Azure Ananda - Blog

How can yoga lower high blood pressure?

7/1/2020

In this post, I will
• Tell you how yoga can lower high blood pressure
• Share a yoga sequence at the end of the post, which is designed to calm your mind, reduce stress, and therefore decrease your blood pressure.

What is blood pressure and why high blood pressure is bad for health?

To put this simple, blood pressure is the pressure of the flow of blood in your veins. And high blood pressure is more of a load to the heart than normal blood pressure because the heart needs to do more work then. If blood pressure continues to be high for a long time, it will damage the arteries.

Lifestyle and high blood pressure
High blood pressure is caused by lifestyle, such as lack of exercise, obesity, and stress. So, exercising and losing weight are the first steps to take when starting to lower/normalize the blood pressure. The situation with stress is different since we simply cannot avoid stress altogether. However, we can do something about the length of the stress.
Worries and sorrows negatively affect health, and there are often factors of stress as well. On top of that, a busy life and mind are giving their shares on blood pressure.

How can yoga lower how blood pressure?

How is yoga reducing the high blood pressure?

According to studies, yoga reduces high blood pressure, although it is not precisely known how. But if I will go back a little and recap. Exercising and reducing stress were two things that can positively affect high blood pressure, so it is not that mystical after all how or why yoga is lowering blood pressure. If you are not quite sure if yoga is suitable for you in lowering your blood pressure, please do consult with your doctor first.

You may be interested in this also: What is yoga?

In the video, at the end of this post, we practice yoga asanas that positively affect high blood pressure. You can take pillow, blanket, yoga block, or bolster to support you in a couple of the poses that were are doing. Did you know that with a couple of deep breaths, you can calm your body? Therefore you can prepare yourself into this practice by taking a few deep breaths, inhale through your nose and exhale through your nose.

Here you are, a little bit background on how yoga can lower high blood pressure. Now you can take your yoga mat, and we can start the practice.

Namaste ❤️

6 standing yoga poses sequence

4/26/2020

Last year I wrote about the effects of different type of yoga asanas as an introduction to a different type of yoga asanas and in this post, I’m going to tell more about
• Standing poses
• Share a short 6 standing yoga poses sequence with you
• Tell in detail about the effects on each pose

First, let’s recap a little. Standing poses create a solid foundation not only to one asana but to the entire practice not to mention the foundation for a safe yoga practice. Standing poses are ideal poses to warm up the body. Why? Because they open the hips, strengthen, increase endurance, and improve balance. They also improve circulation, digestion, and stimulate the cardiovascular system. Above all these, they are excellent for improving focus and relaxing the mind.

Standing asanas are powerfully grounding
Now, what is meant by grounding? Grounding means the ability to connect to the earth and when you have cultivated the connection you can cultivate the stability in life. By stability, I mean that your basic needs are met (food, water, shelter, safety). When you are standing on your two feet, you get to experience how a stable foundation creates support up through your body from feet to head.

Standing asanas can be considered as the safest asanas for warming up and opening the body on the way to the more complex asanas. As these asanas are energetically stimulating they are helping to focus the mind and awaken the body at the beginning of the practice and allow you then go further when your body is ready.

On a Chakra level standing poses work mostly on the first (root = Muladhara) chakra. I will get back to the subject of chakras later on another post, so if you are not quite sure what chakra is, do not worry, I will tell more about it later.

You can do the following poses as your practice, or if you want to warm up a little bit more, you can do a few rounds of sun salutations before moving on with your practice and to following poses. While doing the poses, or any other poses for that matter, remember you don’t need to rush anywhere. Be true to yourself, feel how your body feels. There is no need to rush any further than your body is ready to.

1. Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
Foundation of all standing poses. Even though it might not seem too much more than standing there are great benefits. If you have practiced yoga for some time, don’t overlook this pose, feel the post in totally different way by closing your eyes. And yes, even as a beginner you can do the same if you feel like it.

How to do it?
• Feet together, a little gap between your heels
• Thighs engaged (have a feeling that you lift your kneecaps)
• Core engaged (belly button in and up)
• Shoulders back and down
• Fingers are reaching actively to the floor

Benefits of the pose:
• Improves posture
• Strengthens thighs, knees, and ankles
• Firms abdomen and buttocks
• Relieves sciatica
• Reduces flat feet

You can stay in this asana for 10-15 breaths before moving further.

