Hello gorgeous!
​If you're in the Northern Hemisphere we're looking at cooler temperatures and quickly moving into my favorite time of the year. Of course, I'm talking about Autumn (and Halloween!). As you know those gorgeous changing leaves won't be around for very long and while they're here they gave me a grand idea for a guided imagery mediation. 

If you've never tried guided imagery meditation before I highly recommend giving it a try! I believe meditation doesn't have to be about clearing the mind so to speak but guiding the mind. For guided imagery meditations you'll have a topic to focus on which helps to keep the mind on track, so to speak. 

For extra oomph, why not record yourself reading this meditation out loud, then find a comfy place to sit or lie down and fully immerse yourself in this meditation!

Autumn Leaves Guided Meditation
Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down.
Close your eyes, soften your shoulders away from your ears and start by focusing on your breath. 
Actively notice your chest rise and fall with every inhalation and exhalation. 
Take a few mindful breaths to slow down your body and mind. 

Then shift your focus to your mind's eye, otherwise known as your imagination. 
Within your mind's eye, see a large tree with green leaves.
Perhaps it's a tree you've known since you were a child or a new tree that is willing to work with you today. 

Take some time to notice the height of the tree, the color of the bark, the shape of the branches and the shape of the leaves. In your mind's eye see yourself taking a walk around the trunk of the tree to see it from all sides and as many perspectives as possible. Allow your mind to notice as many details as you possibly can.

As you are taking in the details of the tree, you begin to notice the leaves starting to change color. Slowly one by one each leaf starts to change. Perhaps you see yellows, oranges, browns or reds. Whatever comes to mind first allow it to happen without judgement, until each leaf has transformed. 

Take a moment to see this tree in all it's colorful beauty. Notice the different shades and hues of the transformed leaves. Perhaps taking another walk around the tree to see each perspective and how it has changed. At this point a single leaf lets go of the tree branch and slowly cascades down to your feet. Notice the color, shape and any other details of this first fallen leaf. 

As you notice the first leaf, slowly another falls and another, and another.... 
This process continues as you begin to look back up to almost bare branches and a gentle gust of wind blows taking a few more leaves with it. Notice if you can feel this breeze as the cool crisp air of Autumn settles in. 

If it feels right, see yourself picking up that first fallen leaf. Thank the tree for this mindful moment and see yourself slowly walking away from this tree. Begin to let the image fade and return to your breath. Notice your chest gently rising and falling. Gently wiggle your fingers and toes. Slowly open your eyes.

As you return from your guided meditation you may wish to take a few moments to journal about your journey; be sure to include the colors of leaves you saw. I love guided imagery meditations that don't exactly tell you which colors you're working with because your brain will generally fill in as needed. At that point it may be fun to do some color association. I've included a few examples below:

Reds: Passion, Love, Urgency
Yellows: Creativity, Happiness, Warmth, Caution
Oranges: Playfulness, Friendly, Success, Change
Browns: Stability, Simplicity, Tradition

You may even associate these colors with something else based on your personal experience. Take some time and journal it out. See what that first fallen leaf has to tell you from your meditation. <3

​- Jenn Rose

(Journal Photo by Katie Harp on Unsplash
Autumn leaf Photo by Nong Vang on Unsplash)

Manifestation and meditation practices seem to have taken to the web in mass volumes over the course of the pandemic. Or perhaps you've seen the affirmation chants flowing all over Tik Tok? It's no wonder these practices seem to be taking a lead during this crazy year. People are looking for new ways to practice self-care and affirmation practices are important for us to really dive into what the power we have in our words, friends! ​

Hello friends! It's been a loooong couple of months.

As we continue through this pandemic we're finally at a point where folks are going back out into world, donned with masks of course. It's exciting to see things start to return to something similar to what we remember as "normal". Unfortunately, Zennergy Studios will not be opening back up for in-studio session just yet.

Many of you know Zennergy Studios is my passion project, but it's also my "side gig". I currently work at a long term care facility where restrictions are still incredibly high. Not to bore you with details, but as we move into "Flu season" I'm hesitant to move forward with re-opening.... 

At this point, I'll still be online via Facebook live bi-weekly with a half hour chair yoga class on every other Wednesday and a bit of meditation/pranayama every other Thursday. I am planning to bring the blog back since things are starting to return to somewhat normal hours! Be on the lookout for new online content. <3

​- Jenn Rose

We are certainly living in interesting times, friends and while I'm not going to talking about the virus I do want to talk about maintaining your balance, checking in with your center and gifting yourself the time you need for self-care! Right now, more than ever we need to focus on keeping ourselves healthy and happy as much as possible, whether you're currently working from home for the first time or on the front lines. Keeping a routine self-care check in will help now and in the future once we've put all this behind us. 

When the going gets tough and I forget who I am, one of my go-to's is always meditation. While I believe there is a meditation style for everyone, you may just have to try a few to find what resonates with it. I find it's similar to the different styles of yoga; not everyone is into a Hot Power Flow style class and maybe a Yin yoga class is more your jam. I'm here to say to each their own style of yoga and meditation. 

One of my favorite styles of meditation is often called "mindfulness". This concept is growing more and more since it allows you to connect to something you see, hear, feel and use your senses to meditate. Depending on your definition of mediation this may or may not be your personal preference, but I believe that meditation is a concentrated focus either on a visualization, something physical or on a concept. With that in mind if running works that for you, then it's also a form of meditation. 

The self-care industry has really gone head first into essential oils and I for one am all for it. I utilize essential oils in my day to day life for many purposes, but one I tend to forget about it stress relief. So let's make a pact together that when the going gets tough, we reach for the good stuff! ha ha

Obviously I mean good quality oils... but I digress.
​The point is something so simple as smelling or applying a scent could totally change your day around. 

My first go to for stress relief is always going to be Lavender. The soothing scents as you may already know are great for sleep, peaceful feelings and calm vibes. I'd have to second this. I prefer to put a little lavender on my wrists and on the back of my neck when the going gets tough. However my favorite use is to put a couple drops on my pillow before crawling into bed after a long day. #instantcalm

Sometimes I think there's a reason we tend to get sick during the wintery months; other than the bitter cold air. It's a time that we are forced inside and for good reason! It's time to look inward and reconnect to your intuition. Gift yourself time to rest so you can reflect, refine and redefine your life.