This is a great little blurb from Amy Weintraub's, LifeForce Yoga newsletter (you can learn more and subscribe here.) Amy specializes in yoga for people suffering from depression, PTSD and other forms of mental dis-ease. Compassionate, kind and full of amazing information, she is one of my favorite Kripalu yoga teachers.
Reduce Anger by Lying Down
Researchers at Texas A & M University found that the mere act of lying down can reduce anger. Researchers have known that mood can be altered by mimicking the facial and body movements of certain emotions (slumped shoulders can evoke sad, morose feelings, smiling induces an uplifted mood), but a new study recently published in the journal Psychological Science finds that when study participants who were in a supine position were insulted they did not show brain patterns associated with anger as compared to those participants who were seated when insulted.
Commentary: This study points to another good reason to practice Yoga Nidra, a deep relaxation technique that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of PTSD and is practiced lying down.
More and more research now confirms what the ancient yogis knew thousands of years ago: Meditation works.
Many studies have been done revealing the very measurable results that a meditation practice can have on everything from concentration and stress reduction, to relief from depression and healing of many diseases. A new study done by The UCLA Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, highlights some of the actual physical changes that occur in the structures of the brain.
A group of researchers at UCLA who used high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to scan the brains of people who meditate. In a study published in the journal NeuroImage and currently available online (by subscription)...the researchers found significantly larger cerebral measurements in meditators compared with controls, including larger volumes of the right hippocampus and increased gray matter in the right orbito-frontal cortex, the right thalamus and the left inferior temporal lobe. There were no regions where controls had significantly larger volumes or more gray matter than meditators.
"We know that people who consistently meditate have a singular ability to cultivate positive emotions, retain emotional stability and engage in mindful behavior," said Eileen Luders, lead author and a postdoctoral research fellow at the UCLA Laboratory of Neuro Imaging. "The observed differences in brain anatomy might give us a clue why meditators have these exceptional abilities."
In the study, Luders and her colleagues examined 44 people — 22 control subjects and 22 who had practiced various forms of meditation, including Zazen, Samatha and Vipassana, among others. The amount of time they had practiced ranged from five to 46 years, with an average of 24 years.
More than half of all the meditators said that deep concentration was an essential part of their practice, and most meditated between 10 and 90 minutes every day.
Research has confirmed the beneficial aspects of meditation. In addition to having better focus and control over their emotions, many people who meditate regularly have reduced levels of stress and bolstered immune systems.
I am asked by students all the time if it is difficult to get started in a meditation practice, and I have many people tell me they could "never meditate" because they are too hyper, stressed-out, etc. The truth is anyone can meditate and all of us have experienced "meditative states" at one time or another without necessarily knowing to name them that. If you have ever become completely absorbed in an activity, felt an sense of peace and clarity and lost track of time, you have entered one of the levels of meditative absorption.
Part of the problem, I believe, is the language we use to describe meditation. We tend to say, "I am going to meditate now," as if it is an activity we can just "make happen." In reality, what we do is create the right conditions for meditation to occur naturally (after all, it is our natural state of wholeness.) In yoga, we do this through asana practice, chanting, mantra and by focusing on an internal or external object. When we do these things with our full attention a chain reaction occurs in which sensory withdrawl (pratyahara) begins, then one-pointed concentration (dharana) develops, then meditative absorption (dhyana) occurs and finally experience (someday, we hope!) Oneness with All (Samadhi).
You can begin a simple meditation practice today. Choose a time of day and place where you can sit undesturbed for at least 5 minutes. Sit in a chair, or with your legs crossed, so that your spine is straight. Begin to follow your breath as it moves in an out through your body. As you inhale, say silently or aloud, "Breathing in." As you exhale, say "Breathing out." As thoughts and sensations arise simply stay focused on the breath and the repetition of this simple mantra. The key to meditation is consistency. Try doing this meditation every day at the same time for 5-10 minutes for 7 days. Please come back and leave a comment and let me know your observations.
You can also try some of my Guided Meditations, available at yogadownload.com.
Give meditation a try. You'll feel happier, sleep better AND have a bigger brain!
The Subtle Body, An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy, by Cyndi Dale.
I've been interested in the study of subtle energy systems since I was a young girl. My father used to do a form of Polarity Therapy on my legs whenever I got a leg ache, I started meditation at the age of five, yoga at age ten, etc., so a deep understanding that these energy systems exist has been a part of my paradigm for as long as I can remember. As a result I have accumulated a lot of books on these subjects. I have books on the chakras, Shiatsu, Polarity Therapy, Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Reflexology and many more. The Subtle Body, An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy could replace a whole stack of them!
They put the word "encyclopedia" in the title for a reason; at 487 pages this book covers all the major energy systems I have been exposed to, plus a few I knew nothing about (you can take a peak at the table of contentshere.)