Tadasana

2. Vrksasana (Tree Pose)
Standing balancing pose with many benefits and things to consider.

How to do it?
• From your Tadasana, bring your weight onto your balancing leg
• Lift the other leg, you have three variations depending on where you are in your practice or how your body feels today

toes on your mat
foot on the inner calf
leg all the way up to the inner thigh

• Balancing leg engaged and strong, keeping the hips leveled
• Bringing palms onto the heart center and lifting them over the head, finally lifting the gaze as well. If you want to challenge your balance, even more, close your eyes.

Benefits of the pose:
• Strengthens thighs, calves, ankles, and spine
• Stretches inner groin and thighs, as well as chest and shoulders
• Gives you a strong sense of balance
• Might bring help to flat feet and sciatica

Stay in this pose for 5-10 breaths before moving to the next asana.

Vrksasana

3. Ashta Chandrasana (High Lunge)
If you are sitting all day long this pose is for you, it is for you, of course, in any case, with many things to consider when doing it.

How to do it?
• From your Tadasana step your leg back keeping it strong and engaged and you are active pressing your heel toward your mat, make sure that the knee of your front leg is above the ankle and that your knee is “opening” toward your second toe, in other words, it is not leaning in
• Engage your core and lift your arms above your head
• Shoulders stay back and down and you can either have a little cap between your palms or you can bring your palms together
• If you feel comfortable, you can lift your gaze a bit

Benefits of this pose:
• Stretches legs, groins, hip flexors, front body, chest, and shoulders
• Strengthens and tones thighs, hips and butt

Stay in this pose for 5-10 breaths.

Ashta Chandrasana

4. Virabhadrasana 2 (Warrior 2)
Pose that increases stamina.

How to do it?
• One foot stays on the top of your mat and stepping the other one back. Point your toes straight forward (front foot), knee toward your second toe, and your back foot nearly parallel to the back of your mat, please note that there shouldn't be any sensations on your back knee
• Your front knee is bent so it stacks over your ankle
• Now you are opening your hips. Bring your imaginary tail in between your legs.
• Lift your arms onto your shoulder level, parallel to the ground, palms face down
• Keep your upper body upright, shoulders stacked on your hips
• Keep your gaze on your front hand

Benefits of the pose:
• Strengthens and stretches the legs and ankles
• Stretches the groins, chest, lungs, and shoulders
• Stimulates abdominal organs
• Increases stamina
• Relieves backaches, especially through the second trimester of pregnancy
• Therapeutic for carpal tunnel syndrome, flat feet, infertility, osteoporosis, and sciatica

Hold the pose for 5-10 breaths.

Virabhadrasana II

5. Utthita Parsvakonasana (Extended Side Angle Pose)

This pose is a good example of a pose that you shouldn’t rush into and reaching the floor before your body is ready for it. This pose stretches the sides of your body.

How to do it?
• From Warrior II, leave you legs as they are (let’s say your right leg is the front leg)
• Start to bring your right forearm onto your thigh, this is one option, and I want to encourage you to stay at this stage for as long as needed, just as an example even I sometimes am still staying up in a stage one. Second option is to bring your right hand on to your mat. Inside or outside, if inside it is easier to keep you bended knee aligned (opening toward your second toe)
• Reach your left arm over head
• Make sure your sides stay equal in length, so you aren’t collapsing onto your right side.

Benefits of this pose:
• Strengthens and stretches the legs, knees, and ankles
• Stretches the groins, spine, waist, chest and lungs, and shoulders
• Stimulates abdominal organs
•Increases stamina

This pose might help:
• Constipation
• Infertility
• Low backache
• Osteoporosis
• Sciatica
• Menstrual discomfort

Stay in this pose for 5-10 breaths.

Utthita Parsvakonasana

6. Utthita Trikonasana (Triangle pose)
While doing this pose, feel all the parts of your body where you can feel the stretch.

How to do it:
• From Tadasana step one leg (lets say left leg first) back making sure that your thighs are engaged. Lift your arms onto your shoulder level
• Pop your left hip back and start reaching your right hand forward as far as you can
• Let your right hand drop wherever it drops, keeping in mind that both your sides should be equal in length. The purpose of this is not to reach your hand to the ground but keep your sides equal in length.
• Open your left arm toward the ceiling, and open your chest.

