09.21.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:04 pm by Administrator
The 2nd yama (observation) is satya – truth (truthiness for you Colbert fans.) Swami Rama told us that you can say anything to anyone if you “grease it with love.” Don’t you know feel people who feel obliged to tell you the truth no matter how brutal it is? That’s ignoring the first and most important yama, non-violence. Yoga advises us to avoid falsehoods, exaggerations, and pretense. We try to understand truth as best we can intellectually, express the truth (gently, but honestly) and then let our actions speak the truth for us.
Relating this to yoga practice – be truthful and honest about how the postures feel to you and work within a capacity that does no injury.
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09.07.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 7:28 pm by Administrator
In yoga philosophy there are the 10 “committments” – the 1st 5 are the Yamas or restraints. The 2nd 5 are the Niyamas or observations.
We start with “ahimsa.” Ahimsa or non-violence is the 1st and most important one of all. (Think Gandhi.) Certain sects in India aspire to perfect ahimsa for their spiritual practice. They go so far as to avoid stepping on insects and wearing masks to avoid breathing in bugs. They won’t eat any kind of vegetable or fruit that kills the whole plant, like a carrot, but will eat berries, nuts and the like.
So, let’s practice this a bit more pragmatically – we don’t kill or hit people so we’re doing pretty good so far with physical non-violence. Applying it to yoga class – we don’t hurt ourselves.
Next step – verbal non-violence. This includes abusive words, insults, angry speech, and bad advice. We try to curb hurtful words toward others (gossip, too) and also not put ourselves down. (How do you react when you are given a compliment?) We learn to speak softly, gently, and wisely.
Third step – mental non-violence. This is where we control our thoughts about others and ourselves – no harmful thoughts going to someone and no demeaning thoughts about ourselves. Strike a nerve? Me, too. We are most often our own worst critic, but the more we can lighten up about ourselves the easier it is to lighten up with others. Like Louise Hay says, it’s just a thought and thoughts can be changed.
Ahimsa starts with ourselves.
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08.08.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 2:15 pm by Administrator
There’s a really good yoga show on PBS Saturday and Sunday mornings from 7-8, on digital station 20-2. I don’t speak Spanish, but I understand everything this talented instructor is teaching. She uses 2 models – one demonstrates gentler variations and the other does the more challenging ones. I highly recommend taking a look at this program. You could always tape it and join in when you’re more awake.
Adios!
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08.06.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 5:29 pm by Administrator
A lot of us were raised with line-dried laundry and have memories of how great it smelled. My mother had one of those posts with concentric roping that you could spin around and the same goes with my mother-in-law in Ireland. My Irish mother still uses hers about every day, never having owned a clothes dryer. I’ve only re-discovered how wonderful drying your clothes outside can be.
It’s better for the environment, we save on our gas and electric bills, and it smells nice. I have 2 identical drying racks I purchased at Costco that hold quite a bit and collapse and store easily. I walk the basket of wet laundry a few steps out to the back patio and I’m in business. Next, it’s kind of like solving a puzzle – how to get maximum use of the racks. I learned the hard way that you save the socks for last, hanging them in the little spaces left between t-shirts. When there’s no more space, I get creative – hangers with shirts hooked underneath the patio umbrella, or leave the laundry basket on top of the patio table and drape a sheet over the whole thing. I just bought a clothes line from Lowes that we’ll stretch between 2 fence posts and should make drying the sheets a breeze (yep, intended that).(Google line drying clothes for all kinds of tips!)
Fabrics came out pretty stiff the first few times, but I found if you add about 1/2 cup of baking soda to your wash it can help soften things significantly. I’ve also tried vinegar in the final rinse, but the baking soda works better.
The Zen – I have found that I LOVE THE PROCESS of hanging the clothes because it slows me down and keeps me in the moment. It’s beautiful being outside, I breathe deeper, I take my time, I like the sound of snapping the clothes before I hang them, and it’s so gratifying to know that (after the initial cost of the racks and clothes pins) it’s free.
After everything is dried and folded, I love to bury my face in the laundry, take a deep breath of that wonderful smell, and feel that Nature and I have collaborated on a beautiful experience.
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07.28.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 11:35 pm by Administrator
This is a quick summary of an article by Linda B. White, M.D., in the August/September 2009 issue of Mother Earth News. (One of the few magazines I read from cover to cover.)
BPA (bisphenol A) made big news stories earlier this year. It’s used to produce polycarbonate and epoxy resins and its in a ton of things – many drinking containers, the lining of most food and beverage cans, bottle caps, plastic cutlery, plastic food storage containers, toys, dental sealants, some dental composites, water pipes, and eyeglass lenses. It’s also in printer ink, newspapers, carbonless receipts, most recycled paper – including paper towels and paper used to contain food.
It can get into our bodies because BPA migrates from the plastic into the things it touches. The list of potential side effects is like reading something from the Island of Dr. Moreau. If you really want to see them, get the magazine article. Trust me, they’re scary.
Then there’s something called phthalates. (Gesundheit!) These are used to soften plastics in things like children’s toys, plus a plethora of person hygiene products. Phthalates have been linked to reproductive problems, male and female, plus asthma and allergic conditions.
We’re all doomed.
Eventually, yes. But in the meantime, here’s how to help avoid BHP –
No canned food. (I’m really up a creek, here.)