The book is well organized and filled with clear and detailed color illustrations and extremely useful reference charts. Author, Cyndi Dale does a great job not only outlining complicated subjects that range from modern physics concepts, to acupuncture and the chakras, but also illuminates the deep interconnectedness of these different ways of understanding our "Subtle Universe." As a yoga teacher this is an awesome reference book to keep on-hand in my studio, and I think it would be incredibly useful for anyone studying or working in fields that deal with the subtle energy systems.
So, if you've been looking for a few great books on Sacred Geometry, Tibetan and Hindu chakras , Chinese, Ican and Cherokee energy systems, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Kabballah, Auyurveda and color and sound healing, save yourself some money and bookshelf space and pick up this book where you will find all of those subjects and many more.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cyndi Dale has been a natural intuitive since young, and offers these gifts to clients and groups seeking to make real and positive change.
As one year comes to a close, and we begin to contemplate the next, a lot of us make these interesting lists called, New Year's Resolutions. They are usually brimming with hope and optimism, and chock full of things we want to “fix” about our selves, and our lives. So, how does the modern yogi or yogini go about creating a New Year’s Resolution list; and what does the ancient science of Yoga have to offer us as we consider the changes we want to make?
Yoga says,
“ You are already whole, already perfect. There is nothing to do, nothing to fix.”
Wow. Do you feel a tremendous load off your shoulders? You are done! Hooray! There was never really anything you needed to do. You are already perfect, beautiful, radiant and whole, and you always have been.
Yoga teaches us that our feelings of inadequacy stem from the illusion of separation. We often experience this “duality” or sense of separation as feelings of isolation, loneliness, and fear. We may constantly criticize our bodies, actions, and thoughts. Yoga teaches that there is no need to do this, and that these himsic, or harming, thought patterns, are toxic and keep us from enjoying the full experience of our lives.
Yoga also teaches us to practice santosha, or contentment by letting go of our grasping to the negative stories we tell ourselves, and cultivating right thinking and equanimity. This does not mean that we do not experience all the ups and downs of life, but that we are able to view them with perspective and balance.
However, there is a paradox in the idea of Contentment. If we were all completely content all of the time, we would never do anything. A feeling of discontent is what motivates all of our thoughts and actions; from getting up to get something to eat because we are “discontent” with hunger, to making a major life change because we feel a deep dissatisfaction with something in our lives.
This brings us back to the idea of making a “self-improvement list” for ourselves in the New Year. There is nothing wrong with wanting to change or “improve” something about our selves; tremendous good can come from making changes to our lives. The problem comes when we use the opportunity for constructive change, as another means for destructive self-abuse. The first and foremost aim of any yogini should be to practice, ahimsa, or non-harming, toward herself and all other sentient beings. So, as we make our lists we need to check our approach constantly against this benchmark, to insure that we are being kind and loving to ourselves, and others, in the process.
Let’s take a very common New Year’s resolution as an example: the desire to loose weight.
A common scenario is that we begin in January filled with a fire to loose weight and get in shape. We are joined in yoga studios, gyms and walking paths by others trying to “whip themselves into shape.” By the end of January those places are far less full, and we are home feeling increasingly dejected, eating more, exercising less, and feeling pretty bad about our selves.
The Yogic perspective on loosing weight would say, “Anything can be done in time, and with kindness.”
Making changes takes time, and it takes a plan; add in the component of kindness and you are bound for success. Without kindness, self-doubt and self-criticism beginning to chip away at our “resolve”, and make us feel like the task in insurmountable.
Let’s take a look at what a Yogic New Year’s Resolutions for Loosing Weight List might look like:
I (your name here) love my body and support and nourish myself with healthy food and exercise.
I give myself this love and support to increase my physical strength, cardiovascular health, and mental health.
I show my commitment to loving and nurturing my physical and emotional growth by attending a yoga class 3 times a week for 60 minutes, and walking in my neighborhood, 3 times a week for 30 minutes.
I have a positive relationship with food, and I choose foods that will give my body the optimum nutrients and calories I need to thrive in radiant health.
I am living in a healthy body, at a weight that is beneficial for all my physical systems. My body is energetic and strong and contains all the vitality I need to live my fully realized life.
As you can see this kind of list combines concrete actions with positive affirmations. This enables you to formulate a realistic course of action for self-improvement that harnesses the power of creative visualization, and reinforces the focus on self-love and the practice of ahimsa (non-harming) toward yourself and others.
Keep your list short, affirmative and in the present tense, as if you are already living the life (in this case living in the body) that you desire to have. Remember, once you think and believe these things, they already exist, all the remains is for you to manifest them into your life in a physical way. If you cannot imagine yourself in the body, or leading the life you want to lead, it will be difficult for you to realize those things fully in your life. See it, then be it!
Another helpful concept brought to us by the science of Yoga, is the focus on action, rather then outcome. The great yogic scripture, the Bhagavad Gita states, “Have no attachment to the ownership or result...” instead the focus must always be on each individual action.
