Deb Del Vecchio-Scully

We all need to feel connected, valued and supported in life. As counselors, fostering this is an important part of our work. Sometimes, I can become so focused on helping others to build connections that I forget to encourage my own. Recently, I attended a fashion show-fundraiser for a program that I managed for 8 years – The Looking Forward Program. This program provides cancer support, education and wellness services to those living with cancer and the people who support them. It was founded by a breast cancer survivor in 1994 whose philosophy once diagnosed with cancer has been to always look forward. The fashion show is an annual fundraising event to support the “extra” services that people going through cancer treatment often need but cannot afford. I hadn’t been to a fashion show since 2008 after leaving to take another position; I am so glad I attended.

I recently resumed the role as the Connecticut Counseling Association's Executive Director after a brief break from service. I made the decision to resign nearly a year ago and finished my term in December, 2011. In many ways, I sensed a need for a break from the responsibility and time for internal reflection and recommitment to my spiritual practices. I have found that when I am able to feelclear on the inside of the issues that are getting in my way of feeling grounded and centered, clarity often follows. The gift of the professional clarity that came during this break has reenergized me andreignited my passion to serve the counseling profession.

In yoga and in life, the edge is that place within us where we can comfortably breathe while in a posture, situation or in any unpleasant moment. It is the healthy balance between avoidance – backing away at the first sign of discomfort or the forcing, unkind approach where we push through the pain – “grin and bear it”. The edge can be imagined as a threshold – a passage to be entered into and traveled through. We create edges to survive as necessary boundaries between what seems as unbearable pain and when ready, we dissolve them. We can become stuck in avoidance and hold onto fear or whatever is perceived as safe.

There is perhaps nothing as frustrating as not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep. I can personally attest to that! Sleep is essential for our bodies to rejuvenate and heal and when disturbed, can lead to many health issues including weight gain, migraines and headaches as well as difficulty concentrating and irritability. It is a problem that affects more than 75 million Americans according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. I see many clients affected by chronic sleep disturbance and in my experience, find it is most often related to anxiety, unmediated stress and poor sleep habits.

In a recent blog , I shared my view regarding the overlap between traditional counseling theory and yoga philosophy. Today, I will share how breathwork is a key element to yoga and to counseling. From a yogic perspective, the breath (pranayama) is the core element in yoga practice, more important than the postures themselves (asanas). I often remind my yoga students and my counseling clients, “remember to breathe”.