Benefits of this pose:
• Stretches and strengthens the thighs, knees, and ankles
• Stretches the hips, groins, hamstrings, and calves; shoulders, chest, and spine
• Stimulates the abdominal organs
• Helps relieve stress
• Improves digestion
• Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
• Therapeutic for anxiety, flat feet, infertility, neck pain, osteoporosis, and sciatica

Hold the pose for 5-10 breaths.

Trikonasana

After you have repeated every asana to both sides you can go lie in your Savasana for 3-5 minutes.

Every asana in this practice requires ability to balance even if your both feet are on the ground. Some of them might be challenging, but remember that yoga doesn’t have to be serious. It is ok to fall out of the pose, the thing is to get back to it.

One of my yoga teachers once said that we don’t close our eyes and ones senses while doing yoga, but I have to disagree and say or ask, why not. You’ll have entirely different feeling in the poses while keeping your eyes closed. You may even notice something that you wouldn’t otherwise. When talking about practicing yoga it is often said that it is a journey into yourself. When you close your eyes, you can feel more, learn more, and hear more, what is going on inside of yourself. And when this happens it is just beautiful.

Here it is 6 standing yoga poses sequence. Enjoy your practice and I'll see you on the mat.

Corona effect

3/22/2020

I’m sitting on my mom’s couch looking around in the room, not quite sure if I’m awake or not. The feeling is surreal and it hasn’t quite yet sunk in. It’s like that time when I was sitting surrounded by movers boxes after I returned from an earthquake in Indonesia and put in the middle of break up. Then it was so obvious that I’m going to leave the country, and where else besides India. Now, I have just returned from India, where just a few short weeks ago, I was offered a job as a yoga teacher for the next 3-6 months and a possibility to move and live by the ocean. Now I have just returned from India, which is the only place I call home.

Why India?
Oh, I have heard that question so many times, and I wish I had a rational answer to this question, but I don’t. The only thing I can say is that in India I feel like I’m home. There is no better explanation. Well, of course, I can say that I like the simple life. I like washing my clothes in a bucket, I like the fact that there aren’t ready-to-eat kidney beans in the shop. I like walking barefoot, and most of all I love the ocean. Oh, and of course, warm weather.

Why NOT Finland?
When I returned Finland in June 2019 after being in India for 8 months, I was confused and lost. I didn’t feel connection to this country that I had been born in. I thought if it weren’t for my family and friends, I would probably never come here anymore. I didn’t feel rooted to this country, in any way. I was looking around and wondering what is going on in this world, in this country. I have been half kiddingly saying many times that I have been born in wrong country, and in June 2019 I felt that most than ever before.

When I was maybe 15, I was looking out the window of my room, remember watching the clouds in the sky, missing something so badly it hurt. I didn't know what it was, but it was so obvious already back then that there was something to be found, something waiting for me, and it was not or would not be found in Finland.

Life in India
First of all, life in India is nowhere near perfect. India can be frustrating and noisy, but it teaches patience and how to take life as it is, right now.

My best friend, who is an Indian, has asked me numerous times, why I want to settle and stay in Varkala. Why I don’t travel around in India and more importantly somewhere outside of India? First of all, in 2018 when I moved to India I just needed stability. Within less than 6 months I had quit my job, moved to the other side of the world to work and where my intention was to stay for 8 months, and after a month the earthquake changed everything. In Finland I faced an ending of over a decade long relationship, I sold everything I own and left. I just needed peace and quiet, time to gather my thoughts. I just wanted to feel rooted again. And Varkala was the place I wanted to be rooted in.

When I returned to Varkala in 2019, I felt really comfortable there. It had become my home, I felt I was slowly growing my roots in Varkala, so I really didn’t have any urge to travel somewhere else that time either. It was nice to see familiar faces at the cliff (center of the tourism in Varkala), it was also interesting to see how people who were working in my favorite restaurants saw me now, the second time around. They already knew I don’t talk to strangers, so the new friendly employees were told, that I don’t talk to strangers, kind of like, don’t try your usual speeches with her. :)

During my first year in Varkala, I was a little scared and shaky human being. I felt that it was a completely different person who returned. I still don’t speak to strangers, I'm known as someone who is listening to music and living in her own world. One person had even a nickname for me, "silent character". Well, I have to say, that this is my nature, I’m introvert, I have my own little world I am living in.