We can apply this to our weight loss example by releasing our concerns about how much weight, or how many inches we will loose, and instead focus on each thing we are doing moment to moment to reach that goal. For example: focusing on the quality and attention we bring to each yoga posture, in each class; or by placing our attention on the energy we put into cooking each healthy meal, and eating it slowly with loving care for each bite.
This focus on one thing at a time, keeps us deeply grounded in the present moment, which in reality is the only thing we can influence, and the only thing that really exists. We may start with a certain goal, and find that it ends in a completely different outcome due to circumstance beyond our control. However, if we have cultivated mindfulness and focused on actions, instead of outcomes, then it is easier for us to release that result, and know that we have done our best, and that is all that we can do.
So, as you continue working on your list of resolutions for the coming year remember to keep them positive, be kind to yourself, focus on action instead of outcome, and remember that you are already perfect, beautiful, radiant and whole, and you always have been.
David Morgan is a Kripalu Yoga Teacher, and he also has bipolar disorder. His blog Yoga for Bipolar Disorder, just won the 2008 Top Ten Bipolar Blogs Awards from PyschCentral, the oldest and largest mental health resource online. Here is an excerpt from David's "About" page:
As you are well aware if you have sought and found this page, bipolar disorder is a devastating illness that can destroy families and lives.
My name is David Morgan. I have bipolar disorder.
I’m also a yoga teacher. I teach yoga full time.
I can speak from personal experience as someone with bipolar disorder who has stared over the cliffs of despair more than once.
There is hope. Proper medication, nutrition, exercise, and sleep can go a long way in managing the symptoms of bipolar disorder. (Let’s start by drinking a glass of water — get one now.)
But that’s just a start.
If you, or someone you love, are struggling with bipolar disorder, please visit David's site, it is a wealth of information, and a window to hope.
The post below is a good place to start to discover the benefits yoga can provide to those managing bipolar disorder.
If you happen to be in the Knoxville, Tennessee area you can visit David in person, and enjoy one of his wonderful classes, at Yoga with Santosh.
Relaxation and meditation are key components that can drastically decrease the symptoms of bipolar disorder.My audio meditations, Progressive Relaxation Meditation, and Sivasana Meditation, are both excellent resources for calming the nervous system, and creating greater integration between mind, body and spirit.
Jai Bhagwan, and may you be happy, may you be free from all suffering.
If we are practicing yoga asanas with attention and care, we should be able to avoid most, if not all, injuries. However, some muscle and soft tissue soreness is a normal part of the process of working with the body in this way. As we proceed patiently and intelligently, our body will unfold and blossom, much like the ancient symbol of the lotus flower, so closely associated with yoga.
In the meanwhile, it important that we develop a "gift bag" of sorts. A set of things we know will help to nurture and support the recovery and growth of our body. Here are my Seven Ways to Sooth Sore Yoga Muscles:
1. Take a word from the master, and take it easy. The yogic sage Patanjali tells us in the Yoga Sutras, Sthira Sukham Asanam (the posture should be strong/steady and light/comfortable.) So, first and foremost, we most always begin by practicing with kindness and ahimsa (non-harming) towards ourselves. As the adage goes, "an ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure!"
2. Be constructive...rest. If you suffer an injury the first thing you must do is make room for yourself to heal. This means making time to heal, and this is a hard one for those of us in Western societies to grasp. Our credos tell us, "No Pain, No Gain," and so we are conditioned to push through, thus injuring ourselves further. The human body has miraculous healing abilities, but it needs constructive rest in order to accomplish this, so don't be afraid to take the time to let yourself heal, and learn to rest when you are becoming fatigued, so that you can avoid injuries in the first place.
3. RICE...it's not just for dinner anymore. If you have ever taken a basic first aid course, you know this acronym well: Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate.
R = REST: see number two! Love your body, let it heal.
I = ICE: ice is the MOST amazing healer I have ever come across. You really can't go wrong with ice, and it is especially critical to use it the first 24 hours after an injury. Often we tend to lean towards heat because it seems more soothing, but you can get yourself into a bit of trouble with heat, it can actually add to inflammation. Use ice packs on the injured area, ten minutes on, ten minutes off, for the first 24 hours. After that you can alternate ten minutes of ice, with ten minutes of heat. This alternating technique, and the application of ice alone, both help to reduce swelling and flush the area with new blood which promotes healing.
C = Compress: Compression helps to reduce swelling, pain and provides support. The most common method of compression is to wrap the site lightly in an ACE bandage. If you feel throbbing, or see discoloration, the bandage is inhibiting circulation and needs to be removed and re wrapped more loosely.
E = Elevate: Elevation also helps to reduce swelling. Elevation is most effective if you can raise the area above the heart. You can use pillows or bolsters to aid in elevation.
