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!
The Oops! Award was started by Amy Oops! is "given to bloggers who inspire others with their humor and their talents, also for contributing to the blogging world in whatever medium."
Part of being chosen to receive this award is "paying it forward" by bestowing the award on five more ::awesomesauce:: blogs. So first, here are my five pics, and second, if you win, check the guidelines below so you'll know how to pass on this special bit-o-praise to blogs that you love.
The Daily Buddhism This is my very favorite blog. The author Brian Schell, is a religion scholar and does an outstanding job making Buddhism clear, interesting and even entertaining. I wait with baited breath every week for the podcast, and scour the site when ever I get a chance. Terrific, insightful stuff you will enjoy, even if you just have an academic interest in Buddhism.
Bliss Chick Because the author, Christine Reed, is a fellow Blissologist, bringing you the best in all things blissful from her own experience and through great resources. Check this post on secrets of extraordinary living, for a small sample.
Jaelyn's Fairy Dust Cupcake Blog Do I really even need to explain why this woman must get an award...many awards. Fairy dust? Cupcakes? Oh, and she teaches yoga too! Everything she does is a work of art...and makes me HUNGRY! Pay this site, and author Jaelyn Williams, a visit.
The Roaming Lily Live vicariously through author, Sarabelle, as she travels this earth, sending us back postcards and stories of art, architecture, cultures and the beauty that is roaming free. Treehouse Jukebox: Adventures in Earth Well, first of all the author, Emma, likes brussel sprouts and yoga, so that puts her mighty high up on my list. Second, she finds the most wonderful things to share that enlighten, inform, and make you feel good.
PostPunkKitchen Created by Isa Moskowitz, it's not just a blog it's a show! Full of the spirit of punk rock and cruelty-free, Vegan good eats, all from "Boo-ti-ful" Brooklyn, NY. Check it out!
Congrats winners! Thank you for all the time, effort and love you put into your blogs. They are a great gift.
::PASS IT ON:: 1) Pick 5 blogs that you would like to award this honor to; 2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone; 3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself, unless they don't feel like it; and 4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Oops” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.
For all my readers who LOVE the Blissful Body Yoga designs (yoga inspired, funny s-shirts, great gifts) on Cafe Press, here is the sweet FREE shipping deal for the weekend.
Her book The Eight Human Talents is one of the most beautiful and useful books on yoga I have ever read. She also does amazing prenatal yoga classes, and DVDs. I have taken her classes at Golden Bridge in New York City, and they are transformational.
Kundalini Yoga is an invigorating tradition of yoga. It will get your prana flowing, leaving you energized and cleansed. I include Kundalini kriyas as a part of my morning sadhana every day (check back soon for a post detailing my favorite kriyas.)
The exercises may look at little funny, but let me tell you they are amazingly effective, and not easy! Don't be discouraged if you find them challenging; they are well worth your time and commitment.
Lucky, lucky me! I would say I never win anything, but that wouldn't be true now. I am so delighted. Thank you to the wonderful people at OperationNice.com and String-Ring.com!
Picture of my hand with my cool ring to come soon...:-)
Purchase the Sun/Moon Astrological Meditations download $9.99 and receive the brand new, Goddess in the Chakras download for free! This download will be sent within 24 hours of your purchase.
One of my newest releases, Sun/Moon Astrological Meditations, astrologer consultant, Jannine Oberg from www.stellarstrategist.com, will help you deepen your rituals by becoming aware of the particular energies of the sun and or moon by tapping into their astrological influences. This download contains 12 mini meditations for each sign in the horoscope. You can also use it to learn more about your own astrological chart. $9.99
All downloads have been successful or your money back! No worries and it's all green! Visit the store today!
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!
This is a GREAT article by Richard Rosen on the yoga asana Lolasana. Lolasana is one of those postures that looks soooo difficult, and it does require some skill and strength, but Richard's explanation makes it very doable. HAVE SOME FUN WITH IT my sweet yogis and yoginis!
TV that is good-a-for-you! (as my Italiana grandma would say:-)
Jennifer Lyall and Naturopath, Dr. JJ Dugoua as they have fun exploring alternative therapies and healthy living. Weekly episodes are released every Tuesday. This week's episode is wonderful! All about seasonal allergies and how to keep them from keeping you down! Try the hot and cold compresses, they work wonders!
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.
Is this the cutest ring ever? I want one so much (going immediately on my Christmas list, and I am trying to be really good this year.) And a beautiful new twist on an old way of helping us to remember to be things like...
patient
kind
gracious
loving
forgiving
Some days, I probably need one of each of these on each finger! Check them out, here.
