Balancing chakras in adolescents

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#4

Namaste Alix,

I always feel with patients like this that one cannot go too esoteric with them, you have to keep it “real” in order to reach them. However, you will be able to better judge than I as you have direct contact. Here is my suggestions:

[B]For Anahata balance:[/B] I think it is always important and very balancing for such patients to actually see and experience the qualities of Anahata from the people around them. These qualities such as love, compassion, kindness, generosity, caring for yourself and those around you (the puppy), are all very powerful tools in allowing the patient to reach a point where he/she can move within their own limits to embrace these qualities and as such an inner balance of the chakra is starting to take effect. Like I said this is plain stuff and it doesn’t involved some esoteric practices and should be quite easy to apply and implement.

Another subject of Anahata I would like to touch on is that of forgiveness. Not just forgiving others, but yourself. Some people are so hard on themselves that they refuse to forgive themsleves for anything, which leads to dissociation with this powerful chakra. I have seen in many instances if a person experience the power of forgiveness, by him/her self, by others, that seems to balance Anahata as well. This will set the stage for such an individual to let go of patterns of painful memories or negative attitides or a dysfunctional self-image. Forgiveness therefore can become a powerful act of healing and in the end balancing this chakra.

[B]For Vishuddha balance:[/B] Balancing this chakra is always a bit more difficult as the individual has to come to the table with more of him/her self. In other words, they can’t rely here on external influence to help with the balance, if they are unable to express their own will, then the primary fear of withdrawal and not speak your “thruth” will always be present and the chakra remains unbalanced.

I always see this chakra as our centre of personal choice and in making those choices we express our own will. Helping a person to express his/her will by making certain choices might be more difficult and I must say I am a bit lost here in my offering to you.

What I can offer and which I have seen on so many occasions have helped many people, is to encourage such a person to speak the truth. People tend to make up stories, sometimes we interpret it as lying, because they simply don’t know how to make another choice and if we can help them to choose differently, we might help them to balance the energy of this chakra. The main point here is that many people choose from fear as a basis, the challenge is to help them to understand those fears and the patterns of fear we repeat and to help to to see that those patterns do not serve them at all. The challenge would be to help the individual to establish new patterns from whe he/she can make choices.

Another essence of Vishuddha for me is faith. Having faith in yourself, in someone of something, in the world and in processes around us has a powerful and extremely balancing effect on this chakra and I encourage people to practice faith by doing a simple exercise with them. Pairing people up, I will ask one person to fall backwards into the arms of his/her partner. This is very difficult for many people, but after a while as they develop stronger faith patterns and as they start to find faith in themselves, the find it more acceptable to do. This simple exercise might be too advanced for some, I am sure you will be able to gauge your patient in this aspect, but it has a powerful balancing effect on our 5th chakra. Always listen for the release of energy from the throat when they do it with complete faith and the negativity is released. It is truely always amazing for me.

Alix, I hope this might help and add to everything you are doing for this patient.

#5

Thank you Pandara, that is exactly the help I was looking for. For this patient there is much work to be done and of course I can only guide him to it.

Your words resonated especially about having faith in oneself, and in others. I think this may be key in his work. I will need to ponder how to facilitate this as I don’t think I can easily incorporate the falling into someones arms. Perhaps a parent/child partnering in this effort will work. Hmmm.

Again thank you for your insightful words and suggestions, they are most appreciated.

#6

Oooh, yeah. I understood younger children. They have a more intuitive way of healing, sometimes. (and yep, I’m very proud of my mom.)

There are lots of physical trust exercises. It could be that, for someone with underdeveloped trust, any of the partners yoga already in your repertoire would serve as a start. For instance, a back to back dandasana will reinforce or develop the understanding of solidity and fortitude in the other person.

#7

Adolescent time is the time of developing a healthy astral body. (manomaya kosha)

Because of this, what they need the most, is right ideals, people to look up to, as Pandara said, genuine, authentic people who posess the astral qualities they could desire to achieve.

