Blog A center for Hypnosis, Stress Management and Meditation serving the Ottawa-Gatineau region (Ontario, Canada) and beyond. Hypnose, Gestion de stress, Méditation, services offerts dnas la région d'Ottawa et de la Gatineau (Ontario,Canada) https://kaivalya.ca/blog.feed 2013-12-24T07:52:35Z Joomla! 1.5 - Open Source Content Management What Inner Radio Station Are You Listening To? 2013-01-25T21:13:15Z 2013-01-25T21:13:15Z https://kaivalya.ca/en/blog/5-yoga/34-what-inner-radio-station-are-you-listening-to.html Lynne Cardinal [email protected] <p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="radio" src="https://kaivalya.ca/images/stories/radio.png" width="200" height="113" /></p> <p style="text-align: left;">While speaking with a client the other day she said to me that she finds herself judging harshly the people around her, whether it's at work or at home. She didn't like this tendency, but it has been a big part of her mindset for decades. I proceeded to ask her how judging others makes her feel. She thought for a while and replied, quite shocked with her discovery, "Isolated."</p> <p>She remained quiet, surprised and quite emotional, finding one of the root causes of the loneliness she experienced in her life. This was an enlightening moment for her. Could it be that the cause of one of her problems was right within her? That she was creating it? And yet this is more common then we may think. I hear this often from my clients and have to admit that I've been there myself.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="radio" src="https://kaivalya.ca/images/stories/radio.png" width="200" height="113" /></p> <p style="text-align: left;">While speaking with a client the other day she said to me that she finds herself judging harshly the people around her, whether it's at work or at home. She didn't like this tendency, but it has been a big part of her mindset for decades. I proceeded to ask her how judging others makes her feel. She thought for a while and replied, quite shocked with her discovery, "Isolated."</p> <p>She remained quiet, surprised and quite emotional, finding one of the root causes of the loneliness she experienced in her life. This was an enlightening moment for her. Could it be that the cause of one of her problems was right within her? That she was creating it? And yet this is more common then we may think. I hear this often from my clients and have to admit that I've been there myself.</p> Discover the Power of Your Subconscious Mind 2013-01-09T23:12:54Z 2013-01-09T23:12:54Z https://kaivalya.ca/en/blog/7-hypnosis/33-discover-the-power-of-your-subconscious-mind.html Lynne Cardinal [email protected] <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="lotus 3" src="https://kaivalya.ca/images/stories/content/lotus-3.jpg" width="360" height="278" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">"Hypnosis with Lynne&nbsp;helped me to open my mind to new possibilities. Everything is easy from that perspective." </span></em>Maureen M.</p> <p>At the core of all main contemplative traditions is that it's &nbsp;essential to understand the nature of one's mind. With that understanding, comes the realization that our mind often rules our life. Through the gentle technique of hypnosis, you can become the master of your own mind, and thus the master of your own destiny. There's no greater power than this: your mind is your life! Whatever you do, wherever you are, it's the quality of your thinking that matters. Your laughter and tears, confidence and embarrassment, creativity and motivation: all of these are influenced by the very quality of your mind.</p> <p style="text-align: center;">"You Are What You Think!"</p> <p>It isn't always clear whether we control our mind or our mind controls us. If on reflection we come to realize that, in fact, we aren't "running the show," there<br />is a way to turn this around—a natural means by which we can access our own deep inner wisdom and thus regain control.</p> <p>How does hypnosis work and exactly what does a session entail?</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="lotus 3" src="https://kaivalya.ca/images/stories/content/lotus-3.jpg" width="360" height="278" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">"Hypnosis with Lynne&nbsp;helped me to open my mind to new possibilities. Everything is easy from that perspective." </span></em>Maureen M.</p> <p>At the core of all main contemplative traditions is that it's &nbsp;essential to understand the nature of one's mind. With that understanding, comes the realization that our mind often rules our life. Through the gentle technique of hypnosis, you can become the master of your own mind, and thus the master of your own destiny. There's no greater power than this: your mind is your life! Whatever you do, wherever you are, it's the quality of your thinking that matters. Your laughter and tears, confidence and embarrassment, creativity and motivation: all of these are influenced by the very quality of your mind.