to participate in leading us from darkness to light. The best way I know how to do that is through a science and technology called Kundalini Yoga. Yogi Bhajan delivered the ancient and timeless teachings of Kundalini Yoga to the West in 1969. It is the fastest working yoga because it gives you the power to transform through a legacy of love and a lineage of enlightened souls called the Golden Chain. Though I could go on for pages explaining what Kundalini Yoga is, it’s something that must be experienced. And in a world teeming with information, what we need most are experiences that establish an aligned relationship between the body, mind and soul. All this brings me to my new and improved newsletter: Wednesday Awakening with Greta. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know between 2015 and 2017 I sent an email every single Wednesday called “Wake up Wednesday with Greta”. Sadly, I stopped after a job change that left me with very little free time. I’m thrilled to announce I’m back and better than ever. As we enter into a fresh decade, I’m ready to show up and share my passion for natural health, self-healing and inner happiness. It’s clear that my role on this planet is to guide people in awakening to their truest and highest potential. I’m grateful you’re here and along for the ride. You can expect 2 emails from me each month. In them, you’ll continue to learn about Kundalini Yoga and the Aquarian Age. You’ll get simple meditation techniques, yoga sets, breathwork exercises and natural health tips. I’ll share what’s inspiring me and helping me live my best life. Consider this a resource for becoming more aware, awake and alive during this expansive shift. Please feel free to reach out to me with any thoughts or requests. We’re in this together. Have a beautiful and blessed day, Greta  During my junior and senior years of high school, I was really seeking. In a small town at my parents house, I spent a lot of time studying spiritual texts. The Christian religion I was raised in never fully resonated with me. I had to search elsewhere. In my heart, I wanted to connect with a higher power, but I didn't know where or how...
I began looking into Buddhism, Hinduism and even Witchcraft. These belief systems made some sense to me. They discussed the importance of establishing a relationship not just with a higher power, but with your higher self. To do this, experts recommended a meditation practice. My books told me to start with 3 minutes and build up from there. I learned it's better to do 3 minutes every day than 1 hour twice a week. So at age 16, I tried meditation for the first time. I put a pillow on my bedroom floor and set my dad's kitchen timer for 3 minutes. Let me tell you, those were the longest 3 minutes of my life. But I followed through. And I felt a little more relaxed and connected to myself. It was enough to keep going. From there, I continued doing my 3-minute meditations and slowly increased to 5, then 10 and 20 minute sessions. The longer I stuck with it, the easier it got. Over time, I noticed I was less anxious and more present. Ultimately, I felt a connection to my higher self and a higher power which was what I had been longing for. This changed everything for the better. Keep in mind that meditation is a lot like dating. There are endless options, and you have to try a few different styles before you know what you like. But once you find the right one, you'll fall deeply in love. You'll cultivate the most profound and important relationship of your life. The relationship you have with yourself! Here's a super easy meditation you can do at home: 1.) Find a comfortable seated position. Keep your spine nice and tall and close your eyes. 2.) Bring your thumb and pointer finger together in Gyan Mudra. Let the tops of your hands rest on your lap. 3.) As you inhale, think the sound "Sat". It ryhmes with "hut". This means "I am". 4.) As you exhale, think the sound "Nam". It ryhmes with "Tom". This means "truth". Continue for 3, 5 or 11 minutes. Try this out and let me know how it goes. I'm doing my best to post more yoga and meditation videos on Instagram. So come find me over there: @gretaertl Please let me know if you have any questions. I'm here to support you on your spiritual journey. Hiya Cutie!