If the right ideals, provided by art, and perhaps religion - but we know how these have become, so they might be less appropriate today - and right idols are missing, the lower nature of the astral body will manifest, in the form of obsessive animal passions. (violence, fear, raw sexuality)
I repeat, they need ideals they can adopt because this is their strongest inner need, they need real people to look up to, and they will not be fooled by people who only think they are good or respectable. This is the age of waking criticism, too. They have great eye for any weakness.
The adult teacher must radiate the confidence what comes from a healthy, strong and clear astral nature, and perhaps from a deep self knowledge. Weaknesses we are aware of, what we openly accept as part of our lives are not weaknesess, but perhaps an opportunity to show our courage.

The more these real people are missing from their lives, the more they will find alien idols, artificial idols (rockstars, moviestars, celebrities), the more they will be influenced by people with strong egos but perhaps lesser moral integrity. The less ideals to strive for they find, the more they will be exposed to self distructing habits. And because in our materialist age, the world view totally lacks any moral aspects, and the ideals of religions are too old fashioned, we must realize that the situation is not exactly rosy. Anyone, who has managed to aquire the confidence and strenght coming from a healthy spirituality, has great responsability for any younger person they have a chance to build a relationship with, this was never as important as it is today.

Americans are in a better situation … they are more idealistic people than others, but the ideals I talk about must be grounded, touchable, they must be things to be built in one’s life. That’s why the personal example is of uttermost importance. Patience, courage, confidence, equanimity, kindness, flexibility in thought, strenght in resolve … these are just nice concepts, but when someone lives them in actual situations, perhaps even without realizing what one is doing, when these qualities just flow out of the personality, soul of the teacher, this is the time when real teaching happens.

In conclusion, dear Alix, the best thing to do is to be yourself, strive in your own spiritual practice as that is work on yourself, and this “self” who you are (no matter how little or high) is your tool of teaching. The better you know it, the better you will use it. The more you teach (regardless of results, we all have failures) the more you will know.

#8

Hubert, thank you. I will do my best to be someone he can look up to. EEK.

Lots of good advice here, I have a lot to think about. Keep the advice coming.

#9

I believe that if I can help him to balance vishuddha and annahata he will live less in ajna and life will become more balanced for him.

I would go through all the chakras one by one, balancing them equally, up and back down , so there is communication , and thus prana flow and nerve currents ,along the entire chakra highway,astral subtle body from root- muladhara,svadisthana, manipuraka,anahata vishuddhi,ajna and eventually crown-sahasrara. if you spend a little time in ajna from root, you may prevent overload issues before touching on crown.Even if you wish to spend more time one some chakras than others, balance lower ones(awareness of the physical body) with higher ones and run the entire tree.Integrate all the koshas.You don’t want obstructions at any point.

This may sound pretty esoteric to them. But if you lead by example, inspire trust and confidence, that what you offer is authentic and believe in the efficacy of what you’re doing etc, fine.

I would recommend meditation and savasana too or guided relaxation.

Get a big( possibly colourful) poster, and then introiduce the chakras, then invite them to imagine each one as awareness in their body going gently through each one stopping where they struggle to sense any awareness( least this is what i would do). This really should invigorate and strengthen the nervous system, and energise their body. I would balance this out with a guided meditation and take them to a place to free of all the nonsense chatter , where monkey-mind is tamed somewhat ,as best you can, and try and leave them there unassisted in their own freedom… Then try to let them be at peace there. You might want to create a certain ambience in the room. Dimming the lights might make it easier to get them to close their eyes so they can fcus on mind and eventual trascendent conssiousness.

I can see it could be a bit of a challenge but using a bit of humour, make it interesting and fun at first. You might need to get a feel for the atmosphere, or even disorientate them a little, a surppirse or a bright light,india mandala shawl or something

If you don’t take yourself too seriously you could really use your imagination on this one , number. You could teach a slightly off the wall but highly challenging yoga that will stretch their minds, have fun and make them feel as comfrortable as possible, psycholigically and mentally.

