Balancing Bliss and Boundaries: Energy Protecting Tools and Techniques for Healers
In today’s blog post we get to learn from yoga teacher and entrepreneur Brenda Umana, as she shares her pre-session, during-session, and post-session rituals and practices to safeguard your well-being while facilitating healing and support.
If you could go back to the first time you led a class, workshop, one-to-one session, or retreat — what advice would you give that younger version of yourself?
Many of us who are asked to hold space for others whether it’s through yoga classes, meditation sessions, therapy sessions, or healing circles — come from a space of passion, dedication, and intuition. As cheesy as it may sound, this style of work is our calling.
What comes with the territory, though, is navigating the balance of the joy and bliss we feel in facilitating… and the recovery or post-session hangover we may get.
I recall when I, Brenda, was teaching in NYC back in 2016. Hopping on the A train, walking up to 128th Street, and seeing my lovely Saturday morning students. All 20-30 students packed inside this sanctuary amongst the NYC hustle; mindfully moving our bodies. We all walked out like glistening crystals. But as a fresh-faced teacher, I didn’t realize the need for energetic boundaries.
I would completely crash afterward. I was energetically depleted. At the time, I didn’t realize there are many tools, practices, and intentions one can set to build more energetic protection! Over the years I’ve gained new insight from various mentors, fellow teachers, and by asking other practitioners what they do.
Fast forward to now, and after the pause on so many in-person events and retreats because of the pandemic, I’m back to teaching. But with a reminder that I cannot forget my protection and recovery tools!
Why do Healers and Caregivers Need Protection?
Inevitably we all carry different forms of stress, negative thoughts, obsessive behavior, and/or addictive tendencies. These negative energies linger around our clients as well, and when we hold sacred space, even if it’s a 1-hour yoga class, they unload that baggage, so to speak. On us.
As healers, spiritual teachers, and caregivers, we need to be extra aware and cautious about this. Not only during the time we’re with them but also after. This is why something like a protection crystal necklace is crucial to wear during and after these interactions.
A protection necklace or crystal can ground your own energy while maintaining those emotional and energic boundaries during charged interactions. Additionally, it protects us from absorbing clients’ negative energies.
Here are a few crystals that are fantastic for protection and clearing:
Labradorite: Shields against negative energies and strengthens your intuition
Lapis Lazuli: Promotes inner peace, self-awareness, and connection to spiritual insights
Tourmalinated Quartz: Clears stagnant energy and transforms negativity into higher vibrations
Sodalite: Enhances communication skills, self-expression, and a tranquility
Obsidian: Brings negative emotions to the surface for clearing and letting go, meanwhile protecting and grounding during this process
Erin created this Protection Spiral Necklace for Healers and Care Givers especially for me. Now it’s available here in the Ivy+Light shop for other healers to use as part of their own energy safeguarding practice.
Tips and techniques to do before, during, and after holding space
Stepping back into my first retreat in North Carolina was both an exhilarating and challenging moment. On the one hand, I was excited to share new skills and insights that I’d gathered over the past 3 years of my own practice and continuing education. And on the other hand, I was short-sighted in really grounding myself in how much support was truly needed post-pandemic.
Here are a few tips and techniques for you to do the next time you lead a class, workshop, one-on-one session, or retreat:
Before:
Ground your energy: This could be as simple as taking a walk and really feeling your heels hit the floor or you can take it further with meditations, incorporating grounding crystals, and/or using visualizations such as imagining roots from yourself extending all the way down to Mother Earth.
Cleanse your protective crystals or jewelry: Cleansing helps to reprogram your crystal and prepare it for continued healing. After cleansing, you can reset the original Affirmation or any other of your choosing. Not sure how to cleanse your crystals, stones, and crystal jewelry? Head over to this blog post to learn more about how to cleanse them properly.
Cleanse the room to create a Sacred Space for your session: You can use a Palo Santo stick or a Sage bundle which you can carry with you easily no matter where your session is, and you can perform a cleansing ceremony throughout the space.
During:
As people arrive, start clearing their energy. Again, it could be as simple as setting that intention inside of yourself, or as each person enters you can clear their energy by using tools like palo santo, copal, or incense.
Wear your protective jewelry or have your protective crystals near you.
After:
Recall back your energy from all times and all places in its highest good. If you need support with reclaiming your energy, try this Expansive Consciousness Meditation. You’ll move through your entire body with a gentle body scan, followed by a yogic breathing technique called Vyana Vayu, or “omnipresent air.”
Keep wearing your protective jewelry perhaps even cleansing it one more time.
Incorporate any other practices that help you release and recalibrate energy. My personal favorites are Kundalini Yoga, Qi Gong, and Yoga Nidra. Here’s a full Yoga Nidra practice you can explore to reground your energy and experience inner serenity.
Keep exploring!
As you continue on your journey as a healer and caregiver, you’ll continue to add tools, meditations, practices, and crystals to add to your intention and protection.
One reason I love protection crystal jewelry is that it’s so easy to just put it on in the morning and head off into my day, knowing it acts as a shield against the emotional and energetic demands inherent in this line of work.
Mindful journaling can also be a powerful tool for staying grounded amidst the variety of energies you encounter each day. My Inner Wisdom and Mindful Mastery Workbook provides practical tools, insightful prompts, and mindfulness exercises that empower you to navigate life with intention and clarity.
If you're interested in delving even deeper into my approach and teaching style, I welcome you to explore the "Activating the Wise Heart Yoga & Meditation Retreat" in Costa Rica, planned for June 2024. This retreat provides a unique opportunity for healers and caregivers like you to both receive while also learning from an experienced practitioner, as I will be guiding and facilitating more advanced practices for us to explore together.
About Brenda Umana
Brenda’s profound journey has been an unwavering quest to understand and transcend her internal struggles. Early in her life, she felt the pressure to prioritize the happiness of others over her own. Considering herself a highly sensitive person, she initially lacked the necessary tools to channel and harness it effectively. However, Brenda found solace and inspiration in the yoga practice, allowing her to explore beyond societal norms and start living life on her terms.
With over 10+ years of experience as a dedicated practitioner, teacher, and yoga/meditation educator, Brenda has an unwavering commitment to authenticity. Holding certifications totaling over 500 hours, including Restorative Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Vedic Psychology, and Meditation, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her teachings.
In addition to her teaching, Brenda is also a dedicated writer, poet, and founder of OM Marketing. Her valuable insights have been featured in notable publications such as Shape, Yoga Journal, Martha Stewart, Healthline, and Insight Timer. Her first love in the vast world of “practice” is yoga and she believes that the yoga practice is what continues to inspire her to explore the relationship with herself and those around her while continuing to live a creative life.
Post written by Brenda Umana. Learn more at https://beeumana.com.
Keep Learning
