Description of neurochemicals & their role in Flow 
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As we have learned, our brain and body release powerful performance enhancing neurotransmitters and hormones that act as paint for the canvas.

Here is a more in-depth explanation of each of the neurochemicals involved in the flow state experience:

1. Norepinephrine speeds up heart rate, improves muscle tension, triggers the release of glucose and giving us more energy. Our neural efficiency is up.

2. Dopamine gives us the feeling of engagement in a task and rewards us for it. Dramatically increases our attention, improves pattern recognition & muscle control.

3. Endorphins … this pain reliever and “euphoric” neurotransmitters are pretty strong, to say the least. There are 20 different types of endorphins and are more powerful than medical morphine.

4. Anandamide … the word is taken from the sanskrit word ananda, which means “bliss, delight”. Anandamide was found to do a lot more than produce a state of heightened happiness. It’s synthesized in areas of the brain that are important in memory, motivation, higher thought processes, and movement control. It plays a role in pain, appetite, and fertility. 

It also helps put the brakes on cancer cell proliferation and exhibits both anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties. Anandamide, like all neurotransmitters, is fragile and breaks down quickly, which is why it cannot produce a perpetual state of bliss.

5. Oxytocin … the “love hormone” is associated solely with maternal behaviours and sex while recent findings point to a broader scope in human social bonding, trust and emotional behaviours.

6. Serotonin affects mood, social behaviour, appetite, digestion, sleep, memory and sexual desire. Studies have found that when serotonin has arrived, the state has already happened, so we can associate it more with the “afterglow effect”. The vast majority of the body’s serotonin is found in the gastrointestinal tract.

The endocannabinoid system has been recently recognized as an important modulatory system in the function of the brain, endocrine, and immune tissues. It appears to play a very important regulatory role in the secretion of hormones related to reproductive functions and response to stress.

The ultimate goal of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is homeostasis – the maintenance of a constant internal environment.

Endocannabinoids are neurotransmitters, chemical messengers that send instructions to cells. Endocannabinoids and their receptors are found throughout the body: in the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells. It is a system, with its complex actions in our immune system, nervous system, and all of the body’s organs, they are literally a bridge between the body and the mind.

Furthermore, it is involved in neuromodulation and immunomodulation in the immune system, helps regulate the central control of energy balance, plays a key role in the maintenance of bone mass, regulates metabolic processes (including storage), promotes/regulates sleep, regulates pain signaling as more important tasks.
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Management of the flow wave in this way includes the endocannabinoid system as an integral part of the flow interventions. It helps us understand better the game the body & mind play and how everything in our body is connected.

​Breathing is the only bodily rhythm that we are able to consciously control and our most direct highway to flow. Conscious breathing is extensively used in flow interventions and different combined intervention sets.
Arguably the most important aspect of mental and physical health and well-being is the respiratory process. We know how to breathe. It is something that occurs to us automatically, spontaneously, naturally. 
We are breathing even when we are not aware of it. So it seems foolish to think that one can be told how to breathe. Yet, one’s breathing becomes modified and restricted in various ways, not just momentarily, but habitually. We develop unhealthy habits without being aware of it. We tend to assume slouched positions that diminish lung capacity and take shortened breaths.
So why is breathing so important? 

It has been suggested that the average individual can survive: 40 days without food, 4 days without water and 4 minutes without oxygen! Medical science has revealed an alarming fact, 80 % of the population is breathing wrong - shallow & inefficient, chest only. Stress ... response creates a vicious cycle, which through time results in a stressful and shallow “default” breathing pattern, producing 12 - 18 breaths a minute - while science tells us we need only 6 proper deep breaths in a minute to supply our needs.

All the extra activity involved in our short, shallow breathing habits is robbing us of precious energy, producing toxic waste products and promoting a wide range of pulmonary & other diseases in our bodies and depression for our mind, further contributing to an ever more widely present “burnout syndrome”.