I’ve heard a comment the youth is misundersttod and under-appreciated. The role-models they have are kinda dubious, michael corleone’s, etc.

You want to show an interest in what they’re doing to get their trust and respect. Then they don’t feel you might be a false preacher because kids and adolscents ( a different group entirely from kids) tend to be smarter and certainly quicker and more alert than adults. They’re quick to identify weaknesses. You want to show them that this is okay, it’s allowed… humour them,… before gently training their mind,and letting all that energy go in their bodies and minds.

That particular one guy- i would balance all his chakras and use the breath with the visualisation ,before settling down subliiminally into meditation. The clourful drapes and lights are just decoys to get them interested and focus their attentions inwards- where the real work can occur. Obviously beings young you could also do a few gentle asanas if you like doing that.

Set a good example- and lead this way.Otherwise students won’t trust the teacher.And ‘adolescents’ are no fools to this. If they’re really young you obviously want to make them feel as safe and comfortable as you can (i.e bearing in mind you’re not their parent)

I’m sure you’re quite up to the responsiblity.

Hope this helps.

#10

core789, thank you. Working my way up is probably the best idea. I’m going to have to come at this a bit differently though. He is so negative and closed that its taken a Herculean effort to just move any feeling into his body from the top of his head. He has built some trust with me and knows that while I might be a hard taskmaster I am fair and always keep my word.

I do take all the adolescents into savasana and use guided meditation with them. I don’t leave them long in their own freedom as many of them are ADHD and can’t connect well with their bodies yet, they fidget and fuss and disturb all. At most I can get 5-10 minutes on a good day. This particular gentleman could likely stay in mindfulness quite some time, but tends to be focussed in his head and not in his whole body.

My struggle therefore is to help him to connect with all of himself. I believe I will have to ponder this some more.

I so appreciate all of you offering your guidance, its really helping me to work through what will be helpful to him and giving me many ideas to pursue.

#11

It’s a tricky one and i can see the challenge(s) you might be up against.Sounds like the student can sense your good intentions, which is usually the biggest challenge , gaining trust, so you have done, and are doing important work already.This way they can open up to whatever techniques and methods employed.They’ve let you in. so to speak, given permission.

I would use kundalini pranayama(focsuing the breath ion the inhale on each chakra, with little gentle ssuspension, and on the exhale returning once agin to root- a couple of minutes, or five at most, all that is necessary-a deep and full & relaxed breath, stop at ajna and briefly touch crown with a little susupension , and elongation ofbreath., then returning whence you came via middle chakras and to root, and grounding.) coupled with deep meditation ,and go through the chakras starting with the root and the lowers ones,developing awareness and sensations in the physical body and then connecting them with the higher ones so they can have wisdom and calm mind to discern subtly what they are feeling,sensing, etc.Then you have a chain that is then unbroken. And the enrgetic body is freer. use this with the breath going slowly in an ambient room, with eyes close sitting easy pose. or on a chair, a relaxed and straight spinie if necessary- they can use a wall if neccessary to acheive this.

This particular gentleman could likely stay in mindfulness quite some time, but tends to be focussed in his head and not in his whole body.
he sounds like an intelligent man but that maybe he lives in his intellect too much, so he has lost contact with his body,feelings and emotions,become dissassociated with the physical body. connect with the lower chakkras, & the earth-root , the lower three and upper 3.i guess you might see this in his face, thoughtful man but somehow disconnected from the organism.

asanas might not agree with everyone, and give them the option to modify and practice gently . but the mind and focus work give them some guidance and focus with intention and attention

it could be abit fo a challenge but using your imagination might get round these things.a number of subtle and subliminal sessions might start to undo and unwind the reptitive patterns and fidgeting stuck deep in their nervous systems.

go gradually laying the groundwork before going and while inside. the first steps are the foundation and all-important.

i cansee the challenge but approaching this class a little differently. all that fidgeting will subside once they’ve realxed their nervous sytem and got your trust, handed it over,one by one. creating an ambient room,dim the lights, and inviting them to close their eyes will help them to relax & focus inwards,quieten their minds.

sounds like you’ve done alot of the groundwork already, as ressitances and obstructions are coming up which may wel be ssymptomatic of actual real change occuring,deep within their core self. this is a good sign.just proceed onwards. be gentle. instill confidence in faith in your own & their own efforts and inner self-work.