Today I want to talk about selfishness. Have you ever been called selfish? I definitely have. As a young child, my nuclear family referred to me as, "Greta Gets Her Way". It came from relentlessly pushing for what I wanted until I got it. Of course, this attitude got worse in my teenage years. You could for sure say I acted like a selfish brat. Thankfully, I had a huge wake up call. Between my 16th & 17th birthday, I started a yoga practice. It made me increasingly aware of my thoughts, word and actions. I grew more compassionate and considerate of others. Something shifted in a big way. Entering adulthood, things got a little more complicated. I learned how important it is to know and ask for what you want. People pleasing isn't sustainable. There's a balancing act to giving and taking. To be healthy and happy, you must take care of yourself. We know from airplane safety demonstrations that if you don't put your oxygen mask on first, you can't save anyone else... There's an increasing number of social media influencers, bloggers and celebrities who strongly encourage a self-care practice. I personally know a lot of people (mostly women) who confuse this with selfishness. They've expressed feeling wrong for spending time and money on things like working out, pedicures, creative pursuits, starting a business, girls trips, even taking a bubble bath or afternoon nap. Because I am a HUGE advocate of self-care in all its glorious forms, I want to explain 2 different kinds of selfishness. I see it like this: There's selfish (little "s") and Selfish (capital "S"). Little "s" selfish is not a good look on anyone. It comes in the form of greed, narrow-mindedness and narcissism. Think back to that snotty, pouting teenager who can't see beyond herself. Yucky things like belittling others to make yourself feel better, rudeness and incessant complaining fall into this form of (little "s") selfishness. Selfish with a capital "S" is extremely important and necessary. This kind of Selfishness means you keep your side of the street clean through self-examination and personal development. It's prioritizing your health and fitness so you can provide for others. You give from a space of joy, not obligation or guilt. When it's time to rest, you rest. No means no. Yes means yes. Though you may disappoint others in the short term, you'll be a better version of yourself in the end. Selfishness (capital "S") could be classified as self-care and is never something to feel bad about. Give yourself permission to be big "S" Selfish from here on out. Release all guilt and shame associated with self-care. Intuitively, you know how to put yourself first without hurting anyone in the process. There's a voice deep inside of you that's begging for your attention. Start listening to YOUR wants and needs so you don't fall into the trap of resentment and exhaustion. You owe yourself the same amount of love and care you offer others. PUT IT INTO ACTION: Meditate on selfishness, Selfishness and self-care in your life. Schedule a minimum of 1 hour this week dedicated to YOU. Value that time like an important doctor's appointment. Sign up for a yoga class, get out your craft kit, enjoy a chick flick...whatever feels the most pleasurable. Notice any guilt that comes up during that time and let it go. Affirm that you're caring for yourself so you can better care for others. Increase this practice to 20 minutes to 1 hour each day. I'm here to support you on your Selfish/Self-Care Journey. Let me know if you'd like to chat about this in more detail. All replies go straight to my private inbox, and I always reply. Make today about being good to YOU! xoxo, G  This morning I had plans to meet a dear friend for coffee. We’re usually quite casual and flexible with each other, especially when it comes to timing. We almost expect our meetings to start and end a little later than the original arrangement.
Today was no different; I was running behind schedule. I found myself anxious and scrambling to get to the cafe on time. Around 10 minutes before I left my apartment, I texted to let her know I’d be leaving soon. And she quickly replied, “No rush!” But I still felt rushed. I noticed my anxiety getting worse as the minutes passed by. My breath shortened and my pulse quickened. I wasn’t fully present to what I was doing because I was worrying about the future. It was an uncomfortable feeling that was completely self-induced. Then I did do something different. I paused and realized I was creating unnecessary pain through my fabricated sense of urgency. My friend wasn’t in a hurry. Her text granted me permission to take the time I needed to get to her safely. So why was I stressing myself out over nothing? Simply noticing my reaction helped to significantly reduce my nervousness, if not eliminate it. It’s so easy to project toxic thoughts and emotions into the stories of your day, often without it. Here are some examples that come to mind: If the guy you’re dating doesn’t reply to your text message after 15 minutes, you start telling yourself he lost interest and probably started seeing someone else. You feel sad until 15 minutes after that he gets back to you like nothing changed. You freak out on Wednesday night because no one signed up for your Thursday morning Pilates class. Your evening is spent feeling like a failure, and