Try to find plastic wrap without BHP.
Warm and store food in ceramic or glass containers.
Make sure baby bottles, etc. are BHP free.
Avoid plastic bottled water.
Use metal or wooden utensils when you cook. Use wood rather than plastic cutting boards and clean thoroughly when you’re done.
Bring your own containers for carry-out or doggy-bags.
Avoiding phthalates:
Look for “phthalates free” on the label of personal care products.
Use fragrance free detergents, cleansers, and personal care products.
Avoid products made of vinyl plastic usually labeled as #3.
Earlier this year, my husband and I discontinued using any water bottles with a #5 on the bottom (linked to BPA). There is an e-mail floating around about Sheryl Crow getting breast cancer from continuing to drink water from plastic bottles that were warm from being left in her car. Sounds like a good tip to me.
Try using a Sigg or other stainless steel bottle instead. More alternatives are available if you keep shopping. In fact, in this week’s Target flyer, they have water bottles (for kids going back to school) labeled BPA free! Go Target!
*I was just at Rusted Moon Outfitters in Broad Ripple and they have a great selection of BPA free water bottles. Check it out and support the local economy! http://www.rustedmoonoutfitters.com/
OK. So plastics are not evil. Just don’t eat them.
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07.17.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:07 pm by Administrator
then blink your eyes right now and keep blinking every 3-5 seconds to keep your eyes moist. Now, turn away from the screen and gaze far away, hopefully out a window with a beautiful view. Rest your eyes and let them focus on distance for awhile. Relax your shoulders. Relax your eyes, jaw, entire face. Breathe deeply. :o)
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07.08.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 7:06 pm by Administrator
The yoga postures feel good, look good and reap many benefits, but ultimately, yoga doesn’t have much too do with the poses. Yoga Sutras chapter 1 verse 2 says “yoga is control over the thought waves of the mind.” Huh?
Yoga is about the experience you are having while doing a posture. Does the posture “push your buttons?” Do you like it? Would you rather be anywhere else in the world except doing that particular posture (i.e. revolved triangle.)? So, as soon as you notice a reaction to a posture, get into your breathing, stay calm, relax and simply find the posture “interesting.”
For instance, balance postures can show us our control issues. Watch your mind play the next time you’re in tree, king dancer, etc. If you have thoughts like, “I’m going to hold this pose no matter what!”, you may have control issues. (I only speak from experience.)
Get into child’s pose or yoga mudra and build up to holding it 25 minutes at a time. Yes, it’s really possible and can be absolutely transformational when you’re ready to work through some anger and learn more about your ego.
So, come to class, practice on your own, do the best pose you can do and then watch your mind and your breath. Take a challenging posture get some self-realization and then allow it to become a meditation. Now, you’re experiencing who you are and using the postures as a tool to help you get there. (And don’t take yourself too seriously.)
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06.22.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 2:16 pm by Administrator
Here’s something new! Monthly, on Tuesday evenings we will have a yoga class to benefit the food pantry at the church. The class is free with a donation of cash/check or food items. (Checks made to Northwood Food Pantry.)
Time: 6:30-7:30 PM
Dates: July 14, August 11, Sept 8, Oct 6, Nov 10.
This would be a great opportunity to bring your friends and family to try out a class.
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Posted in Uncategorized at 2:08 pm by Administrator
Here are the details – The session is 7 weeks long. The fee for the beginning level class is $70 (because it is an hour long). The fee for all the other classes is $87 (because they are longer!)All classes meet at Northwood Christian Church, 46th & Central.
For those of you enrolled now, there is no “break” week. We start right up after this session is done.
Mondays: July 6 – August 17, 6-7:15 PM – everyone welcome!
Tuesdays: July 7 – August 18, 9-10:15 AM – everyone welcome!
Wednesdays: July 8 – August 19, 6-7 beginners, 7:15 – 8:30 PM, intermediate/advanced yoga.
Thursdays: July 9 – August 20, 9-10:15 AM, everyone welcome!
If you have schedule conflicts (vacations, work, school, etc) let me know–we can work with it. (I can be flexible!)
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06.15.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:07 pm by Administrator
This is from the life science of Ayurveda and it has helped me so much. We all have these biocycles through out the day and if you can arrange your activities with these cycles, it all just works better.
From 6-10 (am and pm) are the “kapha” hours. Kapha is the low metabolism time. This means try to eat only light meals after 6 pm because your digestion will be slower. Get to bed before 10 pm while you are in this more relaxed state. Get up before 6 am or you again go into kapha time and it becomes much harder to get up if you wait till after 6.
From 10-2 (am and pm) is “pitta” time. Pitta is high metabolism. Eat now! Eat your biggest meal mid-day. You will metabolize it so much better and you’ll need the energy to get through the rest of your day. Remember from kapha to go to bed before 10? If you wait past 10, you go into pitta time again and you’ll be wide awake and ready to clean the house – your metabolism has kicked into high gear again.
From 2-6 (am and pm) is “vata” time. Vata is all about movement. I read once that most babies are born around 4 am—vata time – get those babies moving! If you can set your alarm and get up just before 6 am, it will become easier and easier and you won’t even need an alarm. You’ll be getting up during vata hours when it’s easier. Wait till after 6 am and you’re doomed to be groggy.
I have experimented and observed these cycles for several years and they really work. See for yourself.
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