And, while you are at it PLEASE go meet the NICE people at Operation Nice...they really are so nice, and they inspire niceness...and...if you tell them your story of nice, you might win a String-Ring!
Be nice to someone you day. Go a step further, be nice to someone you really don't like. Find yourself, inside of them, and open up the doors of compassion and love.
"Through compassion you find that all human beings are just like you."
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.
My mom called me the other night. She gets together with this awesome group of women who have the most incredible parties. Their big one is in June, and it’s called Estrofest…it’s quite an extravaganza. Anyway, they are having a “Goddess Party” this weekend and she, and my sis-in-law, were asking for some ideas for goddesses. I was just going to email them, but then I thought, hey, this is a great post…
So, before the concept of “God” started leaning toward the patriarchal, bearded grandfather concept that dominates many religions today, the goddess, in her many forms, reigned supreme. This is a vast and fascinating subject, and the archetypes represented in the pantheons of goddesses across cultures and millennia have a lot to offer to us. They show up in our dream minds, and inform our ordinary waking states. We can recognize some aspect of all of them in ourselves, and it can be helpful to contemplate them when we need a little support cultivating the energy or ideas that they represent in our own life.
Here are a few goddesses that come first to my mind in this autumn season:
Demeter: The Greek Goddess of Agriculture. Her name means, “barley mother” and “earth mother”; she is a fertility goddess, and is often shown with a stalk of corn or grain, a torch, and a crown. She helps women harmonize with the ebb and flow of their life cycles. Her daughter, Persephone, was carried away in a notoriously bad relationship with Hades, god of the underworld. Demeter was so grief stricken that she caused the world to ebb into winter and to stay in that state of death until Persephone was returned, albeit for only part of the year (hence, the seasonal cycle.)
Hestia: Greek Goddess of Hearth and Home Hestia represents purity, sincerity, sanctity and safety. She is responsible for the wholesomeness of a warm meal and a cozy hearth. We bring her energy into our lives when we express the “domestic goddess” inside of us.
Now, if you are looking for a goddess with energy a little less tame, meet a few of my favorites:
She symbolizes strength, valor and protection. The Hindu gods called her forth with a “breath of fire” when they found they could not defeat the Buffalo Demon, Mahisasura, who threatened the world. She rides on a lion in a sacred trance, brandishing a weapon given to her by the gods in each of her eight arms (click the link above for more on her weapons.) She is the slayer of evil, and is also referred to as "Triyambake" meaning the three eyed Goddess. The left eye represents desire (the moon), the right eye represents action (the sun), and the central eye knowledge (fire).
Here is kirtan (a sacred chant) to Durga
Lilith: Hebrew Goddess of Personal Power and Sexual Appetite Take a walk on the wild side ladies. When God made Lilith (the first Eve) for Adam, and she told him, “I will not lie beneath you”, and he gave her the old “well, I won’t lie beneath YOU because you should always be in the inferior position…”, Lilith said, “Ah, no you din’it!”…or something like that. Anyway, Lilith doesn’t take any shit, so if you feel like you need to pull a little of that power into your aura, she’s ya’ girlfriend. Lilith is all about freedom of choice; she makes her own rules, and she doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her. She is also a sensual seductress, tempting men to follow her for her own pleasure’s sake. So, have at it ladies. YOu may also want to check out Lilith Magazine.
White Buffalo Calf Woman: Lakota Goddess of Peace This sacred woman of supernatural origin gave the Lakota their "Seven Sacred Rituals". She is the ultimate role model for woman as facilitator, leader, healer and bringer of peace. You know the “Peace Pipe’? Yep, that was all her. The peace pipe was used in rituals within a sacred circle; it was passed from person to person so each could share their truth, and understanding and unity could be brought to the group. I love her because her way to peace and understanding is decidedly feminine, based in communication and tolerance.
Saraswati: Hindu Goddess of Knowledge and Arts Saraswati is my patron saint, so to speak. I just love her. She dresses in white, and holds a mala (prayer beads) and a palm leaf scroll, indicating knowledge. Saraswati usually rides a swan or a peacock, while playing music on a veena. She is the mother of the Vedas, the ancient scriptures of India. She is identified with the Saraswati River and it’s nourishing and purifying aspects. She is the consort of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. Saraswati Puja (celebration) is coming up in October, if you have a Hindu temple in your town, try to go, they are amazing rituals and celebrations.
None of these great goddesses resonating with you? Here are a few more to ponder:
September 21, is the Autumnal Equinox, the time when night and day are of equal length.
“This time holds the night and day in perfect balance… As the wheel turns towards the dark half of the year we honor the aging of the Great Goddess as she passes to the Crone stage…” says Natalie “Fox” Maisel in her ritual for Mabon, the autumnal equinox (available for download, here.) “At this time we give thanks as we yield our harvests and turn inward for the cold months. This is an auspicious time to finish old business and take time slowing down from the business of the past season.”