you believe they must not like your teaching style. But you show up to the studio the next day to find 3 people registered and 3 more dropped in at the last minute. A colleague seems quieter than usual. She cancels your happy hour plans at the last minute. In your mind, she must be mad at you for something. You spend the day bummed out, trying to figure out why. Later that night, she informs you that her cat is sick and she needed to be home with her. Think about all the time and energy you’ve wasted worrying about things that don’t exist. How much of your day are you spending in the past or future, participating in a narrative that only hurts you? So much pain can be avoided by being accepting and present. Sure, you’re human and it’s natural for your mind to wander into fantasy land. But I encourage you to pause and notice your anxieties. Can you pinpoint where they’re coming from? Is it something real that you should take action on, or is your imagination running wild? Even if the worst case scenario is true, your anguish isn’t serving you. You’re better off letting it go and letting it be. It’s probably not personal. Trust that what is happening is right...because it IS. If you’re anything like me, you run a little bit anxious. Anxiety can be debilitating at times because it feels like there’s nothing you can do to stop it. But perhaps you do have the power to put it to a halt. Wouldn’t you say it’s worth a try? I hope you’ll join me in this approach to living a joyful and anxiety-free life. Together, let’s encourage each other to step back and get curious about our feelings and the stories behind them. By letting go of judgement and observing from a space of inquiry, it’s easier to connect the dots around your anxieties. Sometimes one connection is all it takes to shift the storyline and start a new chapter; one where you’re empowered and life is working in your favor. Take action today! Slow down. Listen to what you’re saying to yourself and others. Connect with your breath. Release what doesn’t serve you. Choose to see the positive. And welcome yourself back to the present moment where life is really happening.  Bring to mind a positive relationship you have with someone who’s not related to you. This could be a significant other, best friend or coworker.
Think back to when and how you started getting to know each other... Usually it works like this: You attract one another and begin communicating. Common interests are found. Fun is had. As time goes on, you talk and text and plan weekly play dates. Trust is built. You consider this person someone you can count on. Maybe you even tell them you love them. The best relationships grow stronger over time. They develop and evolve over months and years of conversations and shared experiences. As you become more comfortable with one another, you shift and change to show more of your personality and vulnerabilities. Marketing is a relationship between your business and the people you’re selling to. Like any other meaningful partnership, the connection you have with customers and potential customers takes time to solidify. When you first start promoting yourself through newsletters and social media, your followers may be attracted to you, but they don’t necessarily trust you...yet. It’s up to you to earn their trust through clear, consistent, and honest communication. That’s why marketing is a long-term strategy. True, authentic growth doesn’t happen overnight. It rarely happens in 1 month. Often times, it takes at least 6 months to see real results. When you invest in marketing, you’re investing in relationships with people who need you most. Do you want to outsource your marketing so you don’t have to worry about it? Here are 3 things to consider: 1.) Come up with a realistic marketing budget. It takes money to make money. Marketing and advertising agencies aren’t cheap because they’re in the business of making your company profitable. Consider exactly how much you can afford each month so when you’re ready to hire someone, you know how much you have to spend on their services. 2.) Find a marketing person (or company) you resonate with. Ask a lot of questions. Make sure they do the same. Learn about their strategies for success. Get testimonials from their past clients if at all possible. Listen to your gut. You’ll have a sense for whether or not they’re a good fit pretty quickly. 3.) Even though you won’t necessarily see a huge return on investment in the first month or so, trust they’re doing their job. Go in with the understanding that you’re building relationships with your fans and followers. Healthy relationships take time. Give them at least 3-6 months to deliver results. After that, you can evaluate their methods and decide if it’s worth it to keep going or try something (or someone) else. Humans love instant gratification. But when it comes to marketing, you have to be patient. The most noteworthy companies understand the importance of investing in their growth which is why they set aside money for marketing. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, consider a similar investment. Be ready to spend your hard-earned money with the understanding that over time, you WILL see results. I believe if you continuously take steps to move your vision forward, magic WILL happen and you WILL materialize your dreams. |