4. Drink lots of water. This one is pretty simple. I hydrated body, is a healing body. If your cells and tissues are not well hydrated it makes it very difficult for them to heal. Drink lots of pure filtered water, and seek out pure vegetable and fruit juices (juice them yourself if you can!), as these will add heaps of vital nutrients to your system in an easily digested and assimilated form.
5. Massage and Bodywork Touch is a great healer. There is a type of body work out there appropriate for every injury. Find an experience chiropractor, massage therapist, Reiki master, Positional Therapist, or other professional in a healing modality NOW, before you are injured. Put the names and numbers of these people in your "gift bag" so you are ready to take care of yourself if you have an injury. It can be challenging to have the energy to seek help, when you need it the most.
6. Create a care bag. Create a literal "gift bag" of healing tools. Here are a few I keep in mine:
Muscle Treat: this massage lineament from one of my favorite companies, Heritage Products, contains: Light Petroleum Oil, Mineral Oil, Olive Oil, Witch Hazel, Tincture of Benzoin and Sassafras Oil; which come together to provide and oil that goes on smoothly and soaks into the skin quickly. I use it twice a day over an injured site and find it helps significantly reduce pain, swelling and even bruising. Another thing I like about this lineament is that it has very little scent, just the fragrance of the natural oils, and like all of this company's products, all of the oils are of extremely pure and high grade. It is also suppose to be very good for use on varicose and spider veins (pat on gently, don't rub.) Benzoin oil is well known for its ability to strengthen and heal skin.
Microwave Heating Pads: I have several of these in different shapes and sizes and they are terrific for applying heat once the site is ready for that treatment. I also use them after an injury has reached the point where I am ready to slowly move back into practice. I apply the heat packs before my yoga sadhana to warm the soft tissues, making them more pliable and ready for the stretching elements of asana.
Leg Warmers: Don't laugh! I am so serious! I have a couple of pairs of legwarmers and I find them so useful. I put them on toward the end of my practice, or when I am teaching a class, before sivasana so that my legs will retain the heat of practice and the muscles won' be shocked by cold air (especially in the Winter when I am going out to a cold car.) The tighter variety can actually do double duty by providing a little bit of compression and support. Try them out and you will see why dancers swear by them. Healing Meditations: visualization is one of the most powerful healing tools we have available to us. The healing power of our minds is unlimited when use it to tap into our spirits and the prana which permeates us. Try lying down in a comfortable place with a blanket over you, and an eye pillow or small towel covering your eyes to encourage pratyahara, or sense withdrawal. Visualize your body healing on a gross and subtle level. Imagine it right down to the very cellular structures of your body. See yourself as already well; radiantly health and whole.
7. Return to activity slowly and with intelligence. When we return to activity after an injury it is natural to want to jump right back in, and pick up from where we left off. Unfortunately, this is not right mindedness on our part. If you have been laid up with an injury for 6 weeks, it will take at least that length of time to get back to your pre-injury level of practice; it may take double the amount of time you have been on constructive rest, or longer. This is a time for the utmost practice of patience and compassion towards ourselves. Take your time, go slow, remember the words of Sri Patabhi Jois, "Practice, practice, all is coming." You will beyond where you left off in your practice in no time if you proceed in this way.
May your lives be filled with radiant health,May you honor your body, mind and spiritwith lovingkindness and compassion.
In business, as in the rest of life, it can be a challenge to keep things positive. Present global economic woes are making for some highly tense office environments, but they also present an opportunity to bring our yoga "off the mat", and into our daily lives.
Yoga can provide not only a personal refuge from these pressures, but an opportunity to calm down, refocus and re-enter the group with positive energy and patience. Imagine bringing a spirit of peace and healing to your environment, rather then adding to the discord and din.
Go to your office, or even a stall in the bathroom, or step outside, anywhere you can be alone for a few minutes and withdraw from the energy of your office. Take a few deep breaths and follow your inhale and exhale. On the inhale say, "I breath in peace", on the exhale say, "I breathe out all tension." Before you return to your office group say to yourself this simple Metta meditation of lovingkindness...
"May all beings be happy, May all beings be free from all suffering."
It is amazing how much a simple break can help us calm down, and regain perspective.
Let me know how you bring your yoga off the mat, and into the world.
If you are looking for more ways to bring the positive back to your office or business check out the blog Emergence Business Coaching written by business coach and writer, Charrise. She has great advice and resources for building business for success, with heart and positive energy.
Whether I am buying groceries at the store, picking up some dry cleaning, or settling into sadhana on my yoga mat I am always met with the same inquiries. It's always the big questions: who am I? what am I doing here? am I doing enough? is this all good enough? A lot of striving in all those questions, and that is the nature of Mind. To grasp, to avert. The quality we are looking for in yoga is neither; it is the simplisity of just being here, moment to moment, breath by breath. In a posture we look for the qualities of sukha (sweetness, or comfort) and sthira (steadiness), but we find neither while we are stuggling and searching, doubting and criticising.
