Kirtan means "to repeat". It is a call and responce form of chanting that has been known for centuries and is an integral part of many cultures and spiritual traditions throughout the world.
Yogini Valarie Devi begins every Yoga class with Kirtan, specifically, the Shanti Mantras, or Peace Chants. After a busy day, rushing to Yoga class, sitting down, being still, and raising your voice with others creates a spirit of community that is soothing yet powerful, transformational and relaxing. "Kirtan is an opportunity to decompress", says Yogini Valarie.
Today, some Yoga classes have no music, and others have blaring hip-hop beats that are far from calming. The Shanti Mantras at Hamsa Yogashala are sung softly and gently to help find our quiet mind.
Kirtan is a form of Bhakti Yoga, or the Yoga of devotion, which is a beautiful tradition of love and acceptance of self and others. Nor is any singing ability required, for Kirtan is something everyone can do.
A primary emphasis at Hamsa Yogashala is Pranayama, or 'Yogic breathing', and Kirtan is the simplest way to learn how to breath. The natural rhythm requires no special training or preparation, so from the beginning the cadance releases surface tension and prepares the bodymind for Yoga.
There are many wonderful examples of Kirtan on youtube. For example:
Jai Uttal has an Introduction to Kirtan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFEFxrb_yJ8
Krishna Das - Grace:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a19I8FtPscs&feature=related
JaiMa James - Let Peace Begin With Me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv8bHRHYyvM
David Newman - Shiva Shambho:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_YfrIYEaW4
George Harrison - Gopala Krishna:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7eFQMakhDE&feature=related
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Power Food Pairs
Power Food Pairs
By PREVENTION
Want more protection against skin cancer? Drink coffee before a workout. Trying to build muscle? Stretch between sets. Hoping to reduce your risk of stroke? Squeeze a little lemon into your green tea.
Though seemingly random, these unusual combinations highlight the latest findings from the emerging practice that we call "synergistic medicine," which pairs health-boosting strategies from fields as divergent as kinesiology, neuroscience, and dermatology - with truly outstanding results. We have rounded up the best dynamic duos for knocking out memory loss, fatigue, disease, weight gain, and more. Talk about power couples!
Protect Your Heart : Green Tea + Lemon
In a study of more than 40,500 Japanese men and women, those who drank five or more cups of green tea every day had the lowest risk of dying of heart disease and stroke. Researchers attribute the protective effect to catechins, powerful antioxidants. Trouble is, less than 20% of these relatively unstable compounds survive digestion. To get more out of every cup, squeeze in some lemon juice. The vitamin C in lemons helps your body absorb 13 times more catechins than it can obtain from plain tea alone, according to a Purdue University study.
Sip to your heart's content: With the catechin boost from vitamin C, you can help your heart by drinking just one or two cups daily. If lemons make you pucker, squeeze in some orange, lime, or grapefruit juice; they increase antioxidant absorption, too, though to a lesser extent. Just skip the milk - it actually interferes with absorption - and stick to freshly brewed tea, hot or iced. The catechins in ready-to-drink bottles are ineffective.
** Yoga note: I enjoy green tea in the morning before breakfast. Adding lemon to it is both refreshing and internally cleansing.
Boost Brainpower : Exercise + Music
Twenty-one minutes of exercise is all it took to lift the moods of cardiac rehabilitation patients in an Ohio State University pilot study. But when participants listened to Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons on headphones, they performed significantly better on a verbal fluency test afterward.
Researchers believe exercise boosts cognitive performance by stimulating the central nervous system, and the addition of music may help organize thoughts.
Move and groove: Though researchers haven't explored whether these findings can be generalized to apply to healthy adults, it can't hurt to exercise with your MP3 player. Stick to the same routine the study participants followed - gradually increase the slope and speed on your treadmill every 10 minutes until you can speak only in short sentences (walk for a minimum of 21 minutes). And listen to the music of your choice; any genre should work just as effectively as classical.