As i say have a BIG poster so they can have a visualisation of the chakras, and allow them some time to run through the chakras, connecting with the chain,unbroken up and down the channel. balance this with deep inward bliss meditation afterwards for 5-10 mins after… you could always use an audio tape for some guided relaxation too - that is up to you just to get some sublinimal encouragement going so you kind of get them to let go( not easy).They don’t need to know the names of chakras, just the respective locations and spread, along the sushumna, and cultivate a sensitivity to the energy when unbroken. Then you still their mind with meditation, which is vitally important, as a balance, so they are not overloaded with Bliss energy.

you’re making it both fun,easy and non-threatening( by how you relate to them and the environment you are working in )

it’s tke a number of sessions for them to get the ‘hang’ of it.
you do need the meditaion in there too as a kind of counterwieght and balance. indeed the meditation is more important,works ona depper level… the art of doing the least amount pssible in a highly skillful way- less is more. they should’nt struggle with meditation- it is the line of least effort, least resistance, flowing naturally.

resistance is a good sign, a symptom of purging, but it should pass with gentle ,no forcing, practice and persitence.

simply visualising the cakras gives the mind and conscioousness a focal point in the physical and astral bodies amomngst other things,hence their inrinsic usefulness, as tools.

i would have fun with this one. but really try to get them to meditate, as hard as that may be.(easy pose)- five mins is great! The least effort, but still alert.you may need to use some mystical enchanted language to rouse their fascination and willingness to give these experiences a chance,Give their minds something to focus on, within.There are variety of tools you can use ina non-combative,non-threatening and comfy einvironment.You are teaching them to inhabit their bodies and minds with greater ease, partly by teaching how to go easier on themselves. Use the tools in combnation for best results; build gradually with healthy gd foundation. You need to approach it like a ‘couch’ psychiatrist,hypnotist, therapist and a magician. make them feel comfortable. You could even use alpha-sound( brain wave states of a lower frequency Hz,than normal) music to zone them out to begin with.( give that a crack!- you can find such stuff on u-tube or websites/companies that do it), cos most folk in the indistrialised world are stuck on a high beta state due to constant stress,anxiety and worry and the unnatural demands of the post-industrisalised world.
No wonder human beings constantly fidget…

As a caution- You want to go easy on the KP vis-a-vis balanceing it with deep meditation, which is really your foundation stone. Rest in savsana at intervals and certainly if fatigue shows as precautionary measures, as you don’t wish to overdo these practicces and pace them accordingly. You will gain a respectable feel for this and some developing confidence with practice.Just go gently.get them to let go. easier said than done, of course, butgradual practice makes it easier.going into ‘state’ then can come more naturally.
it may even come automatically after soome time practising

hope this helps.

#12

Here’s a rough summary of different brain-wave states though you can google for more under’alpha wave’.

[B]Dr Mason Brown summarises the different states of the brain:[/B] ( pulled from
[B]Too ill to meditate- ME & the alpha state[/B])
Beta: Brain Wave Frequencies of 12 to 26 Cycles per Second. Conscious Thought including Intellect & Emotion. The lower the frequency the more relaxed and the higher the frequency the more intellectually stimulated and/or stressed (e.g. a panic attack).
Alpha: Brain Wave Frequencies of 8 to 12 cycles per second. This is the frequency that is able to change subconscious programming and also produce healing states. It is essential for long-term fitness, stamina, and health. Used in medical hypnotherapy, meditation, yoga, etc.
Theta: Brain Wave Frequency of 4 to 8 cycles per second. This is the Light Sleep or Dream Sleep Level. Also called REM Sleep as during dreaming there is rapid eye movement from side to side. It is essential for good mental health.
Delta: Brain Wave Frequency of 4 and less cycles per second. This is the Deep Sleep Level. It is very important for physical rest, tissue renewal, and healing whilst deeply asleep.
Also here’s a u-tube link to an example of alpha-wave inducing sound i have heard