Returning to Finland
I think it was Friday 13.3. when it became official, that a tourist with corona virus has been taken to hospital from the cliff. Everything was just shut down right away. I didn’t quite know what it meant, but 24 hours later I already had my plane ticket to Finland. Everything happened so suddenly. There were people in Varkala, important people to me, I didn’t get to say goodbye to. Luckily I could say my goodbyes to my best friends and have a talk with him before I left. I left Varkala on Monday 16.3.

Trying to feel the roots
I went for a walk today. I was walking in the places of my childhood. In places that are kind of important to me. I was trying to feel my roots while walking in the woods. But I couldn’t. I was walking in my hometown, and I didn’t feel any connection to it. I felt myself like a rootless human being who has been pulled from her roots and home and put here. I felt tears rolling on my cheeks, I felt like had shrunk a bit since I got here, and it was a start of me, the real me, slowly fading away.

I am here and I am grateful to my homeland in so many ways. I am grateful for being healthy and alive. I know times are going to be really tough to many and to me as well. But still, I feel the same as that 15 years old me, looking out from the window of my room, missing something so much it hurts. Only now I know what that something is. It is my life, my roots, my home, my heart. It is India.

Love 💛 & Light 💫
Hanne

How does the year 2020 look like?

2/27/2020

The year 2020 is going forward a full speed and I hope your year has been exactly what you hoped it would be. Here in India, life has been quite hectic, however now I can little by little reveal news to you.

YOGARETREATS
My first yogaretreat is going to see the daylight in April. If you wish to attend to it, there is good news. There is a few places left and you have 3 days to confirm your attendance (last day of the registration is 29.2.2020). More information about the place you can find here. And the details concerning the retreat 4.4.-11.4.2020 by emailing me to: movere_imatra@hotmail.com

MEDITATION
Yoga retreat is a great way to quiet the mind and focus on being present here and now, but so is meditation. Meditation might sound a little mystical and create certain images into our minds. Here are three common beliefs about meditation.

1. Meditation is a Religious Practice
• Meditation is a very old form of practice, and it was first discovered within religious contexts.
However, the way meditation is practiced especially in the West and for most of the techniques used,
there is nothing religious about those techniques.

2. Meditation is anti-Christian
• Meditation is defined to be mind-exercise of relaxation, awareness, focus, and stillness.
And it is safe to say that none of them requires any belief from the person who is practicing them.

3. Meditation and mindfulness are the same thing
• Meditation is about relaxation and emptying the mind. It is about making space for new thoughts.
• Mindfulness is allowing awareness of the present moment

For breaking these myths I created FREE 3-DAY meditation course. Once you have time, you can check it out from here.

ONLINE COURSES
Last year I launched Meditation & Mandalas -online course and it moved onto a new platform earlier this year. Along with this move came a few changes to the content and more is to come during the spring.
If you haven't yet seen/purchased the course, now is a good time to act on it, because at the moment
the course is available for RELAUNCH price which is -50 %
Please note that once you have purchased the course, you'll have life time access to it and all of the additions there will be in the future.

The newest member of the Online courses is 7 + 1 week Journey to discover and understand the energies within our bodies, in other words, our chakras. This course gives you an understanding, how our bodies function through chakras, and how the 7 main chakras stay open and aligned. And what might happen if there is a blockage, energy doesn’t flow properly. When chakras are fully functional, the body stays healthy and at peace. Each chakra covers different parts of the body and they relate various emotional and physical aspects of our lives.

7 week Journey to Chakras starts 3.3.2020 and it includes, for example, these:
Information about each chakra, which body part it coverns, what might happen if energy doesn't flow properly and so on... Guided meditation for each chakra. Yoga practice to nourish each chakra + much more.
Questions and experiences can be shared on a private Facebook Group. Journey to Chakras can now be joined for special launch price of 249 € (normal price after the launch 429 €)

Lastly I wanted to let you know that there are currently 3 free spaces to my Coaching 1-on-1 mental coaching program. And because of all the new LAUNCHES I wanted to offer launch price here as well.
The special offer of -30 % is 299 € (and expires 14.3.2020). Coaching 1-on-1 is minimum of 6 weeks coaching, and during this time you'll learn how to be comfortable in any situation of your life, how to find courage to live your kind of a life and how to achieve your goals. If you feel this would benefit you in any way, you can take your first step from here.