** Yoga note: Yoga should be done to music, which is why I not only play CDs during class, but play traditional Indian music that was designed to increase concentration.
Rev Immunity : Pot Roast + Carrots
This popular comfort food makes you feel good for a reason. Carrots are chock-full of vitamin A, a retinol that plays a key role in preventing and fighting off infections. But without the zinc in the beef, your body wouldn't be able to use it. Vitamin A can travel through the blood only when it's bound to a protein. "And zinc is required to make that retinol-binding protein," says Roberta L. Duyff, RD, author of American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide. "So if you don't have enough zinc, vitamin A is not going to move from the liver to the tissues, where it does its job."
Germ-fighting combos: Dark orange, yellow, red, and green fruits and vegetables are good sources of vitamin A. For a little lighter fare, pair them with zinc-rich proteins: Slice fresh mango into low-fat yogurt, eat a small sweet potato with your fish, or stuff your chicken with spinach, Florentine-style.
Flush Fat : Burger + Frozen Yogurt
The next time you eat a food high in saturated fat, follow it with a low-fat, calcium-rich dessert. Calcium binds to fatty acids in the digestive tract, blocking their absorption. In one study, participants who ate 1,735 mg of calcium from low-fat dairy products (about as much as in five 8-ounce glasses of fat-free milk) blocked the equivalent of 85 calories a day.
Beef up calcium: Researchers haven't determined exactly how much calcium you should consume with each high-fat meal, says Cynthia Heiss, PhD, RD. "But by including a glass of fat-free or soy milk or a fortified juice with a fatty meal, you may get a boost if you're trying to lose weight," she says.
Ward Off Heart Disease : PLAC test + HSCRP test
These tests measure Lp-PLA2 and CRP levels, two important markers of the kind of inflammation caused by the accumulation of plaque in your arteries - a big predictor of heart disease. When doctors added the results of these screenings to their usual assessment of risk factors (blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.), they ended up reclassifying 39% of intermediate-risk patients - including 11% who were in need of more serious treatment - reports a new study published in the journal Stroke. Many of these patients may now be candidates for statins.
Get the tests if: You're middle-aged and your cholesterol is normal but you smoke, have gained weight, have a family history of heart disease, or have borderline hypertension, says Christie M. Ballantyne, MD, study coauthor and director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center in Houston. If you do get put into a higher-risk category, statins aren't the only treatment. Lp-PLA2 and CRP levels both respond well to diet and exercise.
Save Your Eyesight : Salad + Avocado
Spinach may be good for your eyes, but avocado makes it even more effective. Researchers at The Ohio State University found that when adults ate a lettuce, spinach, and carrot salad with or without 3 tablespoons of avocado, the avocado eaters absorbed 8.3 times more alpha-carotene, 13.6 times more beta-carotene, and 4.3 times more lutein than the others. Researchers believe the healthy fats in avocado increase the absorption of these fat-soluble carotenoids, which are associated with a decreased risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.
Go green: In the study, 3 tablespoons of avocado was nearly as effective as 6, so spare yourself the extra calories. Use a Hass avocado if possible - it has a higher monounsaturated fat content - or try swapping in another healthy fat source, such as safflower oil, nuts, or olives.
Build Muscle : Strength Train + Stretch
Weight-training builds strength by causing tiny tears in the muscle, which then quickly repairs itself, ending up bigger and stronger. Fast-track your strength gains by adding static stretching - in which you hold a stretch for 10 to 30 seconds - to your routine. Three studies led by Prevention advisor Wayne L. Westcott, PhD, found that adults who stretched either between or immediately after strength-training exercises developed about 20% more strength than those who only lifted weights.
Lift and Reach: Rest at least a minute between sets and use that time to stretch the muscle you've just worked. For instance, if you just did leg extensions, stretch your quadriceps by pulling your right ankle toward your butt while standing on your left leg. Hold each stretch for 20 seconds.