Only slower and deeper breathing properly oxygenates your body, gets rid of toxins and gives your body a chance to properly maintain all functions. Independent studies have clearly demonstrated, that by breathing properly, we can increase potential to live a longer and healthier life and avoid depression & disease.
Nature has equipped us with a “fight of flight” emergency response for surviving against the enemy or danger. It has also provided us with a “calming” response, to restore peace and serenity, equally important for our survival.
To enter the flow, we need to breathe correctly, moving toward a slower and deeper daily breathing pattern (diaphragmatic with prolonged exhalation) that replaces shallow “default” breathing. Progressively lowered breathing rhythm increasingly employs relax centres in our nervous system and efficiently slows down and calms all the body systems, creating potential to experience the flow state.

Breathing rhythm and its relation to the flow 
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Breathing in through the nose and exhaling either through the nose or mouth by properly using diaphragm is a well established consensus on what is a correct breathing technique. FlowCode includes effective techniques from different disciplines and formalizes them by their effect, while all of them follow the same basic logic. 
Breathing rhythm is extremely important since it is one of the few gateways into flow and one of its most potent active ingredients. Breathing rhythm is directly correlated to our nervous system, reflecting its every state. Therefore one of the most effective ways to boost the experience of flow is to use the ability to regulate breathing and manipulate it toward conscious, deep & slow diaphragmatic breathing pattern.
As is evident from the chart, to experience a more powerful flow in everyday life, we must keep breathing pace within the right frequency. It is defined as any breathing frequency below 10 breaths per minute, which triggers a parasympathetic response, which in effect triggers flow.

Normal daily life breathing frequencies above 10 breaths per minute increase sympathetic nervous system response, which leads to flight or fight state, stress, anxiety and depression. This concerns normal activities of everyday living, where we don’t have extra demands for oxygen. In this way we have a powerful tool at our disposal to hack the flow into higher gear.
Breathing very slow or in case of a breath-hold, also results in carbon dioxide increase. Studies have unanimously confirmed that CO2 is a very potent flow state trigger, since it harmonizes brainwaves, creates immediate calming effect, enables powerful embodiment and directly contributes to the hypofunction of prefrontal cortex.

The equinox is a time when the length of night and day are equal. Our ancestors were so attuned to the seasons and the changes that took place that they developed rituals to honour this change.
The pagan rituals during this time focus on shedding what we don’t need, and expressing gratitude, as we head into winter. The time of the equinox marks a turning point. It’s not just a change of season, but a change of consciousness.

WHAT IS THE AUTUMN EQUINOX?

The autumn equinox is the first equinox to take place after the summer solstice. Winter is on the horizon and summer is not yet a distant memory. In autumn, the leaves crinkle up and change colour, they fall to the ground and decay. We can see autumn as a time to see what is needing to be released in our own lives, in order to move forward and rest in winter.
The equinox is thoroughly a pagan tradition. In our ancient past, our pagan ancestors noticed the subtle changes of the season. Even before the agricultural tradition of the Neolithic era, our hunter-gatherer ancestors needed to know when the decay of autumn was upon them.
Around this time, the food would slowly dwindle until the coming of the first frost, and this was important for survival. Change is a mystical time for everyone because it signals the end and beginning.
The pagan festivities of the fall equinox were centered around giving thanks for the abundance they were receiving. Our ancestors would have had their last harvests of the year around the September equinox and this would need to sustain them over winter. This makes autumn a time of reflection -- where we look back at the blessings from the summer months and give gratitude for what we have.
This day of the year reminds us to release what is not needed and to be grateful for what nourishes us. Once we understand these lessons in autumn, we can be sustained through winter. 
 