In your practice today, whether it takes form on or off the mat, let your inquiry be to "Let it be." Whatever the occurence, moment by moment, breath by breath, simply note your reaction, and then say to yourself, "Let it be."
Let me know what you discovery in your inquiry.
For more food for thought on this topic, you must visit a beautiful blog, by a lovely lady that got me thinking about all this today. The Wellness Journey, and author Traci Trainer, has a wealth of information on yoga, excercise, nutrition, and much more. Enjoy...
As for me, I am off to the mountains to get married! See you all next week...
May you all be free from suffering, may you all be surrounded by love.
It's morning, and a new day full of possibilites is before you. Wake up your brain, raise your prana, and get ready for a beautiful day with this seated variation of Sun Breath.
1. Sit in Sukhasana (simple cross-legged pose), or Lotus Pose.
2. Start with your hands by your hips, palms turned out. Inhale and sweep the arms overhead – reach out through your finger tips as if your arms are the rays of the sun – keep stretching upwards to the sky, and bring the palms together over your head. Exhale.
3. Keeping your arms raised, look up at the sky, lift your heart to the heat and light of the sun – inhale the prana of our ancient sun – feel this new expansion in the chest. Turn the palms out, reach through the finger tips and exhale the arms down.
4. Repeat on the next inhale, and use the mantra:
Breathing in, I breathe the light of the sun into my heart. Breathing out, I give the light of the sun to our world.
5. Repeat at least 3 times.
Namaste, and may you have a radiant day! Go out and shine!
Continuing our series on supporting your body and spirit as we transition into the fall and winter seasons I have a few tips and products that will support your respiratory system.
Both autumn and winter can be very challenging to sinuses and the respiratory system. The changing climate, seasonal allergies, and dryer air are a few things that contribute. The good news is an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; if you do the right things to support and build your immune system you will be much less likely to get sick. So, here are a few things to try:
Give Your Sinuses a Bath with a Neti Pot If you don't already have a neti pot, I HIGHLY recommend that you get one. I use mine every day, sometimes twice a day, and I almost NEVER get sick. If I do get something it is always the lightest little version and it goes away quickly. Using a neti pot regularly has also decreased my seasonal allergies by about 90%. I have very little symptoms anymore. Neti pots have been used in India and in Ayurvedic medicine for a very long time; the term comes from the Sanskrit, jala net out of the back of my throat as well. This may seem really gross at first, but I promise you the results are worth it! i, which literally means "to irrigate with water", and this practice keeps the sinus cavities clean and clear. To use a neti pot dissolve a teaspoon of sea salt in 2 cups warm water (don't use tap water that is unfiltered, the chlorine content tends to burn the nose a bit), and pour into the net pot. Go to a sink and tilt your head to one side. Place the neti pot in the opening of one nostril and begin pouring the water. The solution will go up into your sinus, give them a flush, and then pour back out the other nostril. Repeat on the other side. If you tilt your head back slightly, the water will head toward the back of your throat and then you can kind of hack it out. Sorry, no other way of saying it. I find that helps to clear the gunk at the back of the throat. Youtube has A LOT of videos on this, and I know Oprah featured neti pots at some point so you many be able to find some video of that out there. Here is one to get you started:
You can purchase neti pots from The Heritage Store, and they have another product that I highly recommend for respiratory care, called Alka-Thyme. It is a wonderful, refreshing mouthwash and gargle that really cleans and alkalizes the mouth. It can also be used as a topical pack if you feel a sinus or respiratory infection coming on. Just soak a wash cloth in Alka-Thyme and place over the sinus/forehead area, or over the glands on the throat, and on the chest. This is also a gentle and appropriate remedy for children, especially right before they go to sleep to help relieve congestion. I have started adding a 1/4 tsp of Alka-Thyme to my neti pot saline mixture and it is very refreshing. Alka-Thyme contains sodium bicarbonate which is another substance recommended for sinus irrigation. Support Your Respiratory System Naturally with Mother Earth's Respiratory Tonic This is another favorite of mine from The Heritage Store. It is a great support for the respiratory system and really helps relieve the congestion and tightness associated with allergies and colds. Their product description explains the active ingredients:
"Mother Earth's is a therapeutic combination of horehound, which soothes irritated mucous tissues, wild cherry bark to alleviate respiratory distress, rhubarb, which cleanses the system, and elixir of wild ginger for toning the digestive tract, preserved with grain alcohol in a honey and syrup base. This gentle, pleasant-tasting tonic is safe and effective for children and adults, just as Mother Earth intended."
This is the kind of product I seek out and use because it supports the body in it's own wisdom and healing process, instead of bombarding it with chemicals that only treat symptoms and often lead to rebound effects worse that the original illness!
Humidify, humidify!...and Open Your Windows One of the reasons colds and flus increase in the fall and winter seasons is that as it gets colder we tend to close up our houses, thus locking in stale air, dust and germs. Even during the coldest months if you can air out your house for a few minutes each day, you can prevent this stagnation.