You should find countless more there that you might think are bettter and prefer.This is just n example.also hemisyching th brain is another idea. so both hemispheres balnce better. Very simple pranayama could help here if done with full deep relaxxed slow breath after, say, the apha-wave exposure.No hurry though.

#13

google -‘alpha brain state’

#14

Hello Alix

Aside of an asana program i can recommend prana healing founded by Choa Kok Sui. It can help cleaning and balancing the chakra very well in adition to a Yoga program.
As well a specialy modified Yoga Nidra Program including the visualisation of your Student, seeing himself expressing his feelings clearly and happy migth do some good.

All the best
Lars

#15

[QUOTE=Lars Rimb?ck;18389]Hello Alix

Aside of an asana program i can recommend prana healing founded by Choa Kok Sui. It can help cleaning and balancing the chakra very well in adition to a Yoga program.
As well a specialy modified Yoga Nidra Program including the visualisation of your Student, seeing himself expressing his feelings clearly and happy migth do some good.

All the best
Lars[/QUOTE]

Lars, do you have an asana program you would recommend?

core789, WOW! Thank you. I’m off to check out all your links etc.

#16

I think it’s awesome that you’re reaching out for additional insight from others. I wish some of my doctors would have been willing to do that in the past, far too many have too much pride and ego. I have nothing to add except the kudos and my best wishes.

#17

Hi Alix

It migth be worth to check out the pawan mukta asana serie of Swami Satyananda Saraswati which can strengthen the basic cakras, as well I would recommend some standing postures like the tree or tadasana to give him grounding again.
Go slow in the asanas step by step for example inhale and lift your arms.
Feel and expierience this movement from the beginning to it`s end.
Conect any posture or with the mind and your student migth find the way back to his feelings in the presens.
But the main important is to give the restless mind of your student the chance to calm down. The mind trying to think about all things happening is leaving the reality in this world more and more into the area of thougths.
The one is loosing contact to his emotions and to the presence.
yogas citta vritti nirodha says Patanjali in his second sutra and in the following sutras he describes the path to this.

Lars

#18

David, it has always been my practice to seek advice from those with more knowledge than I. I know so little that it happens often and I learn so much by simply asking questions.

Thank you so much Lars. Off to research that now.

#19

[quote=Alix;18270]
I am working with one particular client who is clearly very blocked. He lives in his head and is completely out of touch with his feelings. We have made some significant shifts and he is starting to be able to “feel” things in his body but not yet to “label” them as feelings. I believe that if I can help him to balance vishuddha and annahata he will live less in ajna and life will become more balanced for him.

My question.

Is there a series that might help to open these chakras for him? I need to be mindful of his unwillingness to look at things and be gentle. Any help you can offer will be much appreciated. Namaste[/quote]

Hello my friend,
Can I get a little more info from you?
How old is the boy whom you are working with?
Can you speak a bit more about how he explains his experiences with you? How does he describes what he feels without labeling them as feelings?
Can you also speak a bit more to the “unwillingness to look at things?” How does he express his unwillingness?

*nichole

#20

And this is where I run into difficulty with my oath of confidentiality Nichole. I must walk a fine line to not reveal too much.

He is late adolescent, nearly adult.
He describes feelings as “energy” or “passion” never with a feeling label.

He is very cerebral and very intelligent. Often if asked direct questions he will deflect and twist the question ever so slightly and not answer directly but perhaps ask another question or tell you something related without actually answering.