THE AUTUMN EQUINOX IS A HARVEST FESTIVAL

The autumn equinox has a rich history both in the Neolithic and pre-agricultural ages. We get most of our information on the traditions and rituals of the fall equinox from medieval sources. In Britain, no ancient written records survive so we have to rely on later material.
In the medieval era, autumn was celebrated by a festival called 'hærfest' in Old English, which literally means 'harvest fest'. Harvest festivals were actually a pagan holiday steeped in ancient rituals of honouring a fertility goddess for the bounty of the harvest.
Goddesses associated with autumn and the harvest were honoured. These goddesses were all mother goddesses and they symbolised nourishment. The mother goddess mirrors the agricultural cycle -- the seeds are planted then reaped to give nourishment to the people, then the land becomes barren again until it becomes summer. 
The goddess Autumnus, where the name for autumn comes from, was the Roman goddess of the harvest. She symbolised the abundance of summer, commonly associated with fruit and nuts.
The Celtic goddess Braciaca, was symbolic of the harvest throughout the European continent. Her name refers to a fermented drink called “mead” made from a cereal crop that was drunk during the harvest festival.
All of the harvest goddess mainly revolve around a cereal crop because this would've been the crop most likely to sustain people throughout the winter. It’s one of the reasons why porridge was a common meal during the middle ages. 

THE RITUALS OF THE AUTUMN EQUINOX

Celebrate the autumn equinox by illuminating your world within. The pagan rituals at this time focused on introversion in order to grow into our full potential. Using the energy of the season and the shifts in nature, we can discover the how our pagan ancestors would have thought during this time, and thus the true rituals of the autumn season.

1. Shed Light on the Darkness. The equinox is a time when the light and dark are in perfect balance. There is an opportunity to shine light where the darkness within us resides. In medieval times, a festival called Michaelmas was celebrated to shed light into the areas of darkness, which mirrors what happens during the equinox.
During the festival, Saint Michael as the angel of light is thought to defeat demons of darkness. This festival undoubtedly came from a pagan tradition. It could come from a shamanic tradition where the elder travelled to the world of the spirits and defeat the darkness within.
This holiday gives us guidance on how to harness the power of the equinox. It’s an opportunity for us to shed light on the dark areas of our own subconscious. It’s a time where we can understand our shadow side more.
We can do this by being introspective. What dark areas have we been avoiding? According to Carl Jung, the shadow self hides in the parts of ourselves we don’t like, or have rejected.
Jung states it is very important that we learn to accept and integrate these parts in order to be whole. Like the equinox, the light and dark reside in us too.

2. Express Gratitude. Gratitude is a central theme of the autumnal equinox. Our ancestors harvested the grain and gave thanks for all they had for when the times grew cold. Now is the perfect time to remind yourself of all the blessings you have.
In ancient Briton after the harvest the people would pour a few bags of grain into the air to give gratitude for the abundance of crops they received. The grain was thought to be carried back to the gods in the Otherworld. They knew wealth wasn't created by hoarding, but by an attitude of gratitude.
Find your own way to give back to those that allow you to have abundance. Maybe it’s writing a nice note to your boss, or your parents, friends, perhaps even nature itself. Feel that appreciation in your heart. You are already doing so well.

3. Face the Challenges Within. Challenges often arise in life when we confront the darkness within us. The period of growth through the darkness can be tough.
Ajeet Kaur says that when we face a challenge in life, it draws strength from us to face the challenge. The equinox likewise is bringing light from the darkness. Even though the darkness of winter will come, the light still remains for a while. The equinox reminds us that we can call on this strength and lightness within us to face the darkness.
When you feel an inner challenge or struggle come up, know that the light of the equinox is with you. Using the energy of this time, you can overcome whatever obstacles are in your way. Remember, the light always pierces through the darkness. You can find a balance even when you’re struggling.

4. Ground Yourself. Autumn in Ayurveda is the season of vata the air element. Too much air in your composition can cause headaches, insomnia, weariness, dizziness, vagueness, and feeling 'swept away' with life.
In Ayurveda, abhyanga (warm oil massage) is recommended for grounding. You'll also prevent dry skin and be able to concentrate better, have a clearer mind, and be able to make informed decisions. Selfcare is so important during seasonal changes too, because our body needs to adjust to a new rhythm following the change of a season.
Grounding connects us to the primordial earth goddess. The aspect of Braciaca or Autumnus as the mother goddess is her decaying element calls to us as we ground. Feel her presence with you as you face each cold winter day. She will give you strength.

Enjoy this season and take the time for more self care and self love.
Much love and light, Leona
​@lovegoddessleona

It is time to awaken your inner Goddess and to assist her in remembering her true divine self, The Goddess is always in tune with her inner Divine Feminine energy and is an awakened woman who is filled with strength, wisdom, creativity, confidence and nurturing energy. She is connected to her own intuition, sacred power, the elements of the earth and natures beauty. She knows and understands her value and stands gracefully, open to receive all of the abundance, love and light. She knows her with by nurturing herself with love and never accepting anything less than she deserves.

