Money is energy. Yoga is energy. Success is energy

The throat chakra is involved purely with mental and spiritual energy. Ancient yogis believed that it channeled the vibration of creation. The more balanced this energy center, the clearer our thoughts and communications. When people’s throat chakras are too active, others find them poor listeners—because the imbalance produces a constant flow of talk with none of the pauses that allow true back and forth sharing of thought. Those with a weak, inactive throat chakra have difficulty voicing their needs and thoughts. They may simply choose to withdraw and become isolated, or they may bottle everything up until it bursts forth with an anger disproportionate to the interaction that triggered it.

The Yoga postures (asanas) that help balance the throat chakra are designed to develop acceptance and release.

The seated leg-raise of the pavana-mukta-asana (wind release) literally refers to the fact that it releases the pressure and pain caused by intestinal gas. The shava-asana (corpse) sounds less scary by its other name, yoga nidra (yogic sleep). This deeply relaxing pose simply involves lying on the back with upturned palms and breathing normally. Both postures foster the harmonious energy flow required for open, loving conversation. 

When this chakra is balanced, life becomes much easier because communication is so clear. Conversation becomes a pleasure, and even conflict is not a problem, simply an opportunity to discover how different sets of needs can be best met for all concerned. Balance creates fearless sharing in both directions. It removes the shame that prevents many people saying, “I’d love to spend time with you, but let’s do it a coffee house, or take a walk, because my budget doesn’t allow me to go out to fancy restaurant except on very special occasions.” Stifle too many of these conversations and the credit card debt goes up while savings remain a distant dream. Balance gives spouses the courage to talk about money, and it gives them the ears to hear what their partners are saying.

Do you belong to the majority of Canadians who don’t have a legally valid will? One of the most dreaded and therefore avoided financial issues is the will. People don’t enjoy contemplating their own demise or that of a loved one, whether parent, child, or spouse. It’s a tough conversation, in either direction. Ask a loved one if they have a will and you risk sounding like a gold-digger. Bring up the topic of your own will with children or a spouse and they become visibly upset. 

Two reasons why people don’t make wills (or update old ones) include:

* “I don’t have any money—there’s no reason to bother.” Even if this is true, the circumstances of your death may create an estate if it is the fault of another party, such as an employer, drunk or inattentive driver, hospital, etc. 

* “I’m married. My spouse will get everything.” Not necessarily true. Laws vary from province to province and country to country. Children or even former spouses may be entitled to make a claim. 

In Ontario, the surviving offspring (legitimate and illegitimate) and spouse share the estate if someone dies without a valid will. It can get much more complicated if the existing will is an old one, but new property and equity have been acquired since the will was made. In some cases, the named beneficiary is an ex-spouse, eliminating a current spouse and any children born after the will was made. The resulting legal fees from the lawsuits quickly eat up the estate’s worth.

Anyone 18 or older should have a valid will. It is the easiest and kindest way to inform your loved ones how you want possessions, investments, and property divided. There are kit wills and online wills that will suffice for someone with an uncomplicated estate who does not have a spouse or any children. Otherwise—think of those who will survive you and get the help of a lawyer. If your estate is complicated, see a lawyer who specializes in estate planning. It can save your loved ones a great deal of emotional distress and money.

For most people, a will should include:

* A list of assets and how they will be divided—a lawyer can clarify if unnamed survivors may have legal claims on the estate. Special bequests (like who gets mom’s wedding ring) should also be written out.

* A statement of wishes as to how to deal with physical remains and the type of funeral ceremony desired. (This can prevent serious quarrels among grieving survivors, all of whom may have their own idea of what their loved one would have wanted.)

* A named executor to oversee the sale of assets, pay any outstanding debts, and then divide the estate among the beneficiaries. Ideally, the executor lives in the same province and is not an immediate family member.

* A named guardian(s) to care for any minor children. Most people first list their spouse and then another trusted person(s) in case both parents die at the same time.

It is suggested that a will be updated every five years or in the event of a new relationship. In Ontario, a spouse is defined as someone you have co-habited with for a year—this relationship invalidates a pre-existing will.

Some advance planning and professional help is always a good idea. Have the necessary conversations both before and after drafting your will. Perhaps one child loves the cottage but isn’t interested in the family home? What if one spouse is deeply religious and the other is not, when it comes to a funeral ceremony? Create a Living Will and tell those close to you what your wishes are—it may not carry legal weight, but it will clearly indicate the type of care and intervention you prefer at end of life. These tough conversations can prevent devastating family rifts. Your will is one of your last communications to the people you love—take the time and care to make sure that it is a clear one.