** Yoga note: Yoga builds muscle. I cant make that any more clear. The info above is just another example of how modern medicine is confirming the stretch / strength combination found in almost every Yoga asana. Likewise, when doing the strength asanas, they not only build muscle, but increase our bone density (something that is very important as we age).
Avoid Metabolic Syndrome : The Mediterranean Diet + Nuts
A Mediterranean-style diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, beans, fish, olive oil, and grains, is associated with everything from weight loss to a reduced risk of Parkinson's and heart disease. Now, new research shows that people with metabolic syndrome - a condition characterized by high cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar and excess belly fat - can reduce these symptoms by adding an extra serving of mixed nuts to the healthful regimen. In a large study, Spanish researchers instructed people at high risk of heart disease to follow the diet with slight variations. Among the group that added 30 g of nuts, the incidence of metabolic syndrome decreased about 14% within a year (as opposed to, say, a 6.7% decline in those who added a little more olive oil). Researchers believe the fiber, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids in the nuts helped regulate insulin, blood pressure, and inflammation.
Healthy snack attack: Participants in the study ate about five walnuts, five hazelnuts, and five almonds daily. Kathy McManus, RD, director of the department of nutrition at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, recommends eating the same amount (approximately 1 ounce) to take the edge off late-afternoon hunger. Sprinkle the mixture over Mediterranean diet-friendly yogurt, hot oatmeal, or a small salad.
Fight Fatigue : Eggs + Orange Juice
If you don't eat much meat, you may be feeling sluggish because you're not getting enough iron. Reason: Your body can readily absorb iron from meat (heme iron), but only 2 to 20% of the nonheme iron found in veggies, beans, and eggs makes it into your bloodstream. An effective booster: vitamin C. "It's the most potent promoter of nonheme iron absorption," says Elaine Magee, MPH, RD, author of Food Synergy. Vitamin C keeps the iron up to 6 times more soluble - meaning your body can now use 100% of the nonheme iron you eat and stave off fatigue-causing anemia.
"C" that you get more iron: Wash down your morning omelet with a glass of C-rich orange juice. Or toss iron-rich tofu and C-dense broccoli into your salad. Keep the cooking to a minimum (or at low temperatures) and cut your produce into thick chunks. Vitamin C is easily destroyed by light, heat, and air.
Bolster Your Memory : Curcumin + Black Pepper
Curcumin may be known for its anticancer properties, but this compound (found in the spice turmeric) is also making waves in Alzheimer's disease research. A recent study found that, compared with those who got a placebo, Alzheimer's patients who took 1 g of curcumin either as a supplement or mixed with food reduced the buildup of plaque in their brains. However, curcumin tends to be poorly absorbed, so you'll need to mix it with black pepper to increase its absorption up to 2,000%.
Spice up your palate: Turmeric has been used for centuries in Indian curries but may taste strong to an American palate. Start with 1/2 teaspoon daily, suggests Bharat B. Aggarwal, PhD, professor of cancer medicine at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Once you get used to the flavor, mix it with black pepper to make a great rub for fish or chicken.
** Yoga note: Turmeric Tea is one of those 'Yoga secrets'. Try this Yoga Milk recipe:
-2 Tbsp turmeric
-1/4 cup water
-1/8 tsp black pepper
-1 cup soy or cow milk
-1 tsp almond oil
-honey to taste
Stir the turmeric and water together in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and allow to cook, stirring, until a thick paste is formed.
Use 1/2 to 1 tsp of this turmeric paste for each cup of Yoga Milk tea.
Add turmeric paste, black pepper, milk and almond oil to saucepan, set stovetop to low. Bring milk just to a boil then remove from heat. Add the honey and whisk briskly.