And that is about as far as I can go Nichole. I’m sorry. Does that impede you much?

#21

[quote=Alix;18270]Bear with me as this might be a somewhat convoluted posting. I am constrained by my oath of confidentiality, but I need help. I might need to be a bit vague in places but I hope I can be clear enough to get the help I need.

My situation.

I teach a “relaxation” class to my patients. I do some very simple yoga with them (mostly sun salutation, and a few twists and heart openers) and then lead them through progressive muscle relaxation, a visualization and then into mindfulness. We are finding this VERY helpful with most of the adolescents I work with.

My specific issue.

I am working with one particular client who is clearly very blocked. He lives in his head and is completely out of touch with his feelings. We have made some significant shifts and he is starting to be able to “feel” things in his body but not yet to “label” them as feelings. I believe that if I can help him to balance vishuddha and annahata he will live less in ajna and life will become more balanced for him.

My question.

Is there a series that might help to open these chakras for him? I need to be mindful of his unwillingness to look at things and be gentle. Any help you can offer will be much appreciated.

Namaste[/quote]

Alix, thanks for this and for the follow up information too. That was helpful, even though you were still protecting your patient’s privacy. I have been thinking about your patient since you first posted, and I wanted to offer a few different things, though a private message between the two of us may be useful too.

I do not attempt to show aspects my clients to themselves unless they have acknowledged it already in some way for, even if only at the most superficial level. If with some simple, broad questions from you, this young man cannot have some self-reflection about his current state of being (that he is in his head and not relating appropriately to his emotions) than I would personally do more pacifying and broader, less targeting practices to continue to build the base for this self-awareness. If he is aware on some level that he is “in his mind” and not “in his feelings or body” than I would begin there by asking him if he sees this as something he would like to change…or why he thinks it would be better for him to stay in the mind…get him to consider what it is to be or to not to be…both for a person in general and if he is able, for him personally. (I can see this post getting too long without having you and I in conversation with each other…I will do my best to share some ideas with some brevity, though my normal process requires a lot of interplay :slight_smile: )

To give some context for my work and where I approach from in Yoga therapy: my clients set the goals for our work together and then I guide them through the work of it. You may likely need to adapt what offer to your own framework if it is different from mine.

Here is one, general practice that you can adapt to your patient during the session; and that would be to reference the Yoga Nidra of Swami Satyananda Sarasvati, his practice of rotating the mind through the body, beginning with the right hand thumb. To help your patient experience his body in a deep, but neutral manner, you could also guide him through the practice of experiencing opposites within the body: heat/cold, heaviness/lightness, etc. This will likely focus those overworked aspects of his mind, which allows the body to experience something else while his mind is “busied.” After the rotation of consciousness through the body, invite him to scan his body to see what is there, if anything at all, weaving in awareness on breath to keep the session focused and grounded.

I need to cut this off as I have another appointment soon, but I want to send you a PM with the rest which includes a chakra meditation and pranayama practice. I don’t think it is appropriate to offer it here. Please let me know if it would be useful to you now.

All the best to you, my friend, and to the young man who is lucky to have you so committed to him and to his well-being.

*nichole

#22

[QUOTE=core789;18356]Here’s a rough summary of different brain-wave states though you can google for more under’alpha wave’.
Also here’s a u-tube link to an example of alpha-wave inducing sound i have heard

You should find countless more there that you might think are bettter and prefer.This is just n example.also hemisyching th brain is another idea. so both hemispheres balnce better. Very simple pranayama could help here if done with full deep relaxxed slow breath after, say, the apha-wave exposure.No hurry though.[/QUOTE]

Thankyou very much for this,

the sine waves are reverberating through my mind as we speak :stuck_out_tongue:

the possibilities with these sounds are quite phenomenal

#23

Nichole, I would love to have that PM from you whenever you have time. Thank you.

And this young man is aware that he lives in his head, and does want to change. He just does not know where to begin and tries to force matters. I thought a gentler approach might be helpful.