Running a humidifier, at least at night when you sleep, is another big one. We do this for babies all the time, and it is one of the best ways to keep from getting sick. When sinus passages dry out the friendly mucus that provides a barrier to germs is reduced. Keep your mucus healthy! Humidifiers are very inexpensive and can be found online or at any drug store or department store near you.
Well, I hope you find these tips useful. Please share in your comments any favorites you may have for keeping the body and spirit healthy during this turn of the seasonal wheel.
And don't forget about drinking lots of Yogi Tea! it is a great support for the whole body. Find ideas for nourishing, warming meals for the winter months, here.
May you be happy, may you be filled with radiant health!
Yoga in the morning is the most glorious thing to me. My morning sadhana (practice) is usually about an hour and a half and consists of pranayama (breathing exercises to increase prana, energy), asana (postures) and meditation. I try to practice outside so that I can benefit from the fresh air and the energy from natural light. Every once in a while I get to practice somewhere really spectacular, like this...
But you don't need a lot of space, or a spectacular vista for a morning practice; and you don't need an hour and a half. All you need is a yoga mat or a towel, a quiet spot, and 10 or 15 minutes. The key is consistency; commit to doing a short sadhana every morning for 40 days and you will be amazed at the changes that occur in all areas of your life.
Here is a short sequence for you to try:
Sukhasana (easy pose): Sit with your legs crossed (you do not need to bring one leg up into half-lotus as in the picture, you can just cross the shins) and follow your breath for a few minutes. As you inhale say, "I am breathing in," as you exhale say, "I am breathing out." This will help you to stay focused on the breath. Make your inhales slow and deep, letting your belly swell like a balloon; pay special attention to the exhale, making it longer and slower with each breath. The longer the exhale, the more relaxed your body will become. This sort of breathing awakes and freshens the body, but it also quiets the nervous system and helps to lower stress hormone levels, like adrenaline and cortisol.
Table-top pose: Come onto your hands and knees. Press your palms into the floor, and gently do the same with your knees and lower leg. As you inhale, look up and arch the back so that the tail bone reaches toward the sky (dog stretch); on the exhale, look down at your knees and tuck your tail bone under so that your back arches up in the other direction (cat pose). Repeat this linking of movement with breath ten times. This will gently wake up your spine.
Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog): From table-top pose, turn your toes under, press through your palms as you begin to straighten your arms and legs. Keep a little bend in the legs a first, and you can keep it the whole time if straightening the legs bothers your hamstrings or knees. Never lock the knees back. Remember that as you are pressing down, the energy is also rising back up into you from the ground; do not sink into your joints. Completely release and surrender the head between the arms so it moves towards the floor. The arm pits hollow, and the inner heals move toward the floor. You are now in Downward Dog, and should look something like an upside down 'V'. Remember everyones posture will be different. Stay here for three deep breaths. If the posture is too difficult, bend your knees more, and shorten the number of breaths. This posture is an inversion and nourishes the brain with fresh blood and oxygen. It also helps to relieve depression and balance hormones.
Ustrasana (camel pose): Come down to sitting on the heels and take a few breaths. Then come up to standing on the knees for Ustrasana. Inhale and place the hands on the lower back as you lift the heart to the sky. Really, lift the heart strongly, and lift out of the lower back and you will not feel compression or strain in your lower back. Arch back slowly as if you are going up and over a ball, and only as far as you can without feeling strain in the back. You can keep the hands on the lower back, or bring them down to the heels if you are very strong and flexible. DO NOT push yourself. Be kind to your body and let the pose unfold bit, by bit. You can drop the head back for more extension; if that hurts your neck, bring the chin downwards the chest a little. This pose increases flexibility and strength of the neck and spine, and aids with digestion.
Ardha Matsyendrasana (half spinal twist): Carefully come back to sitting on the heels. Lean your left hip to the ground, bend your left knee and bring your left heel toward your right buttock. Adjust yourself so that both sit bones are on the floor (the right one is going to lift slightly, but try to keep the energy moving it downward). Cross the right foot over your left bent knee and place it down on the outside of your thigh. Place your left finger tips behind you on the ground. Inhale your right arm up and lengthen through your torso as you keep the hips moving down. Twist to the left and bring the right arm to the outside of the left knee (this will give you a little leverage.) On you next inhale move a little further into the twist, and deepen even more on the exhale. Stay here for 3 breaths and repeat on the other side. Twist are extremely detoxifying. The ring out the major organs of the body, and assist in digestion and elimination.
Sivasana (corpse pose):(NOTE: You may want a blanket if you are going to lie in sivasana pose for a while as you make get a little chilly.) Slowly come out of the twist and gently move down to the ground so that your are lieing comfortably on your back. Your feet should be about 6 inches apart with toes flopped out to the side, and the arms should be about 4 inches away from the body. Make yourself as comfortable as possible. Lie here for at least 3 minutes (10-15 is better) and do nothing but breathe. Sivasana is a critical posture in yoga. It gives the body, mind and spirit time to integrate, relax and restore.
