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Kerry Burki – an Introduction

I feel like it is time for a proper introduction. My name is Kerry Burki. I live in Scottsdale, AZ. I have my degree in Religious Studies & have been practicing yoga, studying the metaphysical arts & spirituality since the late 90’s.

I lived in Chicago for many years where I became a yoga teacher & worked for creative arts companies while getting married (Matt, my soulmate!), having kids (2 sweet boys 6 & 9!), & making a home.

Life was good.

It wasn’t until I moved back to Arizona 5 years ago that things changed. I couldn’t find full-time work as a yoga teacher & I had a close family member in & out of hospitals.

I stopped doing everything I learned. At the end of the day, I just wanted to watch tv & zone out.

I felt lost. 

I started changing how I talked to myself. I realized I was saying a lot of mean & untrue things to myself all day long. I started working with affirmations & things went from there.

I started just doing a couple of yoga poses & focusing more on breathing, meditation, affirmations, visualizing, & following the phases of the moon. 

By infusing small bits into my day my life started to flow in ways it never had before.

Life became more magical.

I became a Life Coach, launched a magazine, & started Full Moon Yoga classes. In 2017, I did something that made me happy every day for the 40 days before my 40th birthday. I learned to skateboard. I started teaching Full Moon paddleboard classes.

That led me to complete 2 programs as a Metaphysical Adept & a Divine Resonance Practitioner. During my training, I created The Moon & Arrow Lodge which is now all under my name, Kerry Burki.

I want this website to be a nurturing & teaching space. A space to teach the tools that have worked for me.

More importantly, I want you to learn to love yourself and to go after the things in life that make your heart swell like I did.

I’ll be sharing more & I look forward to getting to know you more too.

XOXO!

(Photo cred: Kristina Chartier Photography)

How to gift yourself grace & receive guidance

 

It became obvious last week that I had taken on too much this holiday season. I felt overwhelmed and behind.

Can you relate?

Yes? Then you are not alone.

I thought my overwhelm was because I said yes to far too many things and tried to overdeliver on all of them. What I realized is that it was because I had said no to taking care of myself.

I was waking up late and not making time for my usual breathwork, meditation, prayer, and visualization throughout the day. I found myself rushing and then collapsing at the end of the day.

Sound familiar?

Don’t worry!

There is still time to give yourself the gift of grace and receive guidance this holiday season. 

I talked about doing this in our New Moon Circle in my  Facebook Group on Monday.

Here are a few tips for giving yourself and others grace:

Feeling all worked up and overwhelmed?

  • Take a moment and breathe. Inhale through your nose and exhale out of your mouth. Do this at least 3 times. Every time you relax a bit, your life will flow more effortless and ease.

(My older son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes over the summer and honestly, it feels like we have been going a mile a minute ever since with learning and insulin injections. Pausing to breathe consciously has been a helpful way for me to cope and thrive. That is why you see BREATHE posts through my Instagram feed.)

Finding that the behavior of others is putting you in a bad mood?

  • Remember that everyone is doing the best they can with the knowledge they have. That doesn’t mean their behavior is not annoying or possibly hurtful but try to remember that it is a reflection on them and their life experience and has nothing to do with you. (This might take time but can certainly help during this time of year!!!

Now let’s talk a bit about receiving over the holidays. I want you to remember that you are being guided. Life can be magical when you open up to receiving this guidance.

Here are a few tips for receiving guidance:

Looking for a parking spot or the perfect gift?

  • Ask your “runners” to go find it for you and then trust that they will. (Runners are guides that love to help you find things. You can view them as people, angels, guides, or simply energy.)

Worrying about things going wrong or not being perfect?

  • Ask God/Universe/Spirit to take your worries away. Literally, ask that in your head or out loud. Then ask what you should do next. You might hear the words “relax” or you might get an actual sign about what to do.

I have done all of these to help me get back to taking care of myself and enjoying this season to the fullest. They work!

Remember that you are a light in this world. Take care of yourself.

Happy Holidays!

Thriving During the Holidays with the Sun & Moon!

Pausing to do breathing exercises has truly changed my life for the better. I am excited to share two different techniques that will help you thrive during the holiday season and beyond. Your breath is amazing!

Are you feeling anxious, angry, frustrated, or something similar?

Try Left Nostril Breathing.

  • Sit tall
  • Close your right nostril with the first two fingers of your right hand
  • Inhale slowly and deeply through the left nostril
  • Exhale slowly through your left nostril
  • This is one cycle.
  • Repeat 8 to 10 times or for 1 to 3 minutes.
  • Allow your eyes to close.
  • Pause after and take some deep breaths through both nostrils.
  • Notice how you feel.

The left nostril is connected to the Moon and your Ida Nadi. Your lunar (ida) nadi (channel) is in your subtle energy body. It controls all mental processes and the more feminine aspects of your personality. It is cooling and cleansing.