She is the beaming light of pure divine energy, and she shines that light onto others. She isn’t afraid to speak her truth, to be authentic, for she has been through darkness and has made it into the light. She leads by example and always encourages others to be the best version of themselves as she dwells in her own divinity. She connects with other goddesses, her sisters, to lift each other up, and this energy aligns the masculine energy to harmony.

The Goddess is on the rise and she is awake. It is time to rise as one, together in unity to reclaim your sacred feminine energy.

Learn, remember and reclaim your goddess self at one of our Awaken The Goddess retreats in Portugal or Ibiza.  You can also join the 90 day Braveheart Program to heal heart traumas, reprogram and reset the mindsets that are holding you back from your power and true goddess self, empower yourself with skills that will strengthen your new ways of being and also assist you with embodying your Goddess.

Travel over to the website www.AwakenTheBeauty.com
Registration applications are being received for the next retreats in Portugal and Ibiza.

Much love and light to you Goddess
​@lovegoddessleona

Clarity. Focus. Anchor light codes. All is perfect.
Embrace. Breath. Cooperation and being in harmony with yourself and others around you.
This is your focus.
This is the beginning of an expansion that reflects growth in a certain area of your life. As life is evolving to another phase, the Universe is rearranging itself and continuously working behind the scenes to help you. Trust that everything is always working out for you. and as you are going through changes, the lives of others are being impacted and transformed around you.
Remember, everything and every person in this Universe has a mission and purpose in their existence.
It's time to create new beginnings and expand with the Universe. bToday is a day when a new cycle is about to start in your life. This new cycle of experiences is about growth and expansion. Pay attention to your present thoughts and feelings. Be aware of the triggered emotions from your thinking habits and understand that the positive or negative energy you put into what you consistently think about will create your new reality.
In the big picture, it's important to realize that your thoughts become your words and through your words you express the creative power within you to manifest everything around you.
"Your word is the gift that comes directly from God" Simply put, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, and your actions create your own reality. And as you can see, you hold the power for creation.
Trust the seeds of your thoughts are growing as you are nourishing them with your words, feelings and actions. If the thoughts you have planted and nurtured in your mind actually serve you for your highest good, continue to water and care for them. Your thoughts will emerge from the fertile ground of your mind and you will soon see them manifested into your life experience as your own creation.
Importantly, have faith and patience in your life plan. The bigger the goal, the more physical, mental, emotional and spiritual energy you'll have to put into your plan in order to make it happen~and it will happen. It will happen at the right time for you. Keep up with the positive affirmations and visualizations.
Most significantly, take ACTION to manifest your creation. Something will happen when you start moving.
Ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said it best, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

May your journey be blessed in every awakening moment.
 Remember: "Awareness is the first step."
Much love and light always,
Leona
www.awakenthebeauty.com
Instagram: @lovegoddessleona
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Sometimes it feels as though the days repeat themselves. When will this ground hog day end? This never ending experiencing of surrendering. How much more do I need to do to break this cycle that is on repeat. I am tired. Frustrated. How much more inner work do I need to do before I can experience freedom? I wonder. I meditate. I ask. I surrender. What does this truly mean? So many questions that run through my head, is there time to receive the answers. I figured it out. To sit in silence is to receive. I don't have to actually do anything except sit in nothingness. It seems so counterintuitive and goes against all of the programming. Yet the key is to sit in nothingness as much as possible. This processs is "Surrendering" Surrendering to the all cosmic force around us and within us and become part of it. By letting go of all we know. We hear this quite often that we need to surrender and wonder what it means. Not only what does it mean. Yet how do I do it. I have explored this concept for years and let me tell you it takes practice, commitment and consistency. And when I don't get it, the pattern repeats and it feels as if I am stuck in ground hog day. The things I don't want to experience are on repeat. I feel stuck. Frustrated and done. So what is the best remedy? To surrender. Sit in silence. Learn how to enter the state of flow. The more often I can enter this state, the sooner I will become what we call a "Flow Personality". We teach this in the FlowCode program. We have triggers that put us into the state of flow. These are the answers to HOW we surrender. Let go and learn a new way. Try this on for size over the next 28 days and watch the miracles unfold in your life as you surrender to something new.