I hope that you will give yoga a try, even beginning with 5 minutes of breathing a day.The benefits will amaze you. You can learn more about the important components of a yoga class, here.
May you be full of peace. May your body be healthy and strong.
I recently recieved this bit of research in an e-letter from Amy Weintruab. Amy is a fellow Kripalu Yoga Teacher and leading expert in the use of yoga and meditation in healing depression. Her book, Yoga for Depression: A Compassionate Guide to Relieve Suffering Through Yoga, is an absolute must have for any yoga teacher, and for anyone who is suffering through depression, or has loved ones that struggle with depression. Unfortunately, I suspect that covers just about everyone.
Her book and her teaching are so compassionate. I can tell you, if you are suffering in the depths of depression right now, Amy's book and her healing work with yoga will bring you a profound sense of comfort, and a new, powerful way to heal yourself. Learn more about her current workshops here.
Amy is also an amazing researcher and brings forward in her writing, and through her workshops, a lot of the cutting edge research being done with yoga in the treatment of depression, bi-polar disorder, PTSS, and other debilitating conditions.
Some of the best news to come out of research is that not only does yoga help you to feel better, it seems that it may also actually help to repair the damage done to genes as a result of depression and stress.
Consider this quote from Amy's newsletter:
In the 70's, Dr. Herbert Benson made headlines when he reported on his research at Harvard, showing the benefits of Transcendental Meditation and what he called "The Relaxation Response" in ameliorating or reducing all kinds of stress-related symptoms, including high blood pressure, heart disease, different kinds of pain, infertility, rheumatoid arthritis, insomnia, and a range of psychological symptoms. The professor is still at it, reporting as senior co-author in the journal PLoS One a significant advance in the understanding of how relaxation techniques such as meditation, prayer and yoga improve health: by changing patterns of gene activity that affect how the body responds to stress.
In the first comprehensive look at how mind states can affect gene expression, Benson and his colleagues compared gene-expression patterns in 19 long-term practitioners, 19 healthy controls and 20 newcomers who underwent eight weeks of relaxation-response training. In both long- and short-term meditators, it appears that gene damage from stress may be reversed.
Further genetic analysis revealed changes in cellular metabolism, response to oxidative stress and other processes in both short- and long-term practitioners. All of these processes may contribute to cellular damage stemming from chronic stress.
"It's not all in your head," said Dr. Herbert Benson, president emeritus of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind/Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "What we have found is that when you evoke the relaxation response, the very genes that are turned on or off by stress are turned the other way. The mind can actively turn on and turn off genes. The mind is not separated from the body."
You can sign up for Amy Weintraub's newsletter, here.
Depression is not a life sentence, and it isn't something you have to suffer through alone. If you are struggling with depression I urge you to bring yoga and meditation into your life. Give it a try!
There are two more great articles below...
May you be happy, may you be filled with great peace,
Yogi Tea is SOOOO good. Once you start drinking it you will want to drink it all the time. It is so nourishing and calming to the body. All of the spices in the tea, following the Ayurvedic tradition, have a health building, medicinal quality; and many of the ones mentioned in this post – like ginger, cardamon and cinnamon – are very warming and appropriate for autumn and winter. They cure what ails you, and even better, the help to prevent the ailing in the first place.
Tea is comforting, and it can be used as a part of wonderful daily rituals that cultivate mindfulness, and foster gratitude for each small moment. Tea after yoga class is often used as a way to build sangha (community) by giving people a reason to sit down together to talk and share.
YOGI TEASThese recipes came to me through a Kundalini Yoga yahoo group I belong to. Thank you, and Sat Nam, to RUTH SALDANHA, who posted them to the group. I have added some of my own notations as well.
This recipe comes from Yogi Bhajan, who introduced Kundalini to the west in the late 1960s. Yogi Bhajan is also the founder of the "Yogi Tea" brand, which is easy to find in health food stores.
Ingredients:
- 2 quarts water
- 15 whole cloves
- 20 black peppercorns
- 3 sticks of cinnamon
- 20 whole cardamon pods (split the pods first and be careful with the
tiny seed sticks that come from the inside)
- 8 fresh ginger slices (1/4" thick, no need to peel)
- 1/2 teaspoon regular or decaf black tea leaves (approximately 1 tea
bag)
Preparation:
Bring two quarts of water to a boil. Add cloves and boil one
minute. Add cardamom, peppercorns, cinnamon, and ginger. Cover and boil for
30 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer for two to three hours. Remove from heat,
add black tea, and let cool. Strain and store in the refrigerator. Reheat
when you want a cup and add milk and honey to taste.