Now I think it is time for India say thank you and bye,
May your week be full of love 💛 and light 💫
Hanne

Why go to a yoga retreat?

1/17/2020

Yoga retreat as a word may sound strange and mystical. And if yoga is not yet part of your life, this could be a reason for you to skip the opportunity to go to a retreat, which I suggest you NOT to do. So, keep your mind open and continue reading this text.

The word retreat may also sound mystical, but what it actually means? It means withdrawal from the hectic day to day life and quieting down the mind, so we would be able to avoid stress for example. The focus on a yoga retreat is, of course, yoga, but it doesn’t mean that you should have years of experience of practicing yoga. You don’t necessarily need to have any experience of yoga, it is enough that you have an open mind and willingness to experience something new and maybe even step out of your comfort zone.

A yoga retreat is an excellent opportunity to take a break and focus on yourself for a while. It is good to know and remember that the purpose of a yoga retreat is not to exhaust you with a daily program that starts before sunrises and ends hours after it has set. A yoga retreat is your moment and chance to quiet the mind, focus on yourself and being present of the moment in hand.

If you are ready to give a chance to have a unique experience, you have now a possibility to come and join me on a retreat in India. The only thing you need to do is to make a decision, take a break and enjoy the moment. Further information can be found here.

And I guess, I'll see you India. ❤️

5 benefits of practicing SUP yoga

1/2/2020

First, you might ask, what is SUP? It is a stand up paddleboard. So, SUP yoga is a yoga practice that is done on a paddleboard. Best places to practice SUP yoga is on calm waters, such as on lakes or harbors. SUP yoga requires more strength, balance, and focus than yoga practice which is done on the dry land.

The best thing is that you don’t need any prior experience to try SUP yoga. Before practicing yoga on a paddleboard, it might be a good idea to learn the basics of paddleboarding though. Also, it is good to know how to swim. :) The difference between practicing on the water and dry land is that on dry land you are grounded, and on a paddleboard, you are not only moving on the water but also wind and current effects the stability. So balancing in these conditions is slightly different. But it is like that extra spice added into this equation.

SUP yoga requires more focus and balance, comparing to the "normal" yoga. And yoga practice done on a paddleboard will work muscles in your body that you usually don’t work on so much. It also ensures a beautiful way to enjoy the fresh air while moving from pose to another, and in the end, it is very relaxing and calming.

5 Benefits of SUP yoga

Improves the pose
Helps you find new muscles in your body
Relieves stress
Improves the balance
Gives you possibility to enjoy fresh air

These are a few poses you could try:

Cati & Cow
Downward facing dog
Warrior 2
Chair
Warrior 2 (another side)
Boat
Bridge
Savasana

What to expect from SUP yoga practice?
Yoga on a paddleboard is just like “regular” yoga except sometime you might get wet.

Surroundings are amazing, being outdoors feels wonderful, feeling the wind in your face is refreshing, and seeing the water below you is something special. The moving waves add a unique challenge when it comes to your balance, so you end up using your core and leg muscles much more and in different way than you do in a regular yoga class.

Even though paddleboarding and SUP yoga are really popular in Finland, I hadn’t ever tried them. So, once I came to India I got a chance to try them and I have to say it was an experience like no other. Even just sitting on a paddleboard felt special. It was so calming and beautiful experience. If you haven't tried already, I suggest you go and try it out the first thing when you’ll have a chance. And even if you have, go and do it again. I promise, you won’t regret it.

My thanks for this unique and first time ever experience goes to Surf on a Sup which is surf and sup destination resort in Varkala, India. If you happen to be in Kerala make sure to look the place up and enjoy some fun times in and on the water.

What is Chandra Namaskar?

11/28/2019

You have probably heard or are familiar with Surya Namaskar (= Sun Salutation), but did you know that it has a sister, which is more soothing sequence called Chandra Namaskar
(= Moon Salutation). As already mentioned it is more soothing and quieting sequence and it’s intention is to cultivate moon’s energy.

Why Chandra namaskar?
If you are under any kind of stress you will definitely benefit from the sequence of Moon Salutation. It balances energies and its really quieting practice.