Benefits include:

  • reduces stress
  • cools the body
  • helps lower blood pressure
  • calms the mind and nervous system

Tips: Not recommended for people with low blood pressure. If you have any medical conditions, please consult with your doctor first.

Feeling tired, unmotivated, depressed, sluggish, or something similar?

Try Right Nostril Breathing.

  • Sit tall
  • Close your left nostril with the first two fingers of your left hand
  • Inhale slowly and deeply through the right nostril
  • Exhale slowly through your right nostril
  • This is one cycle.
  • Repeat 8 to 10 times or for 1 to 3 minutes.
  • Allow your eyes to close.
  • Pause after and take some deep breaths through both nostrils.
  • Notice how you feel.

The right nostril is connected to the Sun and your Pingala Nadi. Your solar (pingala) nadi (channel) is in your subtle energy body. It increases vitality and controls the more masculine aspects of your personality. It is warming and nurturing.

Benefits include:

  • helps alleviate sluggishness and depression
  • increases physical energy
  • warms the body
  • increased digestive fire
  • effective for stress management

Tips: Best done on an empty stomach. Not recommended for people with high blood pressure. If you have any medical conditions, please consult with your doctor first.

Feel free to let me know how these breaths work for you. If you want to learn more breathing techniques, check out my Free Spirit Guidebook!

Happy Holidays!

2 Breathing Techniques to Cool You Down and Chill You Out!

There is an excessive heat warning here in Arizona today so I thought it was the perfect time to share this cooling breath video I made around this time last year.

I’m sharing two simplified ways of doing this breath. One is curling the tongue, which I can’t do, so I give another option too.

They are simple, quick, and will have you feeling chilled out in no time at all.

Sitali Breath – Cooling Breath

Heating up from the hot weather? Try this breath. It is both cooling and calming which is perfect for hot summer months. Plus, this breath reminds us that we have more power and control over our bodies, our lives and ultimately our reactions to life, including the weather. Hooray! So cool (literally)!

Benefits include:
– cools the body
– adds moisture to the body (so perfect for Arizonans!)
– reduces fatigue

Sitting tall, close your eyes, take some deep breaths, then open your mouth and form your lips into an “O.” Curl your tongue lengthwise and stick it out of your mouth just a little bit. Inhale deeply across your tongue and into your mouth as if drinking through a straw. Notice the cooling sensation of the breath. Try for 1 to 2 minutes. Bring your tongue in and close your mouth, exhaling through the nostrils.  

***Not recommended if you have heart problems.

Sitkari Breath

(the name of the breath with the teeth touching)

Benefits include:
– cools the body
– balances your hormones naturally
– increases vitality

Sitting with your eyes closed, gently press your bottom and top teeth together and separate your lips as much as you comfortably can, so your teeth are exposed to the air. Inhale slowly through your teeth and focus on the sound of your breath. Try for 1 to 2 minutes. Close your mouth and slowly exhale through your nose.

***Not recommended if you have high blood pressure.

These are best used during hot weather months, after a heated exercise practice, or when experiencing anger.

3 breathing techniques that will change your life!

Years ago I started using these breathing techniques throughout my day instead of just on my yoga mat and my life truly started to change for the better.

There are tons of benefits to these and I will share them below.

My favorite benefits are mental health benefits!

These breathing techniques help me shift from low energy to high energy, from negative to positive, from my workday to family time, from my day to sleep, and so on.

I used to wait to have time to have a full yoga practice to experience these benefits and now I can get them anytime I want in a short amount of time.

Want to consistently release negative energy and shift to a higher vibration?

Then get started with these 3 breaths!

Releasing Breath

Great in the afternoon for shifting from day to night, work to family time, and at the end of the day. Using the arms is optional.

This breath helps clear your mind, feel more in control of your emotions, and releases negative energy.

Sitting tall, you inhale with 4 sniffs, and then take one long exhale. Repeat for 4 cycles or for 1 to 3 minutes.

Breath of Fire

Great in the morning or anytime for energy.

This breath helps strengthen your nervous system to respond to stress with greater ease, increases lung capacity, energy, and endurance, plus it can help with addictive tendencies.

Sitting tall, take quick inhales and exhales of equal length. The area above the navel point naturally comes in on the exhale and releases on the inhale. Try it for 3 rounds or set a timer for 1 to 3 minutes.

Take a break if you feel dizzy.

Not recommended if you are pregnant or menstruating.

Deep Breathing – Grounding Breath

Simple breath perfect for when you are feeling frazzled, worried, up in your head, focused outside of yourself, etc.

Use anytime you want to feel more grounded.

Reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, releases toxins and tensions, and is calming.

Sit tall, inhale for a count of 4, exhale for a count of 4. That is one round.

Try it for 3 rounds or set a timer for longer.

These can all be used as a meditation. You can also try to meditate after doing one of these for a few minutes. It helps to get you out of your head and into your body.

Relax after and notice how you feel.

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