I do yoga…I wear scrubs…I’m a yogi in scrubs.

In yoga we work on staying in alignment to keep the energy flowing up and down the spine. For example, if you sit with your neck stretched in a looking down position (text neck) you interrupt the energy flow. You will experience pain and fatigue in that area.

Apply that lesson to life. What is blocking your energy? What tweak do you need to make to your posture to allow your energy to flow? I’m not only talking about the “prana” running through you; I’m talking about your energetic expressions and feelings. One thing I know to do to make an almost immediate energy shift is to change my attitude. “Turn that frown upside down.” It sounds irritatingly simple; but it works.

We are energized beings. Whether you buy into the ancient Eastern ways of describing “energy ;“ or you recognize that our heart runs on electrical currents; or you can literally feel energy charges and shifts when certain people are in a room, it’s obvious that energy flows through us living creatures. Our central nervous system is but one form of what runs up and down our bodies.

Our thoughts control so much of our “energy.” Shifting our way of thinking is as easy as shifting our necks to allow the free flow of energy up and down our spines. Are you validating negative thoughts? You won’t believe the negativity if you don’t agree with it; and that is the key. Stop agreeing with the negativity.

Just like lifting your head to straighten your neck allows energy to flow, purposefully stopping negative thoughts and replacing them with something positive, immediately changes your energy. Smiling, rather you mean it or not (your body doesn’t know the difference), makes your brain release endorphins. An energy shift. Saying “No” when a negative thought comes to mind, and replacing it with a happy thought, does the same thing. Literally telling yourself “I’m not going to think that” shifts your energy. Think of the physical health benefits of doing this; not to mention the emotional ones.

It’s been a struggle to do this energy shift lately, working in healthcare. But guess what. It works.

Now about that neck: sit up straight in your chair; or cross legged on the floor. Place your hands gently on your knees and close your eyes (after you finish reading what to do). Breath in deeply through your nose and out through your nose. Tuck your chin slightly so that your neck is nice and straight, raise your shoulders up and then move them back and down. This will push your chest out slightly. This will feel weird because we usually don’t sit up straight. Now move your shoulder blades together as if you are holding a pen between them. This will really make your chest stick out. Now while holding the pen there begin to move your head in a circle as if your nose is drawing a circle in front of your face. Start small and then make your circle bigger. Now reverse directions. You want to lead with your nose so that you aren’t jerking on your precious neck too much. Come back to center. Gently release your shoulders from holding the pen. Smile.