Whenever you have the opportunity, I recommend you to practice Chandra Namaskar. Best time for this is, of course, in the evening when the moon is out. It offers you a beautiful way to prepare yourself for sleep. An important thing to remember when practicing moon salutations is to move slowly. If you are familiar with Sun Salutation where you move from asana to the next listening to your breath, moon salutation offers you the possibility not to sync with your breath each move.

Benefits of practicing Chandra Namaskar:
• Helps you channel the cool, relaxing, and creative moon energy
• Stretches the spine, hamstrings, strengthens legs, arms, back, and stomach muscles.

You can practice the sequence with me by watching the video. Please do note that the speed has been reduced for this video.

Namaste.

Crystals, what are they and how do they work?

8/20/2019

I stand slightly confused and amused at the security check at Srinagar Airport in Kashmir. I watch as a female clerk goes through the stuff in my backpack. She grabs a small turquoise bag, opens it and startles. Judging by her reaction, one might think there was at least a collection of really ugly spiders. She releases the grip on the bag and gestures at the male officer. He peers into the bag and looks at me asking: ”What are these?” The bag is filled with my treasures, all my crystals/stones. I look at the officer smiling: “They're my stones. They bring me good luck.” The officer smiles back at me and says: “Well, if they bring you good luck, then you must keep them.”

Over thousands of years, shamen and medicine people around the world have worked with crystals. Records of their usage go way back over 5000 years in Chinese medicine text, Ayurvedic texts from India, and the Bible, where you can find over 200 references to crystals and their powers.

Crystals, what are they and how they work?
Stones/crystals are natural solids made from minerals that have formed on the surface of the earth. Their shapes, colors, and sizes vary, and they are believed to carry a million years old energy. There are many explanations for the healing effects of crystals. They heal by working through the energy system, not the physical body. By influencing the energy system, crystals can have healing effects within the physical body.

What is crystal healing?
Crystals channel energy. They can, for example, store and transmit the energy. Crystal healing is about change. Working with crystals can improve your physical and mental health, your emotional well-being, and spiritual growth. They will not do anything that your body wouldn't, but they can speed up the process which would happen anyway. For example, carnelian works well for common colds by easing the symptoms faster, and jade might ease period pains.

The benefits of crystals
Crystals improve the state of well-being, and reduce or even remove symptoms of disease. They also help to speed up changes in life, and ease healthy lifestyle choices.

When you begin to work with crystals, you’ll need to choose the one(s) that are right for you. In my experience, you’ll be drawn to the right one. It is the one you are attracted to. It might be the one you see as the pretties one, or interesting somehow, or one that you keep going back to. After selecting crystals, you may discover that they were the most fitting choice, in terms of how they can help you, or someone close to you.

Sometimes crystals may be predictive in a way that they can help you with some future problem or issue. And whatever the purpose of the crystals you have chosen, it will be revealed to you, when the time is right.

One of my latest discoveries drew me like a magnet. Later, I checked what the healing power of that crystal is. It was Mangano Calcite:

The crystal combines gentle love and joy. It also soothes.
It activates the same properties in its user.
It brings positivity, tolerance, and gentleness towards oneself, like a good friend.
Mangano calcite is for forgiveness, and it releases fear and sorrow.

It brings love.

There might also be crystals you aren't at all drawn to, crystals that you don’t like. These crystals might be very helpful too. The reason you don’t like them might be, that they are touching something very deep and uncomfortable inside you, it might be something that you have pushed away for a long time. When you decide to work with crystals you don’t like, they help to lift buried things or feelings to the surface. This can be quite rough, but afterwards, you’ll feel better, or even transformed.

Are you familiar with crystals? And, do you believe in their powers?

Stone on a stone ❤️ Rose quartz which I always wear

Courage is not about not being scared

8/12/2019

“What's preventing you to do something?” I still hear this question from the NLP trainer, when agonizing over my present and future in our training years ago. The question woke me up a bit, but I already had my excuses ready. You maybe know what I'm talking about: as soon as xxx, if only xxx and after xxx.

It's good that there are people around you, who can make you jump when the only thing you want to do is to stay still. But, if you are not sure where to jump or where you want to aim with your jump, it is also good to dare not to jump. At that time, years ago, I was in a situation where I wasn't quite sure where that jump would lead, or where I wanted it to go. So, I didn't jump, and in a way, I stayed still for many years. Listening to oneself can sometimes be quite challenging. It is not always that clear whose wish or dream you are living into reality. Before jumping into the unknown, it's good to ask yourself if this is my real desire, or is it about pleasing someone else that makes me jump?