In addition, I will occasionally add a small shake of turmeric and black pepper to my green tea in the morning
Sidestep Skin Cancer : Caffeine + Cardio
Research shows that caffeine and exercise both have anticancer properties; combined, they offer powerful protection against skin cancer. In research on animals exposed to UVB radiation, Rutgers University scientists learned the pairing increased the animals' ability to destroy skin cancer cells by up to 4 times. Allan H. Conney, PhD, the director of the laboratory for cancer research at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers, suspects that caffeine inhibits ATR-1, a genetic pathway that prevents damaged cells from self-destructing. Both caffeine and exercise also decrease tissue fat, which research shows helps cells deconstruct.
Have a cup, then walk: Drink a strong cup of coffee an hour before exercise, recommends Monique Ryan, RD, a registered dietitian and author of Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes. (**If your blood pressure is elevated, skip the caffeine.**) Caffeine can also increase endurance and delay fatigue - helping you walk longer and stronger. Just don't forget the sunscreen.
By PREVENTION
Want more protection against skin cancer? Drink coffee before a workout. Trying to build muscle? Stretch between sets. Hoping to reduce your risk of stroke? Squeeze a little lemon into your green tea.
Though seemingly random, these unusual combinations highlight the latest findings from the emerging practice that we call "synergistic medicine," which pairs health-boosting strategies from fields as divergent as kinesiology, neuroscience, and dermatology - with truly outstanding results. We have rounded up the best dynamic duos for knocking out memory loss, fatigue, disease, weight gain, and more. Talk about power couples!
Protect Your Heart : Green Tea + Lemon
In a study of more than 40,500 Japanese men and women, those who drank five or more cups of green tea every day had the lowest risk of dying of heart disease and stroke. Researchers attribute the protective effect to catechins, powerful antioxidants. Trouble is, less than 20% of these relatively unstable compounds survive digestion. To get more out of every cup, squeeze in some lemon juice. The vitamin C in lemons helps your body absorb 13 times more catechins than it can obtain from plain tea alone, according to a Purdue University study.
Sip to your heart's content: With the catechin boost from vitamin C, you can help your heart by drinking just one or two cups daily. If lemons make you pucker, squeeze in some orange, lime, or grapefruit juice; they increase antioxidant absorption, too, though to a lesser extent. Just skip the milk - it actually interferes with absorption - and stick to freshly brewed tea, hot or iced. The catechins in ready-to-drink bottles are ineffective.
** Yoga note: I enjoy green tea in the morning before breakfast. Adding lemon to it is both refreshing and internally cleansing.
Boost Brainpower : Exercise + Music
Twenty-one minutes of exercise is all it took to lift the moods of cardiac rehabilitation patients in an Ohio State University pilot study. But when participants listened to Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons on headphones, they performed significantly better on a verbal fluency test afterward.
Researchers believe exercise boosts cognitive performance by stimulating the central nervous system, and the addition of music may help organize thoughts.
Move and groove: Though researchers haven't explored whether these findings can be generalized to apply to healthy adults, it can't hurt to exercise with your MP3 player. Stick to the same routine the study participants followed - gradually increase the slope and speed on your treadmill every 10 minutes until you can speak only in short sentences (walk for a minimum of 21 minutes). And listen to the music of your choice; any genre should work just as effectively as classical.
** Yoga note: Yoga should be done to music, which is why I not only play CDs during class, but play traditional Indian music that was designed to increase concentration.
Rev Immunity : Pot Roast + Carrots
This popular comfort food makes you feel good for a reason. Carrots are chock-full of vitamin A, a retinol that plays a key role in preventing and fighting off infections. But without the zinc in the beef, your body wouldn't be able to use it. Vitamin A can travel through the blood only when it's bound to a protein. "And zinc is required to make that retinol-binding protein," says Roberta L. Duyff, RD, author of American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide. "So if you don't have enough zinc, vitamin A is not going to move from the liver to the tissues, where it does its job."
Germ-fighting combos: Dark orange, yellow, red, and green fruits and vegetables are good sources of vitamin A. For a little lighter fare, pair them with zinc-rich proteins: Slice fresh mango into low-fat yogurt, eat a small sweet potato with your fish, or stuff your chicken with spinach, Florentine-style.