</p> <p style="text-align: center;">"You Are What You Think!"</p> <p>It isn't always clear whether we control our mind or our mind controls us. If on reflection we come to realize that, in fact, we aren't "running the show," there<br />is a way to turn this around—a natural means by which we can access our own deep inner wisdom and thus regain control.</p> <p>How does hypnosis work and exactly what does a session entail?</p> Regression: A Powerful Catalyst for Moving Forward 2013-01-09T21:58:58Z 2013-01-09T21:58:58Z https://kaivalya.ca/en/blog/5-yoga/32-regression-a-powerful-catalyst-.html Lynne Cardinal [email protected] <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><img alt="first snow" src="https://kaivalya.ca/images/stories/content/first-snow.png" width="337" height="224" /></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #993300;"><strong></strong></span>&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #993300;"><strong>Regression: A Powerful Catalyst for Moving Forward</strong> </span>- by<em> Lynne Cardinal</em></p> <p style="text-align: center;">"Yesterday's regression session completely AMAZED me. It is beyond a doubt the single most profound experience of my entire life. An indescribably huge weight has been lifted off me. The words "thank you" fall far short of the appreciation that I'm feeling for what you did. I actually woke up with a smile today for the first time in as long as I can remember." P.M.</p> <p>We all carry our own personal history. People come to me and share how they're carrying the past on their shoulders, and that despite memories of events that occurred sometimes 50 years ago, they still feel their effects today, in this very moment.&nbsp; Often events were misunderstood by a child's perspective, with a child being unable to understand all of the factors involved in a situation. Perhaps out of love the parents relocated their child temporarily, but from the child's perspective it meant being abandoned. Maybe one parent passed away and the child felt rejected or unloved.</p> <p>Through hypnosis it's possible to redefine our views of our personal history. For example, consider the client who was temporarily relocated as a child: we can age-regress and decide how to re-interpret the situation. We can have the parents provide exactly what the child needed, irrelevant of all other<br />factors, or we can connect with the fact that they truly were being loved and cared for. The resources of affection and caring can be provided through suggested interactions done under hypnosis. In helping to change the perceptions of personal history through hypnosis, very tangible relief can be felt in just a few sessions.</p> <p style="text-align: center;">"After my session with you I felt the tightness in my chest totally gone.<br />And it has not returned since." A. N.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><img alt="first snow" src="https://kaivalya.ca/images/stories/content/first-snow.png" width="337" height="224" /></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #993300;"><strong></strong></span>&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #993300;"><strong>Regression: A Powerful Catalyst for Moving Forward</strong> </span>- by<em> Lynne Cardinal</em></p> <p style="text-align: center;">"Yesterday's regression session completely AMAZED me. It is beyond a doubt the single most profound experience of my entire life. An indescribably huge weight has been lifted off me. The words "thank you" fall far short of the appreciation that I'm feeling for what you did. I actually woke up with a smile today for the first time in as long as I can remember." P.M.</p> <p>We all carry our own personal history. People come to me and share how they're carrying the past on their shoulders, and that despite memories of events that occurred sometimes 50 years ago, they still feel their effects today, in this very moment.&nbsp; Often events were misunderstood by a child's perspective, with a child being unable to understand all of the factors involved in a situation. Perhaps out of love the parents relocated their child temporarily, but from the child's perspective it meant being abandoned. Maybe one parent passed away and the child felt rejected or unloved.</p> <p>Through hypnosis it's possible to redefine our views of our personal history. For example, consider the client who was temporarily relocated as a child: we can age-regress and decide how to re-interpret the situation. We can have the parents provide exactly what the child needed, irrelevant of all other<br />factors, or we can connect with the fact that they truly were being loved and cared for. The resources of affection and caring can be provided through suggested interactions done under hypnosis. In helping to change the perceptions of personal history through hypnosis, very tangible relief can be felt in just a few sessions.