How are you moving through these times? (2024 UPDATE: This blog post was written in early 2020. Times have changed on the outside, but there are still extreme external circumstances in the world that can upend our sense of stability, safety and disrupt our flow. This article is just as relevant now as it was in 2020. I hope it gives you some sense of choice. When we know we have choice, we can survive – and even thrive. B.L-J)
Are you able to go with the flow?
Do you know what that means and how it feels in your body?
Do you know how to get back to a state of flow when you are out of it?
For me, being in flow, means knowing what’s good for me – what’s good to eat, to watch, to read, to do, and most importantly , to think. It means being connected to my body and all the sensations in it that indicate to me when I am not in flow (tension, pain etc).
Being in flow is feeling flexible and strong in my body and in my mind.
A sense of flow comes to me when I am doing something mindfully and purposefully, with intention and heart, and when I am involved in a creative activity.
Most importantly, flow feels like a sense of ease and grace, and it opens me up to feeling more love, for myself, for others, and the world at large.
It is the ability to adapt and change to my surroundings with ease, and to be in connection with my intuition – that deep inner knowing inside me, that feeds my creativity and guides my choices to make a life that is filled with love and good health.
You may have noticed that ‘FLOW’ is a theme in my life and my business.
That’s because it’s the thing I need to practice for myself over and over again, to stay healthy and well, on all levels – mentally, physically, spiritually, energetically. It is a practice, because my busy mind and perfectionist tendencies can take over and cause me to get very stuck, if I do not stay aware.
I wanted to let you know what this means in the context of your health.
I’ve read in Hawaiian teachings that ‘where there is flow, there is health”.
I know this is true from my Kahuna bodywork training and from my formal massage training here in Seattle. And iknow it’s true from my experience with Nia – a mind-body movement practice.
The other thing I know to be true, is that when we are in fear or stress mode, the flow in our bodies slows down, and things stop functioning properly.
With the uncertainty that surrounds us these days, we have to learn to ‘be more fluid’ and more flexible as we are adapting on a daily basis to new information and new ways of being in this fast-changing, uncertain world. Being able to go with the flow means we have to be adaptable and willing to take risks, AND we need to know how to go with our own flow – so that we can stay healthy and strong.
I believe that our bodies hold the key to our ability to ‘go with the flow’, by giving us access to the doors of our true creative nature, and our intuition.
I believe that the more in touch we are with our bodies, and with our source of True creativity, the easier it is to adapt and navigate the changes and ‘go with the flow’.
In my experience, I’ve witnessed many people – clients and colleagues – who have felt a sense of freedom from their busy minds, and gained more clarity about who they really are at the deepest level, through accessing their bodies’ wisdom.
One long-standing client of mine, who was a Nia dance student, and then a Kahuna Bodywork client, sent me a message to say:
“Honestly, when I look back on the massages that I received from you they ended up being like love letters to myself!
Your massages are like tender envelopes 
of love 
.
Tender, nurturing and kind.
I miss your healing touch.
Hugs from afar. 
and it’s going to be a while before I can massage again because of the pandemic.
but there is another way we can connect!
In these weeks of lockdown, I have discovered the POWER OF THE WEB! Yes, healing and transformation and deep connection in 1:1 and group settings is all possible, and is happening! I’ve been active in groups where deep connection and big shifts have happened for people.
And I’ve facilitated groups and 1:1 sessions myself, where people have been surprised by the results.
Who would have thought?
Here’s what people have experienced with me:
“Overall I found the two online FlowPainting sessions went by very quickly – I really did not know how you were going to keep us busy for all those hours! I particularly enjoyed the start, your explanations and chats and the getting into the body exercises.”- Alexa
“Although I was skeptical about receiving an “online massage”, Brenda was able to bring that same soothing and calming quality with her voice as she does with her touch. By providing me with very clear instruction Brenda guided me in ways to relieve tension in my body which were very effective and which helped to ease my breathing and reduce my stress levels.~ Niki
From what my clients have told me about my work, I know that what they get from working with me, no matter which modality they experience with me, is a deeper sense of who they are. They get to ‘come home to themselves’. This is also the biggest gift I got from experiencing these processes that I use with my clients, and that’s why I love to share them with others.
So I’m inviting you to come on a journey with me to find your flow, and learn how to stay safely in the slipstream of the river that will take you to the ocean of Love.
If you want a safe, supportive gentle space where you can show up each week to a group of loving souls using Creativity to stay in flow, check out our intimate space at INFLOW CREATE, and then let me know you’re interested. You can email me directly at Brenda@inflowproject.com
Yours in flow,