Ask me more about the FlowCode program or how you can join the next session by sending an email to [email protected].

Much love and light, giant hugs filled with love, Leona
Healer,Coach, Teacher, Academy Leader
​www.awakenthebeauty.com
www.theflowcode.com

Touch. I miss it. I miss the feeling of being touched. I miss the feeling of touching others I love that sensation that awakens feelings that are dormant within your body. That sensation that reminds you that you are alive. Do you ever crave to be touched or to touch others?
 
For those that have remained mostly isolated over this last year, touch has been missing. Touch is a basic human need.
 
Why is touch so important?
 
Physical contact is a basic human need with emotional, mental, and physical benefits. From the moment of birth, babies need to cling, suckle, and rest on caregivers. This practice forms the bonds at the heart of our familial social structure and is a key tool of survival.
 
Without this basic human need being met I am concerned. I am concerned with humanity’s well-being. When are basic needs are not being met many physical, emotional and mental issues may arise.
 
The release of the hormone oxytocin is another benefit of physical touch. oxytocin helps humans form emotional connection to one another and creates sensations that foster a sense of well-being and happiness. Even if we aren’t bonding with babies, adults can still benefit from the various rewards of an oxytocin release with friends, partners, or even animals.
 
3 Positive Health Manifestations from Touch
 
Why is human touch so powerful? The benefits of physical touch, and the biological stimulation that comes with it, go beyond social bonding and can manifest positively in your mental and physical health.
 
Here are some major ways hugs and hand holding can increase your happiness and longevity.
 
Inspire positive thinking and expand trust
Known as the “feel good” hormone, oxytocin helps inspire positive thinking and an optimistic outlook on the world. Oxytocin also generates feelings of compassion during interactions. This can contribute to an expansion of trust among individuals during social situations.
 
Reduce social anxiety and stress
Physical touch increases levels of dopamine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters that help regulate your mood and relieve stress and anxiety. Dopamine is also known to regulate the pleasure centre in your brain that can offset feelings of anxiety.
 
Boost immune system and lower blood pressure
Physical touch is known to improve the function of your immune system as well as reduce diseases such as those associated with the heart and blood. One study on women found that receiving more hugs from their partners led to lower heart rates and blood pressure.
 
Physical contact is a key component to emotional, mental, and physical well-being. However, sometimes we need more than a hug. If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges, you may benefit from online therapy.
 
I know it may be extremely difficult to find someone to hug at this moment. You may miss being touched and touching others. I understand. I do have a few solutions that may assist you. Before you read on, be warned I may get intimate and this material is for only the ones ready.
 
I suggest you start touching yourself. Now before you start wandering down that road, listen closely. I am suggesting creating a touch routine for yourself. How far you go with this routine is totally up to you. Within my work as a Self-Love Expert, the subject of touch comes up quite a bit. Why? Because like I said above, touch is a basic human need and it needs to begin with our self.

Here is a really easy way to get started and it is a very honouring process of your body as well. The benefits definitely out way the risks. So I suggest you start with this. When you get out of the shower or bath each day, I want you to get some coconut oil or a nice body lotion you enjoy. Take the time to indulge in this practice of self-love. Take the time to appreciate and touch your body. I prefer the coconut oil in case I get carried away, I know the coconut oil is good for my entire body. Take your time and ensure that the lotion or oil is massaged into every part. Feel the sensation of touch. Appreciate this amazing body that you have. When you are ready to move up the Self-Love scale, do this routine in front of the mirror. Appreciating your body even more. I guarantee you will begin to experience sensations again. This is a very powerful process and is a powerful way to feel all of the benefits of touch.
 