As Natalie’s words above highlight for us, this is a wonderful time to heed the natural instincts we are feeling. If you feel a little sleepy, and slow, like you need some time to rest and think, go with it, you are on the right track. This is the season for resting and thinking, for taking inventory of what we have been running around doing all year. I encourage you to take some time to take care of yourself, and give yourself the gift of some processing and transition time in your life. It is also a great time to leave behind things you don't need. Behaviors, relationships, or ways of thinking that are no longer useful to you. As the poet Rumi says, "Change rooms in your mind for a day."
This time of reflection is also a great opportunity to re-establish contact with Gratitude. As you make your inventory of the past year, consider starting a Gratitude Journal, and writing in it daily. I find just a few lines, even a word, helps to keep me rooted in mindfulness and gratitude for “what is”, and makes acceptance of “what isn’t” much easier.
During this change in seasons the body, as well as the mind and spirit, need some special care and assistance. Check back to my blog during the couple weeks. I will have several posts focusing on how to honor and assist your body as it rides this turn of the Seasonal Wheel.
May this autumn season of harvest bring you bounty and blessings in your life- Teal Marie
This is a beautiful and inspirational story about yoga and the positive impact in can make on our lives. This guy is my hero! I'm telling you, if we all did one hour of pranayama each day we would live in radiant health forever.
I was also excited to see that this gentleman did some of his studies with Swami Kripalu, who is the head of the Kripalu Yoga lineage that I teach. They were both from Gujarat, India.
Make sure you watch the slide show! To view it go to the original article by DAVID CASSTEVENS, here.
ARLINGTON — He spoke as if he were seated on an examining table, talking with his doctor.
"I am feeling very goood," he declared.
Any pains?
"No headache. No fever. Never."
Problem with medications?
Kantilal Talati smiled. "No med-i-ca-tion."
The polite, gracious man from India, who turns 90 next month, summarized his well-being in economical English. "I never fall sick. Due to yoga only."
Arpita Shah’s grandfather knelt on the living room carpet of an Arlington home where he has lived with his daughter and son-in-law since leaving Bombay, India, last summer. Limber as an Olympic gymnast, Talati curled his 5-foot, 125-pound frame into a tight ball, and using his head for balance, slowly raised both legs overhead until his inverted body punctuated the accomplishment, forming an exclamation point.
Then Talati lowered his bare feet, turning the soles inward until they met in a posture of prayer.
As he maintained the headstand — the king of yoga poses — his family watched with respect and admiration.
Daily devotion Talati performs a variety of positions — asanas — as part of his disciplined daily yoga schedule.
"Never do I lapse," he said proudly.
Yoga, an ancient Hindu practice, is aimed at achieving a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility. Postures and breathing techniques induce relaxation.
Talati devotes one hour every morning to pranayam (breathing exercises), followed by an hour of yoga.
After breakfast he gives yoga lessons to his hosts.
In the afternoon he does another session alone, performing more challenging yoga poses and movements that massage internal organs, enhance blood circulation and act on the joints, increasing strength and flexibility.
According to a yoga philosophy, it’s not the number of years that determines a person’s age but rather the suppleness of the spine.
Talati credits his 30-year regimen for his good health and longevity.
"I am very young now," Talati said. "If someone asks me 'How old are you?’ I always say, 'I am 18 years!’"
Amused by his own statement, the man born Oct. 25, 1918, broke into a high-pitched staccato laugh..
"My grandfather," said Arpita Shah, a 33-year-old nutritionist, "is my hero."
Crisis spurs change A native of Bharuch, a seaside city in the state of Gujarat in western India, Talati worked as a project developer for the government-operated Western Railway. As a young man he smoked heavily.
"Four packs a day," he said.
"What!" his granddaughter said in disbelief at this revelation.
After Talati suffered a heart attack at age 44, he made a commitment to dramatically change his lifestyle. He learned relaxation and meditation techniques, and yoga poses from famed guru Acharya Swami Krupalvaanandji and, after he retired, began teaching the discipline at schools, temples and public gardens.
Talati is registered with the Yoga Alliance to teach at the 500-hour level, the highest level available.
"He is a jewel, the perfect testimony for yoga," said Marinda Hollar, owner of the Arlington Yoga Center. "It’s not only his physical prowess, but his kindness. Humility. Authenticity. He’s not trying to get money or attention. He cares about others. That’s what a yogi is."
Talati hopes to open a yoga studio next year. For now, his daughter and granddaughter are his regular students.
