Where are you laying down your roots?
Michelle Bartolo shares how working on our hips, our root chakra (aka Mulhadhara Chakra) is purposeful and necessary practice.
Have you ever paid attention to the base of your tailbone? As you sit on the earth can you sense your connection to the earth from your roots as if you are part of the earth? This area of the body represents our need for safety, security and survival. In what ways do you provide these aspects of your roots for yourself?

From Our Roots We Rise Gozo in the House
When we feel fear, insecurity, doubt or perhaps a loss of purpose our roots are compromised. We are feeling ungrounded in our being as these aspects of ourselves are what brings our root chakra off balance.

The mantra ‘I am grounded, I am safe, I am supported’ is the light aspect of this energy centre. Touching the earth in any way will help one feel the grounding energy that the earth provides when we are feeling off balance.

This month’s practices are all hip-focused. We call it a Hip Fix. Every asana aims at the outside and inside of the hips as we stay grounded, close to the earth to sense the centre of our body. When this centre is off balance we often reach out for a stimulant to help our sluggishness or to ease our fears, insecurities or doubts.

Yet what we really need to do is move our hips to be sure our ‘Apana Vayu’ which is responsible for eliminating what is no longer needed. This energy is most active in the pelvis and lower abdomen which governs our eliminative functions (excretion, urination, menstruation).

When Apana is weak we become susceptible to illness, fear, doubt, confusion & insecurity. When Apana is strong and balanced we feel grounded, ROOTED, providing the foundation for a healthy body and a flexible positive outlook on life. Reaching out for stimulants will create blockages. We need to move the energy in our hips, our roots. We need to reach inside instead of outside.

“Fear is a belief that something awful might happen, while faith is a belief that something good will happen. Although the results are different, the causes are the same – both are beliefs that govern our behaviour and influence the way we feel. If we can replace unreasonable fear with reasonable faith, then we have a natural remedy to our first chakras demon”

ANODEA JUDITH
From Our Roots We Rise Gozo in the House
FROM OUR ROOTS WE RISE
When fear strikes we have a tendency to reach out instead of sit and look within. Fear is the demon of our root chakra. Our fear has much to teach us. Fear teaches us of our own importance and the need to take care of ourselves. Only when we acknowledge this demon as an ally can it be truly mastered.

Fear engages our survival instincts by getting us ready to respond. If that becomes constant we lose our ability to respond appropriately. So we loosen up those hips! We consider the hips the junk drawer of the body, when we open the hips we clear out the junk that we’ve chosen to bury and pretend it’s not there.

Guess what? It doesn’t go away. Just like your junk drawer at home, the more you stuff in there the fuller it becomes.

Michelle. X

For more information, more offerings and to book with Michelle: Website | Facebook | Instagram YouTube | Email
From Our Roots We Rise Gozo in the House
Author: Michelle Bartolo
Michelle Bartolo is a Yoga Guide based in Gozo. Blending the styles of Vinyasa & Kundalini with Pranayama Practices, Mindful Meditation and Quantum Physics, she offers holistic classes, private sessions, retreats and training using yoga tools to heal the emotional, mental and physical bodies.

A Powerful practice that creates a better world for you, me and the collective.

Michelle Bartolo shares an insightful story as she witnessed kindness for the greater good.
To stave off the sweats in Gozo recently we travelled north to Norway & Switzerland and oh what a literal breath of fresh air it was in so many ways. There is one particular act of kindness I was lucky to be a witness to that I’d like to share. During one of our flights, I noticed one of the stewards was not in a friendly mood. I couldn’t tell if he was sad or angry, yet I could tell he didn’t want to be there. His demeanour was closed, he was sure not to make eye contact with anyone and walked so fast up and down the aisle that you had no chance of asking him for assistance.

Kindness For The Greater Good Gozo in the House
A few rows down, in the aisle seat on the opposite side, was a big strong looking healthy man with his partner. As the steward flew by him he managed to halt his speed and asked him for some assistance. The steward stopped at this patron’s seat many times throughout our flight & each time they spoke for a little longer and created a deeper connection. Each time the steward went to speak to the patron he walked away a bit lighter. Then (from what my ears could hear) the steward was willing to do this man the favour he asked for (think it was about a connecting flight as the flight we were on was delayed).

They spoke to each other eye to eye, I could feel their connection continue to grow and hold respect even from where I was seated, I was drawn to their exchange of kindness, as it was so real.

The steward had succeeded in helping the patron and the patron dug into his bag and pulled out a patch that represented the police force he was in. He gave the steward this patch and expressed his gratitude for helping him so kindly. He then rolled up his sleeve to show the steward the tattoo on his arm that was the same as the patch he was gifting him.

The steward’s energy heightened instantly. He became soft and sunny & the glow in his eyes was back. He thanked him with his hand on his heart and told the patron that his grandfather was also a police officer and that he was very close to him. They exchanged a few words with the energy between them being full of light & love.

“Helping others is a universal virtue and a very affordable and economic way to benefit others and our own wellbeing. As the saying goes, helping others is helping yourself.”

JILL SUTTIE
Kindness For The Greater Good Gozo in the House
KINDNESS FOR THE GREATER GOOD
It was a heartwarming experience to witness the change in our steward’s disposition in a matter of an hour by the kindness & connection this patron shared. When the steward continued his work he had a lightness that surrounded him and it appeared to me that the clouds around him had let the sun in. He was ready to serve us all with joy and light. He walked up and down the aisle with a different strut, one of a much happier man.

What does kindness mean for you?
Go spread what you wish to grow – wishing you all a great season ahead!

Michelle. X

Kindness For The Greater Good Gozo in the House
KINDNESS FOR THE GREATER GOOD
Michelle.

For more information, more offerings and to book with Michelle: Website | Facebook | Instagram YouTube | Email
Kindness For The Greater Good Gozo in the House
Author: Michelle Bartolo
Michelle Bartolo is a Yoga Guide based in Gozo. Blending the styles of Vinyasa & Kundalini with Pranayama Practices, Mindful Meditation and Quantum Physics, she offers holistic classes, private sessions, retreats and training using yoga tools to heal the emotional, mental and physical bodies.

Inspiration struck me to share such a potent practice with you all. The inspiration came to me through many students feedback stating they just didn’t have the discipline to stick to a consistent practice. I know how much I LOVE these 40 day Sadhanas and the beginning of the year is when I always do one so this year I offered it up and out and our first Sadhana was a great success.
I am now running 3 Sadhanas a year and next one begins October 3 – November 11th

I also realise the importance of having a daily practice and how much better I feel for it.

Our Fall/Winter Edition will have us introspected, releasing and finding comfort in stillness as we settle into the cooler months.  The autumn-winter period is a time of drawing inwards, resting, and recuperating.