Another suggestion that assists with experiencing oxytocin and serotonin which helps inspire positive thinking and an optimistic outlook on the world, is to experience the “State of Flow” more often. This is that feeling of “Being In The Zone.” When you are in this state it also releases certain chemicals of bliss such as oxytocin and serotonin. As a Flow Code Coach I am Certified to teach and lead classes where we experience the state of flow throughout the class. Flow Code is a system that has mapped out hundreds of ways to experience this state. Try joining one of my classes. You can send me an email at [email protected] to learn when the next class is.
 
Whatever choices you make for you, ensure that they are positive ones. Choices that can improve your overall well-being. Remember, I am here for you to assist you. Sending you a Virtual Hug Filled with LOVE.
 
Love Always
Leona
www.AwakenTheBeauty.com

Have you heard of the seven mindsets? They are actually powerful and positive mindsets that when implemented and integrated into your life can have profound impacts. Before getting into the benefits of inviting these mindsets into your life. Let me share first the seven mindsets.
 
Awe Mindset~ This mindset provides the basic energy to sustain the state of flow by triggering an initial zest for life. The very idea that we exist at all, that we are aware should fascinate us.
 
Creator Mindset~ This mindset empowers us to the notion that we are creators of our lives, our lives matter depending on what meaning we assign to them.
 
Gratitude Mindset~ This mindset is an ultimate tool for creating value to any experience. Gratitude is more than feeling thankful for something, it is more like a deeper appreciation for someone or something. It puts a situation into perspective ~ a self-correcting code, crucial for alignment.
 
Growth Mindset~ Scientists are conclusive in their research, that progress equals happiness. We need to feel we are growing in order to feel alive. Growth mindset is based on the notion that our basic equalities are things we can cultivate through our efforts. This mindset influences our mind to stretch ourselves in an effort and enjoy doing it.
 
Observer Mindset~ This mindset is described as the perception that arises from focused attention on observing breathing, emotions and thoughts.
 
Playful Mindset~ This mindset is where we approach everything with a playfulness which in turn creates a feeling of trust and creativity, being at peace with the environment and oneself. With the playful mindset we are immersed in reality in a way that contributes constructively to the beauty of life, we sense the true power of being alive.
 
Transpersonal Mindset~ This is the mindset that we experience that we are not separate from anyone or anything. That we are connected to all that does exist and we experience true fluidity and dissolution of anything outside of us.
 
With the use of triggers utilized within the “Flow Code system”, we can implement them into a daily routine that can assist us to “Reset, Renew and Recharge” our Body, Mind and Soul. Once you create a powerful and new routine you can begin your journey to create a “Flow Personality” which establishes an internal machinery of fulfillment and joy. A person with a Flow Personality can also be described as a person who is persistent, curious, low self-centred, open to experience and challenges and always remaining positive, internally driven and selfless.
 
Also you may experience such as less anxiety, less stress, less episodes of depression, increased and boosted immunity, a better overall mental and physical health and well-being, be a more creative and productive person. There are infinite possibilities to the positive benefits one can enjoy and infuse into their life by practicing methods that we lay out within the program.
 
Now the answer to “How To” Implement and Integrate The Power of the 7 Mindsets Into Your Life”
 
~Create a daily routine that consists of the 7 mindsets with a Flow Code Ritual.
~Practice the guided triggers that have been set out in the Flow Code Map.
~BE consistent…it takes time to create a Flow Personality.
~Keep on learning and exploring more about these concepts.
~Start today. Find a Flow Code Coach here
~Learn about the Flowhub 7 to help support you on your journey.
~Invest in yourself and deepen your experience.
 
Are you ready to open up and deepen your experience? We are in a new world and we required even more powerful ways to enhance our lives.
I am inviting you to learn about my upcoming 7 week Online Workshop:
 
“Activate The Universal Law of Delight Through The Power Of The 7 Mindsets”
 
REGISTER NOW for space is limited, the experience begins February 17th, 2021.
Everyone is welcome! If you are already a Flow Code Coach, you will be gifted 10% off.
 
As always it has been my pleasure assisting you on your journey. My greatest advice is not to hesitate. Begin today.
Much love and light always,
Leona
Flow Code Mentor and Wellness Expert
www.awakenthebeauty.com