Yoga for Your Personal Finances:
Practical & Spiritual Solutions for Financial Health
Author Jacqueline
Richards is a mortgage specialist and Hatha yoga
Instructor. This book began with the questions that her yoga students
began asking Jacqueline about personal financial issues when they
discovered her profession. She realized that the mental, physical and
spiritual disciplines of yoga could heal many of the imbalances that
cause financial problems.
Jacqueline first started yoga when, in the middle of
working
sixty
hours a week, she turned on her television at 6am, saw a yoga show and,
for some reason, decided to give it a try. What really won her over was
the utter relaxation of the "Corpse" pose at the end of the show.
It was the first time she had felt calm in months. So, the next morning
she got up and did it all over again. Eight years later, she's taken
many lessons, still practices yoga for strength and calm and is now a
teacher.
In seven chapters the
book
combines:
- A series of asanas (yoga postures) that open and
balance
each
of the body's seven chakras (stations on the energy wheel), resulting
in the mental strength needed to deal with the financial problems
arising from imbalance in your chakras.
- Conversations about some of the typical life issues
related
to financial health.
- Practical information, worksheets and solutions to
specific
money-management problems.
Chapter synopsis with quote from each chapter:
1st Chakra:
Muladhara
(Root) located at the base of the spine.
This chakra deals with basic needs and self
preservation.
"You will recklessly
fulfill
wants, rather than take care of
the essentials.
If you find yourself buying that expensive suit with the money you need
to buy groceries and pay the hydro bill - your root chakra is out of
balance."
Worksheet: building a realistic, useable budget.
2nd Chakra:
Svadhisthana (Navel)
"This chakra deals
with
sensuality and the appetite for life's
pleasures. When this chakra is in balance, your relationship with the
material
world is healthy. When it is out of balance, you may find yourself
spending wildly to satisfy impulse appetites, only to sink into
depression when the bills come due. "
Worksheets: building (or rebuilding) a healthy credit record with the
financial bureaus.
3rd Chakra:
Manipura
(Solar Plexus)
"This chakra is the
location
of both your sense of self and your
physical power. Balance in this chakra means a healthy self-esteem that
enables
sensible financial risks. If this chakra is out of balance, you will
suffer from low self worth. Overspending in an
attempt to bolster your self-esteem creates financial problems."
Worksheets: begin a savings/investment program - "a dollar a day can
turn into $20,000 through the miracle of time and compound interest!
4th Chakra:
Anahata
(Heart)
"This chakra unifies
the
lower (physical) and higher (spiritual) energy
circuits. Balance in the Heart chakra encourages tolerance. When
unbalanced
your judgmental behaviours pushes away your loved ones. Or, when the
Anahata is too open, over-empathy with others' anger or misery can
depress you. You may lack the optimism necessary to make a comfortable
home a financial priority."
Worksheets: formulas to figure out how much of a mortgage you are
eligible for.
5th Chakra:
Vissudha
(Throat)
"This chakra deals
with
communication. If it is unbalanced, it may result in an inability to
sit down with
your partner and have that hard talk about the future impact of shared
debts and risky spending habits."
Worksheets: Wills and estate planning
6th Charkra:
Ajna
(Brow or Third Eye)
"This chakra controls
your
ability to make your hopes and dreams a
reality. When it is unbalanced you have difficulty visualizing where
you want
your life to lead and how you will get there. Balance in this chakra
infuses your spirit with a sane attitude toward money, stopping the
behaviours that create financial problems for you and your family."
Worksheets: Insurance 101 - types you might need, who you want
to
protect.
7th Chakra:
Sahasrara
(Crown)
"This chakra life
gives you
the faith and strength to act from your
ethics and values, rather than your fears. When the Sahasrara is
balanced, you are in a position to become a
guide and mentor. Share the lessons you have learned on the path to
financial freedom. . At this point, the journey has become more
important than the end result. Because you are aware, happy and secure,
you are in a position to be of service""
Worksheet: The Smith Manouevre.
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