</p> <p style="text-align: center;">"After my session with you I felt the tightness in my chest totally gone.<br />And it has not returned since." A. N.</p> Habit Formation: Desperately Seeking Freedom 2012-11-22T18:39:54Z 2012-11-22T18:39:54Z https://kaivalya.ca/en/blog/7-hypnosis/31-habit-formation-desperately-seeking-freedom.html Lynne Cardinal [email protected] <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="brain cells" src="https://kaivalya.ca/images/stories/brain-cells.jpg" width="241" height="320" /></p> <p>Isn't it strange that, despite knowing something is bad for us, we sometimes feel compelled to keep doing it? Most smokers, if asked, would tell you they want to quit. Drug and alcohol abusers have a similar struggle. Within our contemporary context of relative abundance, overindulgence on food can also become yet another engrained habit.</p> <p>What happens in the brain as habits are formed?</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="brain cells" src="https://kaivalya.ca/images/stories/brain-cells.jpg" width="241" height="320" /></p> <p>Isn't it strange that, despite knowing something is bad for us, we sometimes feel compelled to keep doing it? Most smokers, if asked, would tell you they want to quit. Drug and alcohol abusers have a similar struggle. Within our contemporary context of relative abundance, overindulgence on food can also become yet another engrained habit.</p> <p>What happens in the brain as habits are formed?</p> 7 Key Benefits of regular Tai Chi Practice 2012-07-28T19:38:27Z 2012-07-28T19:38:27Z https://kaivalya.ca/en/blog/5-yoga/30-7-key-benefits-of-regular-tai-chi-practice.html Jurgen Portz [email protected] <p><img style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; display: block;" title="yinyang" alt="yinyang" src="https://kaivalya.ca/images/stories/blog/yinyang.gif" width="149" height="117" /></p> <p>In our busy world where most of us have regular desk jobs with an over-emphasis on mental<br />activity it is no wonder that so many of us are disconnected from our physical bodies.&nbsp; We tend to live in the head and thus our awareness of our physical body let alone our subtle or energy body is woefully inadequate.&nbsp; The result is that we are living lives of imbalance and less than optimal well-being.</p> <p>The practice of Tai Chi has many benefits which can address these short-comings. Specifically, here are the 7 key benefits which will manifest through regular<br />practice:</p> <p><img style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; display: block;" title="yinyang" alt="yinyang" src="https://kaivalya.ca/images/stories/blog/yinyang.gif" width="149" height="117" /></p> <p>In our busy world where most of us have regular desk jobs with an over-emphasis on mental<br />activity it is no wonder that so many of us are disconnected from our physical bodies.&nbsp; We tend to live in the head and thus our awareness of our physical body let alone our subtle or energy body is woefully inadequate.&nbsp; The result is that we are living lives of imbalance and less than optimal well-being.</p> <p>The practice of Tai Chi has many benefits which can address these short-comings. Specifically, here are the 7 key benefits which will manifest through regular<br />practice:</p> Hypnosis for Pain Management 2012-05-22T18:25:38Z 2012-05-22T18:25:38Z https://kaivalya.ca/en/blog/7-hypnosis/28-hypnosis-for-pain-management.html Lynne Cardinal [email protected] <p style="text-align: justify;">Whether pain causes stress or being stressed worsens pain, it is clear that stress and pain are intimately related. The great news is that hypnosis can help break this cycle.</p> <p>Years ago, when I lived in India, I inadvertently learned about the stress/pain connection and how hypnosis helps.</p> <p>During a visit to the dentist, he proclaimed that the nerve in my tooth was dead so he saw no need to use freezing. He was wrong. He started to drill inside my tooth and the pain was so excruciating, it was like a powerful electrical charge was shooting through my body.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Whether pain causes stress or being stressed worsens pain, it is clear that stress and pain are intimately related. The great news is that hypnosis can help break this cycle.</p> <p>Years ago, when I lived in India, I inadvertently learned about the stress/pain connection and how hypnosis helps.