The Four Gates - a portal to enhancing relaxation

The Four Gates

Tui Na is pediatric chinese massage.  From this tradition comes the 'Four Gates'  - a massage practice to enhance relaxation, relieve pain, soothe nervousness, and calm sleeplessness.  Anyone saying YES YES PLEASE! when they think of their kids?

Massage is an easy way to connect with your kiddo, relax yourself and them, and create health and wellness for the entire family.  I suggest making it an everyday practice with babies and as often as you can with your kids as they get older.

When including regular massage and relaxation with your little ones consider adding this to your repertoire...the four gates.   Rubbing the soft point between the thumb and the index finger (see below)

and then between the toe and second toe webbing.  Gently press and/or rub in small gentle circles.  During massage you can use any organic oils you use in your kitchen (except chili oils!).  Coconut oil is cooling, olive and apricot oils are nourishing, and sesame oil is recommended for everyone (except those with sesame allergies).

As you massage these points come to your breath - inhaling and exhaling long and slow.  Focusing your attention and breath on the movement of the ribs - opening on the inhale and relaxing on the exhale.  Breathe audibly so your child has the opportunity to pace their breath with yours - teaching each other to relax.

After massage the four gates gently rub from your child's head down the body to the toes.  Place your hands on their heart center and let them know when you have completed the massage.  

And then it happens.....

You 'do' yoga.  You have practiced for awhile - maybe years.  You practiced during pregnancy and now bring the munchkin with you to class.  The practice of yoga can offer relief from physical body tension and fatigue. Did you know how much motherhood would shift your physical body AFTER the baby was born?  Yoga offers the chance to get to know the NEW you.  It creates the opening for a shift.  A shift - notice the shift.  Consciously bring the breath into the body.  Allow the body to accept and embrace the prana - the life force.  Sometimes it happens in yoga.  You can focus on you!  Even if it is briefly.  And when you do the most amazing things happen.

You nourish your soul through the physical practice of yoga.  You take care of your SELF.  You breathe life in and out as you move.  You refine your efforts - Sthira.  You recognize and encourage the ease - Sukha.
All the while your baby is near bathed in the energy of your Sukha and Sthira - your effort and your ease.  The constant is the breath.  Even through effort and we all know effort, we can find the ease with the breath. On the mat and off the mat.  Creating a resonance for your child to also learn. Through your yoga practice you teach your child the balance between effort and ease.  You pave the path for their future with this balance.

And then it happens in class one day.  You are in tree pose and your LO comes toddling over, looks at you, glances around the room, and decides from the spot deep within of effort and ease - I CAN DO THAT TOO!  You are standing next to another being creating balance between effort and ease - and you are both in tree pose.  A smile crosses your face, you might feel a rush of energy.  Bask in the connection, in the balance.  Feed yourself and your child!

Namaste.

And then it Happens....

Pausing

Pausing

Almost every time I sit to eat I take time, a breath, say a prayer.  Give thanks.  I pause.  Awakening the sacred within the moment.  Becoming more conscious, I begin to recognize the importance of the stillness - however long.  Do you ever find yourself at the end of the day, exhausted, wrung out, barely able to catch your breath?  Wondering where the day went?

This is why I connect back to the prana, the sacred life in food. I take the opportunity to create ritual within the everyday pedestrian act of eating.   I have made a pact with myself and in essence the lifeforce I am renewing myself with - the food, to pause, recognize my amazing body, how fortunate I am, and proceed in gratitude.

Taking this brief time will boost digestive functioning, increase nutritional absorption, strengthen the immune system,  activate creativity.  By acknowledging the sacred in my everyday life I am healthier, happier, and I have more confidence in myself.

Creating a space dedicated to honoring these sacred elements in life.  A table with flowers, affirmations, a candle, incense, photos, mementos.  Just a place where I pause, breathe, allow the beauty of life to inspire me, uplift me.  A place where I remind myself how awesome I am and how much I love my life! Inviting loved ones to join me, sharing a blessing, a breath, a moment.

From the food I eat to the way I drive down the road.  From the internal self talk to the exquisite feeling of water running over the body.  I pause * I pause * I bow *  Building this sacredness from the inside out.