Flush Fat : Burger + Frozen Yogurt
The next time you eat a food high in saturated fat, follow it with a low-fat, calcium-rich dessert. Calcium binds to fatty acids in the digestive tract, blocking their absorption. In one study, participants who ate 1,735 mg of calcium from low-fat dairy products (about as much as in five 8-ounce glasses of fat-free milk) blocked the equivalent of 85 calories a day.
Beef up calcium: Researchers haven't determined exactly how much calcium you should consume with each high-fat meal, says Cynthia Heiss, PhD, RD. "But by including a glass of fat-free or soy milk or a fortified juice with a fatty meal, you may get a boost if you're trying to lose weight," she says.
Ward Off Heart Disease : PLAC test + HSCRP test
These tests measure Lp-PLA2 and CRP levels, two important markers of the kind of inflammation caused by the accumulation of plaque in your arteries - a big predictor of heart disease. When doctors added the results of these screenings to their usual assessment of risk factors (blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.), they ended up reclassifying 39% of intermediate-risk patients - including 11% who were in need of more serious treatment - reports a new study published in the journal Stroke. Many of these patients may now be candidates for statins.
Get the tests if: You're middle-aged and your cholesterol is normal but you smoke, have gained weight, have a family history of heart disease, or have borderline hypertension, says Christie M. Ballantyne, MD, study coauthor and director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center in Houston. If you do get put into a higher-risk category, statins aren't the only treatment. Lp-PLA2 and CRP levels both respond well to diet and exercise.
Save Your Eyesight : Salad + Avocado
Spinach may be good for your eyes, but avocado makes it even more effective. Researchers at The Ohio State University found that when adults ate a lettuce, spinach, and carrot salad with or without 3 tablespoons of avocado, the avocado eaters absorbed 8.3 times more alpha-carotene, 13.6 times more beta-carotene, and 4.3 times more lutein than the others. Researchers believe the healthy fats in avocado increase the absorption of these fat-soluble carotenoids, which are associated with a decreased risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.
Go green: In the study, 3 tablespoons of avocado was nearly as effective as 6, so spare yourself the extra calories. Use a Hass avocado if possible - it has a higher monounsaturated fat content - or try swapping in another healthy fat source, such as safflower oil, nuts, or olives.
Build Muscle : Strength Train + Stretch
Weight-training builds strength by causing tiny tears in the muscle, which then quickly repairs itself, ending up bigger and stronger. Fast-track your strength gains by adding static stretching - in which you hold a stretch for 10 to 30 seconds - to your routine. Three studies led by Prevention advisor Wayne L. Westcott, PhD, found that adults who stretched either between or immediately after strength-training exercises developed about 20% more strength than those who only lifted weights.
Lift and Reach: Rest at least a minute between sets and use that time to stretch the muscle you've just worked. For instance, if you just did leg extensions, stretch your quadriceps by pulling your right ankle toward your butt while standing on your left leg. Hold each stretch for 20 seconds.
** Yoga note: Yoga builds muscle. I cant make that any more clear. The info above is just another example of how modern medicine is confirming the stretch / strength combination found in almost every Yoga asana. Likewise, when doing the strength asanas, they not only build muscle, but increase our bone density (something that is very important as we age).
Avoid Metabolic Syndrome : The Mediterranean Diet + Nuts
A Mediterranean-style diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, beans, fish, olive oil, and grains, is associated with everything from weight loss to a reduced risk of Parkinson's and heart disease. Now, new research shows that people with metabolic syndrome - a condition characterized by high cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar and excess belly fat - can reduce these symptoms by adding an extra serving of mixed nuts to the healthful regimen. In a large study, Spanish researchers instructed people at high risk of heart disease to follow the diet with slight variations. Among the group that added 30 g of nuts, the incidence of metabolic syndrome decreased about 14% within a year (as opposed to, say, a 6.7% decline in those who added a little more olive oil). Researchers believe the fiber, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids in the nuts helped regulate insulin, blood pressure, and inflammation.