</p> <p>During a visit to the dentist, he proclaimed that the nerve in my tooth was dead so he saw no need to use freezing. He was wrong. He started to drill inside my tooth and the pain was so excruciating, it was like a powerful electrical charge was shooting through my body.</p> You can create your world 2012-02-16T15:04:05Z 2012-02-16T15:04:05Z https://kaivalya.ca/en/blog/7-hypnosis/27-you-can-create-your-world.html Lynne Cardinal [email protected] <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="3 Punta Cana Jan 2012" src="https://kaivalya.ca/images/stories/3-Punta-Cana-Jan--2012.jpg" width="240" height="135" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Every day we write the script of our lives, and yet we disregard this amazing ability to create our own world. Upon awakening in the morning, we sometimes dread the day ahead or simply arise without giving it much thought. And then life happens. We react, or respond, to the unfolding of events, but often not to the best of our ability. "Good" events generate satisfaction; unpleasant or unexpected events can create dissatisfaction, or even anger. So days pass by and we "go with the flow" of what life gives us. But deep down, a part of us knows that we have this amazing untapped potential and could perhaps manifest it more, if only we could attend to it. If we want to manifest more joy, more love, more patience, we can do just that by simply planning for it.</p> <p>As a consulting hypnotist, I have learned that we can change the moods that color our world and plan our daily actions by applying very simple and efficient techniques.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="3 Punta Cana Jan 2012" src="https://kaivalya.ca/images/stories/3-Punta-Cana-Jan--2012.jpg" width="240" height="135" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Every day we write the script of our lives, and yet we disregard this amazing ability to create our own world. Upon awakening in the morning, we sometimes dread the day ahead or simply arise without giving it much thought. And then life happens. We react, or respond, to the unfolding of events, but often not to the best of our ability. "Good" events generate satisfaction; unpleasant or unexpected events can create dissatisfaction, or even anger. So days pass by and we "go with the flow" of what life gives us. But deep down, a part of us knows that we have this amazing untapped potential and could perhaps manifest it more, if only we could attend to it. If we want to manifest more joy, more love, more patience, we can do just that by simply planning for it.</p> <p>As a consulting hypnotist, I have learned that we can change the moods that color our world and plan our daily actions by applying very simple and efficient techniques.</p> Particles of sand: the art of meditation 2011-10-06T15:52:11Z 2011-10-06T15:52:11Z https://kaivalya.ca/en/blog/8-meditation/17-particles-of-sand-the-art-of-meditation.html Lynne Cardinal [email protected] <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="MEDITATION sunset" src="https://kaivalya.ca/images/stories/content/MEDITATION_sunset.jpg" width="200" height="132" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Excerpts from an interview with Lynne Cardinal by Tanya Witteveen, undertaken as research for her master's thesis. Tanya is working on her Master of Arts degree in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa.</p> <p><strong>Tanya:</strong> Lynne, could you explain the process of meditation?</p> <p><strong>Lynne:</strong> Meditation is a tool to help settle the mind, to create a sense of peacefulness within. Once that is achieved, a new type of awareness emerges, a perspective that is impossible to attain with an overactive or anxious mind. According to Ken Wilber, a contemporary philosopher of international acclaim, "Meditation empirically demonstrates techniques that will increase self-esteem." Indeed, meditation provides us with a confidence or a sense of self that is peaceful, stable and unshakable. This confidence is not based on superiority, but rather on the knowledge that our true essential existence is eternally free.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="MEDITATION sunset" src="https://kaivalya.ca/images/stories/content/MEDITATION_sunset.jpg" width="200" height="132" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Excerpts from an interview with Lynne Cardinal by Tanya Witteveen, undertaken as research for her master's thesis. Tanya is working on her Master of Arts degree in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa.</p> <p><strong>Tanya:</strong> Lynne, could you explain the process of meditation?