Spiced green tea
- 1 tablespoon organic green tea leaves,
- 3 pods black cardamom (green cardamom will do if black cardamom is
unavailable), crushed
- 1 piece of ginger, crushed
Makes one large teapot. Do not brew for more than three minutes, as green
tea becomes bitter after that. Black cardamom has a slightly smoky taste,
very different from that of green cardamom. This tea is good for digestion,
but it is heating, and both ginger and cardamom are said to be aphrodisiac,
so don't have it before bed, unless you are planning not to sleep immediately.
Chamomile and ginger tea
- 1 tablespoon dried chamomile flowers
- 1 piece of ginger, sliced timely
Chamomile is a relaxing herb, calming to the nervous system. Add a teaspoon of honey and sip slowly before your evening meditation.
Thyme and mint tea
- 1 pinch dried thyme, or better, a few twigs fresh thyme,
- 1 pinch dried mint, or better, a few leaves fresh peppermint
- 1 small twig rosemary (optional)
- 2 pints boiling water
Mint can be grown in any garden, and even in pots on a window sill. This tea
taste much better with herbs freshly picked from the garden. Brew for a few
minutes.
Liquorice and fresh mint tea
- a few leaves fresh peppermint
- 1 piece of liquorice stick (it's actually the rood of the plant, and
looks like a twig), about 1 inch long
- 1 pint boiling water
Pound the liquorice stick with a mortar and pestle. Brew with the mint for
at least five minutes as liquorice take a while to release its delicious
bitter sweet flavour. A great digestive tea, excellent for Pitta constitution.
Spicy pink tea
- 1 large pinch of dried hibiscus flower
- 1 large piece of ginger, crushed
- 1 stalk lemon grass, chopped
- 1 pint boiling water
Hibiscus flowers give this tea a reddish colour, as well as a distinctive
tang, which complement very well the fieriness of ginger. Brew for a few
minutes.
Indian Chai
- 1 tablespoon organic black tea leaves
- 5 pods green cardamom, crushed
- 1 piece of ginger, sliced
- 2 cloves
- 1 small piece of cinnamon bark
- 2 pints of water
- 1 cup milk
- 3 teaspoons organic cane sugar
Put all the ingredients in a large pan, bring to the boil and simmer for
five minutes. Strain and serve piping hot.
Clare island punch
- 1 large pinch of dried hibiscus flower
- 1 small pinch Bancha tea (black tea can be used as a substitute)
- 6 pods green cardamom, crushed
- 1 thumb size piece of ginger, finely sliced
- 3 cloves
- 1 cinnamon quill
- 3 seed black pepper, crushed
- 1 piece of liquorice root, crushed
- 1 sprinkle of allspice powder
Put all the ingredients in a large tea pot, cover with boiling water, and
keep on the stove for 10 minutes before serving.
SIDE NOTE:
One interesting, and to me VERY surprising piece of information I came across regarding cinnamon: "Coumarin is a flavouring which is found in higher concentrations in the types of cinnamon grouped together under the name “cassia cinnamon”. Relatively small amounts of coumarin can already damage the liver of particularly sensitive individuals. However, this is not permanent damage."
You can read more about it here, and find out more about Ceylon cinnamon that evidently does not have this component here.
Now cinnamon has been shown to be a very effective assistant in lowering blood sugar, and has many other healthy benefits, so I wouldn't get to panicked about the coumarin issue. This article discusses the health benefits and the coumarin issue as well. Like all of these issues it is going to take some research to get to the bottom of. I will try to get back with some posts with my findings, I welcome any information readers may have to offer.
This site has a lot of useful information on the medicinal uses of herbs and spices. And this one as well. Here is a site for buying organic herbs.
Mung beans are often used, but many varieties of lentils and beans can be used. This site has some wonderful recipes for Kitcheree and other health building and cleansing recipes. This is not a "hot" spicy dish, but it is filled with aromatic herbs like cinnamon, cumin, and cloves. All of the spices provide vital health giving functions in the Ayurvedic tradition.
You can find out more about the ancient system of Ayurveda, here.
Happy Eating! May your food nourish and protect you.
I am a Kripalu Yoga teacher, so I know I am biased, but I really think the Kripalu tradition is one of the most accessible and compassion-centered approaches to yoga.
If you are new to yoga, or just don't know about Kripalu Yoga, the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health Website is a great place to start. The center is located near Lenox, in the Berkshire mountains of western Massachusetts, and it is a fabulous place. They offer classes, workshops, retreats, and teacher-trainings in practically every yoga tradition in the world. World renown teachers come from around the globe to teach there. It is also an amazing place to just go relax, eat some healthy vegetarian food, take a yoga class, hike in the hills or swim in the lake, and just chill out! I spent a month there during my teacher training and it was one of the best things I have ever done.
But you don't need a lot of space, or a spectacular vista for a morning practice; and you don't need an hour and a half. All you need is a yoga mat or a towel, a quiet spot, and 10 or 15 minutes. The key is consistency; commit to doing a short sadhana every morning for 40 days and you will be amazed at the changes that occur in all areas of your life. 
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