Arpita Shah’s stamina has improved, but she has yet to master the headstand.
"My grandfather won’t let me use a wall to help balance," she said. "He tells me, 'There are no shortcuts.’ He says I must learn the right way. No matter how long it takes. I am so lucky. I have found my teacher in him."
A simple life Talati lives simply, modestly, happily, at peace with himself and the world.
He sleeps in a small guest room furnished with a rattan bed and a dresser.
A photograph on one wall pictures the woman to whom he was married for 66 years.
After Padmavati Talati died last year at age 85, her husband left his homeland to live with family in Texas.
"I prefer it here," Talati said. "The climate is better. The atmosphere. The air."
Rising before dawn, the yogi bows before a brightly colored painting of a Hindu deity and then begins his regimented day with a body-cleansing cup of hot water with lemon juice and honey.
A vegetarian, he has whole-wheat toast, with egg whites, juice and Indian tea for breakfast.
He doesn’t require naps and spends hours each day reading and writing about yoga.
Before retiring at 10:30 p.m. he walks about two miles.
"He wants to start jogging," his granddaughter said.
How long will he live?
The question appeared to surprise and amuse the elderly man.
"As long as God gives me that bonus," he said, smiling. "It is not in my hand. I want to die healthy. That is always my prayer."
As a yoga teacher, I get a lot of questions about healthy eating, particularly from parents who are trying to improve their own eating habits, and start their children out on the right track. In general I tell people:
A healthy diet for the yogi or yogini of any age should be moderate to help keep the body light and the mind calm; and full of vital nutrients to support and build Prana. A correct diet will strengthen the immune system, make meditation and yoga asana practice easier, and lead to a more equananimous approach to life.
I also tell people, "if it's green...eat it!" Basically, you can't go wrong if you make 70% or more of your diet living, whole food. Meaning something that grew in the ground, or on a tree and has had no processing other that you lightly cooking it. The salad pictured above is very typical of what we would have for dinner. My fiance Mike made this one. Isn't it gorgeous? How could you not want to eat that? It even had edible flowers on it.
This is doubly important for your littlest yoginis. I would highly encourage any parent to make their own baby food. I know you are extremely busy, but really it takes very little time, and the pay off is enourmous. Your child will grow up with "whole food tastebuds", instead of fat, salt, sugar, aka "Mickey D's", taste buds. This summer I spent an afternoon at each of my sis-in-law's homes making baby food for their little girls (see pic of eager eater Bella gazing at her stash of baby food). It took a few hours to make, literally, a couple months worth of food, and for a fraction of the cost of commercial baby food. Try it, and tune back into my blog, those baby food recipes will be coming soon.
Besides the baby food, over the next few months I’ll be sharing a lot of my day-to-day favorite recipes, but in the meanwhile these came to my email box and I thought I’d pass them along. If you’d like to see more recipes like these you can find them, here.
Namaste, and may your food nourish you- Teal Marie
Peanut Butter and Granola Breakfast Wraps or Snack This wrap recipe calls for bananas, but you could also use apple slices or another fruit instead. Omit the honey for a fully vegan version.
Preparation: Spread the peanut butter on the flour tortilla. Place bananas and granola on the peanut butter. Drizzle with honey, if desired and wrap.
Baked Sweet Potato Fries. If you're craving a high-fat and salty treat like fast food French fries, try this recipe for healthier baked sweet potato fries. Baked sweet potato fries are much lower in fat than a deep-fried version and are very quick to prepare. Kids will love these baked fries as well.
Ingredients: * 3 large sweet potatoes, cut into wedges * 1 tbsp olive oil * 1 tsp cumin * dash cayenne pepper * 1/4 tsp paprika * 1/2 tsp salt or seasoned salt
Preparation: Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, toss together all ingredients until potatoes are evenally coated with oil and spices. Place potatoes on a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for about 30 minutes, or until done.
Thai Peanut Sauce A basic Thai peanut sauce can be used for dozens of things. I like to use it as a salad dressing, to dip spring rolls in or as a sauce for noodles. This basic recipe isn't too spicy, so kids will especially love the peanutbuttery taste. You might also want to try this spicier Thai peanut sauce recipe or a Thai peanut sauce with ginger. Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 5 minutes Ingredients: * 1/4 cup peanut butter * 1/4 cup water * 1/4 cup soy sauce * 2 tbsp lime juice * 2 cloves garlic, minced and crushed * 2 tbsp rice vinegar
Preparation: Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over low heat (mixture will become easy to combine as peanut butter melts). Continue stirring over low heat until ingredients are combined and mixture is smooth and creamy. This recipe is perfect as it is, but you may want to thin it out a bit with more water, depending on what you're using it for.
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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