Photo by Austin Schmid on Unsplash

And when that is clear, it is good to take a friend (the self-confidence) by the hand and rely on that friend. Why? Because this is the point when advice and horror begin to rain on how crazy that planned jump actually is.

“I have to trust and let go
I have to trust that these wings carry ”

The courage to act and do things that feel right in your heart can be challenging. Why? Because we're affected by constant background noise, and its echo, all the time. Insecurity in you can start to grow with one innocent word or phrase you read or hear. Then the flow of your thoughts runs completely automatically, and unfortunately, it often causes your uncertainty to grow bigger and bigger.

Negative thoughts filled with insecurity are "easier" for oneself to adopt and believe, than positive and confident ones. Insecurity makes you stay in a familiar and safe life. After all, it's very easy to get stuck in that life. It doesn't take as much energy as that jump, the jump into the new and the unknown.

“Courage is not about not being scared
But you dare to jump even if you don't know if you can survive alive"

However, if you are attracted, like a magnet, by the jump into the unknown, you can be sure that that jump is something that you really want to do. That being the case, I urge you not to think about what all that could go wrong in that jump, and focus on all, that could all go right!

Dare to live a life you are excited about! ❤️

I have translated the quotations from a song called Äärirajoille by Finnish rapper Cheek

Fear is a reaction.
Courage is a decision.
•Sir Winston Churchill•

I have to live because I didn't die

8/7/2019

One year has gone by from the earthquake, and Indonesia and Gili Air have been on my mind many times in recent weeks. Those thoughts startle me a little. They took me into a placed of little darker thoughts, a place that is kind of unfamiliar to me nowadays. It's a place, where I haven't been for a while. The first thing that hit me was the fact that I could have died. Realization of this struck my mind with immense power a few weeks ago. Why didn't I die? Why did I survive? It has some significance why I survived, with many dying.

When the earthquake started, I was in a shop. I realized immediately, what was happening, as the building began to shake. It was no small gentle quake like the one that woke me up a week earlier in the early hours of Sunday morning. When I was standing on the road outside the shop, it was like being on a surfboard. With the difference that underneath me wasn't the board, nor the water, but hard tarmac. The hardness I could feel a moment later under my knees when the last force of the quake threw me to the ground. Fortunately, I had time to send a message to Finland that I was okay. Fortunately for my loved ones.

Last sunset on Gili Air

When you live in the middle of a catastrophe, you don't all the time think about, what is going on in the rest of the world. How life appears, when you are waiting for the news, whatever it may be. How do your loved ones feel when they can't contact you? A year after the earthquake, I'm suddenly waiting to hear news from the other side of the world. News from my friend and his family. Background to this is the events in Kashmir. And the story behind these events is very long and political, so I will not go into it in more detail. Now, I haven't been able to contact him for more than two days. My friend, his family, and all of Kashmir have been isolated from the rest of the world by blacking them out. When the setup changes, from the catastrophe, where I was myself a year ago, to the safety of my home, I'm in a situation where I am forced to go through those feelings of the people standing on the other side, waiting for news. And, I have to say, there on the side of catastrophe, it's easier to live and breathe.

Here, on the other side of the world, thoughts are crisscrossing as follows: What if that talk on Sunday was the last one that we ever had? What if this message was the last message from him? What if he's dead? Where and how would I even find out about it? On this side of the world, I color this story to be more horrible than it hopefully really is.

Srinagar, Kashmir

So, now I use all my strength, trying to put myself in my friend's shoes, or actually, trying to think what he would say right now. What would he say if he saw me now browsing the news with concern? Me, the person, who doesn't even follow the news? He would say, relax, in really bad Finnish, in a way that only I can understand what he is saying.😉Everything is going to be fine. He would say: I'm not dying, and I'm not going anywhere, relax and continue with whatever you were doing. You worry way too much.

Everything happens for a reason. Did I stay and lay on the ground on that dark Indonesian night after the earthquake ended? No, I continued my journey. That's something that I have to do now also, a year later. It's just more challenging than you would think, but my friend would like me to do so. And, whatever happens; I have to live because I didn't die.

Dal Lake, Srinagar, Kashmir