In The News

Without really being conscious of it, most of us have a tendency to live our lives influenced by patterns and behaviors that we are completely unaware of. When I was a child my mom only bought Hellmann’s mayonnaise, and to this day I still believe that there is only one mayonnaise, Hellmann’s. The one time I ventured to try something else, I’d already made up my mind I wouldn’t like it and sure enough, it was awful.

Memories of experiences are stored in our bodies on a cellular level: one of the locations is in “processing centers” called  “Chakras”. The chakras act as input centers where we experience and process information.

There are seven major chakras within the human body. These centers are aligned vertically from the base of the spine to the top of the head. Together the 7 chakras create a system that shapes our consciousness on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level. Each center has its own theme for processing and releasing information and energy and contains a different part of our memories and experiences.

When our chakras are functioning in a healthy manner their energy is fluid and they function in harmony with each other, and we experience well-balanced lives. Storing unresolved experiences, emotions or memories can block or damage our chakras.

The first chakra, the root chakra, is located at the base of the spine and is the foundation for the whole chakra system. This is our center for manifestation and governs our physical body. The function of this center is to respond to issues concerning survival: eating, sleeping, exercising, recovering from illness, making a living, or simply feeling safe and secure verses feeling fearful or afraid to take risks.  If this chakra is damaged we find ourselves repeatedly coping with threats to our survival. This keeps us from accomplishing what we truly desire.

Indications that the first chakra is damaged or out of balance may include, money and trust issues, sense of heaviness, resistance to change, obesity or anorexia, lack of being focused, disconnected from your body, defensiveness, restlessness, and attitudes of lack.

The focal points of the six remaining major chakras are outlined below as well:

• The second chakra, located in the sacral area, represents our emotional body, feelings, emotions, sexuality and creativity.
• The third chakra, located in the solar plexus, is our center of will, desire and personal power.
• The fourth center, the heart chakra, is located in the center of the chest. This energy center reflects relationships, compassion, and love for one’s self and for others.
• The fifth chakra, located in the throat, controls our communication, how we are heard, listen and speak our truth.
• The sixth energy center, located in the center of the forehead, between our eyes, focuses on developing our intuition and creating/living our vision.
• Located at the top of our head, the seventh chakra controls our connection to our "higher selves." It is associated with wisdom and integration of our eternal selves with our current physical selves.

 The energy of each of these centers is deeply impacted by our beliefs. When we hold onto the old “stories” we have been programmed with, these centers become blocked and prevent us from living a healthy and balanced life.

What old stories and beliefs are you holding on to that impact your day-to-day life and how do they limit or influence your life?  You can take a free, on-line assessment of your first chakra now through June 15th by going to www.LiveLifeCoach.com.

Suzi April, founder of Live Life ~ Coaching for Body, Mind & Spirit, is devoted to the process of living a life which reflects and honors one's own true Self. Integrating body, mind and spirit, Suzi coaches individuals to discover and live their passion with a higher sense of focus, commitment and accountability.

In addition to her one-on-one life coaching, Suzi facilitates workshops focused on opening and balancing the energy of the individual chakras. Suzi's greatest joy is giving others the gift of opening their heart and truly learning to Live Life ~ Mastering the Universe within YOU.

A coach sets playbook on the game of life

 Suzi April

The Record-Review
BY DON HEPPNER

People in this fast-paced world often sail along in a well-greased rut, not realizing they have choices. In an era when stress is considered the norm and people are so busy plowing ahead, reflecting on personal goals takes a back seat to the almighty dollar. Maybe a change in career or the effort to attain a lifelong dream might give new direction and new mean-ing to one's life.

If this scenario fits, Suzi April, a life coach, can help by working with you to establish attainable goals.

"I have the best job in the whole wide world,"  said Ms. April. "I completely love what I do. I work with people to create a life of joy and fulfillment. I partner with people to support them in their effort to identify what it is that they want to do and strategize with them so they can take action to fulfill that goal."

An important part of the coaching process is listening. Judging by some of Ms. April's clients, she does that well. "She has an incredible ability to hone in on what is needed and then move her clients forward,"  Roberta Russell, a client, said. "Her ability to hear and understand is really good."

Ms. April, born and bred in Pound Ridge, teaches aerobics for the Pound Ridge Recreation Department, and not surprisingly, she stresses physical fitness as an important component to a successful life. "I use people's bodies a lot in coaching,"  she said. "I feel our bodies offer a great deal of wisdom, and if we tune in to listen to our bodies, we will find there are answers to questions in our own bodies."

To be a certified life coach, Ms. April attends Coach University, which is a two-year school administered on-line. She will graduate in December. "The school has fine-tuned my skills, but this is something I have been doing all my life," she said.

Life coaching started after a friend called her and suggested she look into it as a career. "I enrolled in a free four-week class with Coach University to see if it was a fit for me,"  Ms. April said. "After my first class, I knew this was my life work. I immediately enrolled in Coach University and hired my own coach. My life has changed 180 degrees since that time. I am happier than I have ever been in my entire life."

She said, "I feel it is my mission to share this opportunity with other people who are ready and willing make changes in their life."

As an example, if a client desires to be a charter boat fishing captain instead of a stockbroker, a strategy must be developed to attain that final goal. If the client cannot afford to make the change now, becoming a captain might be a long-term goal. "What we would do is work with shorter-term goals to enable the client to get to his or her long-term goal," Ms. April said. "What we do together is strategize to take action steps to reach that goal."

Coaching can be done over the telephone or in person. The choice is the individual client's. "I have clients all over the United States, and I have clients who want to see me face to face,"  Ms. April said.

The sessions last for 45 minutes. A form that contains questions and commitments is completed after each session. "I send a follow-up form that outlines the steps agreed to and the client might list problems encountered, challenges met and what was accomplished. The client might also list new, interesting opportunities or goals discovered during the coaching process.

"I am working with people who are reevaluating their career objectives,"  Ms. April said. "A lot of people are being laid off and a lot of people are finding that they are not happy with a corporate career. These people want to bring a new value into their lives." Ms. April will be offering local workshops entitled, "Your Body has Wisdom, Listen to It."  She offers free introductory classes for people wanting to know more about coaching.

"Working with a coach, you are motivated to take new action and achieve new heights in your life,"she said. She believes some of the benefits from coaching include improving one's ability to communicate, feeling better physically, developing one's own intuition, learning more about oneself, and setting and reaching goals more quickly.

"To get involved with a coach it is necessary to be ready to do the work involved,"  Ms. April said. "If you are not committed to doing the work, a coach cannot serve a client."

She has met with success with clients. Most of her clients are from referrals.  

Chris Brown of Pound Ridge is a client of Ms. April. "It is an opportunity to rethink your assumptions of how things work,"  he said.

Mr. Brown said Ms. April has given him the opportunity to discover what he is passionate about and find ways to pursue those passions. He has also been able to orient himself to what the realities of life are and deal with them through coaching.

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