Experiencing Euphoria
Maui’s Reflection
John Gelert owns Lomi Hanamana Deep Tissue Massage Therapy in Kihei. Call 808.214.5054 to schedule a session!
Lisa Marie Toal is a psychic medium, author, coach and healer who offers spiritual psychotherapy, mediumship and shamanic journeying by phone and Skype. Private sessions and events will take place on Maui this October! For more information, call 303.960.8987 or visit www.enlightenmentpie.org.
By John Gelert, LMT Euphoria is an intense feeling of pleasure, ecstasy, wellbeing and happiness. There are healthy and unhealthy ways to feel euphoria. Start by putting a smile on your face and connecting with another human being! Continuous aerobic exercise may produce euphoria; for instance, a “runner’s high.” Dancing to, listening to, or making pleasurable emotional music may produce euphoria. Sexual activity produces euphoria, especially the orgasm, which is the pinnacle of human pleasure. Certain drugs can produce euphoria, but most are addictive and have health consequences. These include opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, psychedelics and marijuana. Addictive ego-based behaviors may boost dopamine, but they lower serotonin and perception. Dopamine released naturally instead by higher serotonin levels helps us to be genuinely optimistic and joyful. A good belly laugh, especially with other people, may produce euphoria. Laughter releases endorphins that activate the same receptors as drugs like heroin. Laughter also boosts immunity, reduces blood sugar, and improves sleep. Kundalini yoga is deep meditative yoga intended for spiritual awakening. It can produce euphoria by opening all energy centers from the root chakra to the crown chakra in particular. Stimulating the pineal gland opens the third eye chakra to produce euphoric sensations of bliss and ascension. Focusing on pranayama deep-breathing techniques, including rapid, pumping breaths, can bring about the orgasmic effect. A “yogasm” may have similar feelings to a genital orgasm, but is experienced all over the body. It may take months of practice to achieve this. Kundalini orgasms often have involuntary surges of energy, cathartic body spasms, and ecstatic feelings. Meditation, when combined with deep breathing and imagination moving energy, may produce euphoria. Meditation releases endorphins and increases the production of serotonin, dopamine and melatonin for happiness and relaxation. Because euphoria is a sense of great happiness and wellbeing, some types of massage may help produce euphoria.
By Lisa Marie Toal Only a short time after moving to Maui, I felt the inner restlessness begin to speak. I had been given a great opportunity, yet I felt unhappy. I could not ignore the feelings of discontent building inside me. I later wrote in my journal, “Everything I wanted to leave behind, I packed in my bag.” I began to see clearly that the toxic relationships and the uncomfortable spaces in my life were merely a reflection of the toxic energy inside of me. It was time for me to start unpacking my ‘baggage.’ To do this, I needed to have the courage to look at all aspects of my Self. I had to start by identifying the issues that repeatedly appeared in my life. An example was my repeated pattern of toxic relationships. The truth of this pattern was that I had a toxic relationship with myself. I had to learn how to build a relationship with myself that was healthy. This exploration led to powerful shifts in my awareness, uncovering childhood experiences that revealed the root of my discomfort. Maui showed me my reflection. It is true that you can never run away from your problems. However, leaving behind everything we know removes the constant cycle of distraction we keep ourselves in that causes us to ignore and forget the truth. When you are left alone with only yourself, it is impossible to deny your Self. Each day you can take a journey into your Self through meditation. There is no need to change the external location of your awareness. Focus your awareness internally, through breath and being present, and set yourself free. This is true liberation!
https://conta.cc/2GIsrRs Summer, 2018
Maui Vision Magazine
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