</p> <p><strong>Lynne:</strong> Meditation is a tool to help settle the mind, to create a sense of peacefulness within. Once that is achieved, a new type of awareness emerges, a perspective that is impossible to attain with an overactive or anxious mind. According to Ken Wilber, a contemporary philosopher of international acclaim, "Meditation empirically demonstrates techniques that will increase self-esteem." Indeed, meditation provides us with a confidence or a sense of self that is peaceful, stable and unshakable. This confidence is not based on superiority, but rather on the knowledge that our true essential existence is eternally free.</p> Why Hypnosis? 2011-08-18T18:12:46Z 2011-08-18T18:12:46Z https://kaivalya.ca/en/blog/7-hypnosis/11-why-hypnosis.html Lynne Cardinal [email protected] <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="hypnosis small" src="https://kaivalya.ca/images/stories/content/hypnosis_small.jpg" width="209" height="314" /></p> <p>Hypnosis is a powerful and highly effective practice, despite it being somewhat unknown or misunderstood. I'm convinced that it's one of the best-kept secrets for self-improvement, with the capacity to impact all areas of life. For example, within just a few months, I managed to lose not only the annoying ten extra pounds that seemed to have become a permanent fixture in my life, but a total of thirty pounds and have kept it off for now nearly two years. &nbsp;Amazed at this result, I soon realised the effectiveness of hypnosis and that it can be applied to just about any issue, as its foundational principles are easily adapted.</p> <p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="hypnosis small" src="https://kaivalya.ca/images/stories/content/hypnosis_small.jpg" width="209" height="314" /></p> <p>Hypnosis is a powerful and highly effective practice, despite it being somewhat unknown or misunderstood. I'm convinced that it's one of the best-kept secrets for self-improvement, with the capacity to impact all areas of life. For example, within just a few months, I managed to lose not only the annoying ten extra pounds that seemed to have become a permanent fixture in my life, but a total of thirty pounds and have kept it off for now nearly two years. &nbsp;Amazed at this result, I soon realised the effectiveness of hypnosis and that it can be applied to just about any issue, as its foundational principles are easily adapted.</p> <p> Meditation: Witnessing the Power of Thoughts 2011-08-17T02:00:48Z 2011-08-17T02:00:48Z https://kaivalya.ca/en/blog/8-meditation/10-meditation-witnessing-the-power-of-thoughts.html Lynne Cardinal [email protected] <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="buddha-in-all-things" src="https://kaivalya.ca/images/stories/content/buddha-in-all-things.jpg" width="188" height="225" />&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Meditation: Witnessing the Power of Thoughts</span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;">"Every day, most of us [...] are engaging in a common activity--worrying.&nbsp; After all, what is worrying?&nbsp; It is making up a negative thought in our mind to which our body responds--with tears, increased heart rate and blood pressure, irregular breathing, increased muscle tension, stomach tension, etc.&nbsp; One thought has caused millions of cellular biochemical reactions."[i]</p> <p style="text-align: center;">"Finding the balance between observing our circuitry [thought patterns] and engaging with our circuitry is essential for our healing." [ii]</p> <p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</p> <p>Thoughts have tremendous power, yet they are subtle, mostly automatic, and arise so rapidly that we barely recognize their presence. There is in our mind an on-going conversation which is triggered by habit patterns, pre-acquired concepts, expectations and ideas.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="buddha-in-all-things" src="https://kaivalya.ca/images/stories/content/buddha-in-all-things.jpg" width="188" height="225" />&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Meditation: Witnessing the Power of Thoughts</span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;">"Every day, most of us [...] are engaging in a common activity--worrying.&nbsp; After all, what is worrying?&nbsp; It is making up a negative thought in our mind to which our body responds--with tears, increased heart rate and blood pressure, irregular breathing, increased muscle tension, stomach tension, etc.&nbsp; One thought has caused millions of cellular biochemical reactions."[i]</p> <p style="text-align: center;">"Finding the balance between observing our circuitry [thought patterns] and engaging with our circuitry is essential for our healing." [ii]</p> <p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</p> <p>Thoughts have tremendous power, yet they are subtle, mostly automatic, and arise so rapidly that we barely recognize their presence. There is in our mind an on-going conversation which is triggered by habit patterns, pre-acquired concepts, expectations and ideas.</p>