Healthy snack attack: Participants in the study ate about five walnuts, five hazelnuts, and five almonds daily. Kathy McManus, RD, director of the department of nutrition at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, recommends eating the same amount (approximately 1 ounce) to take the edge off late-afternoon hunger. Sprinkle the mixture over Mediterranean diet-friendly yogurt, hot oatmeal, or a small salad.
Fight Fatigue : Eggs + Orange Juice
If you don't eat much meat, you may be feeling sluggish because you're not getting enough iron. Reason: Your body can readily absorb iron from meat (heme iron), but only 2 to 20% of the nonheme iron found in veggies, beans, and eggs makes it into your bloodstream. An effective booster: vitamin C. "It's the most potent promoter of nonheme iron absorption," says Elaine Magee, MPH, RD, author of Food Synergy. Vitamin C keeps the iron up to 6 times more soluble - meaning your body can now use 100% of the nonheme iron you eat and stave off fatigue-causing anemia.
"C" that you get more iron: Wash down your morning omelet with a glass of C-rich orange juice. Or toss iron-rich tofu and C-dense broccoli into your salad. Keep the cooking to a minimum (or at low temperatures) and cut your produce into thick chunks. Vitamin C is easily destroyed by light, heat, and air.
Bolster Your Memory : Curcumin + Black Pepper
Curcumin may be known for its anticancer properties, but this compound (found in the spice turmeric) is also making waves in Alzheimer's disease research. A recent study found that, compared with those who got a placebo, Alzheimer's patients who took 1 g of curcumin either as a supplement or mixed with food reduced the buildup of plaque in their brains. However, curcumin tends to be poorly absorbed, so you'll need to mix it with black pepper to increase its absorption up to 2,000%.
Spice up your palate: Turmeric has been used for centuries in Indian curries but may taste strong to an American palate. Start with 1/2 teaspoon daily, suggests Bharat B. Aggarwal, PhD, professor of cancer medicine at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Once you get used to the flavor, mix it with black pepper to make a great rub for fish or chicken.
** Yoga note: Turmeric Tea is one of those 'Yoga secrets'. Try this Yoga Milk recipe:
-2 Tbsp turmeric
-1/4 cup water
-1/8 tsp black pepper
-1 cup soy or cow milk
-1 tsp almond oil
-honey to taste
Stir the turmeric and water together in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and allow to cook, stirring, until a thick paste is formed.
Use 1/2 to 1 tsp of this turmeric paste for each cup of Yoga Milk tea.
Add turmeric paste, black pepper, milk and almond oil to saucepan, set stovetop to low. Bring milk just to a boil then remove from heat. Add the honey and whisk briskly.
In addition, I will occasionally add a small shake of turmeric and black pepper to my green tea in the morning
Sidestep Skin Cancer : Caffeine + Cardio
Research shows that caffeine and exercise both have anticancer properties; combined, they offer powerful protection against skin cancer. In research on animals exposed to UVB radiation, Rutgers University scientists learned the pairing increased the animals' ability to destroy skin cancer cells by up to 4 times. Allan H. Conney, PhD, the director of the laboratory for cancer research at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers, suspects that caffeine inhibits ATR-1, a genetic pathway that prevents damaged cells from self-destructing. Both caffeine and exercise also decrease tissue fat, which research shows helps cells deconstruct.
Have a cup, then walk: Drink a strong cup of coffee an hour before exercise, recommends Monique Ryan, RD, a registered dietitian and author of Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes. (**If your blood pressure is elevated, skip the caffeine.**) Caffeine can also increase endurance and delay fatigue - helping you walk longer and stronger. Just don't forget the sunscreen.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Swine Flu and pandemic
Several of the Yoga students have been talking about the Swine Flu and a possible pandemic, so I decided to post a few tried and true cold and flu remedies that can be made at home.
! Understand that I am not a doctor !
What follows are only suggestions.
Regarding Echinacea: It is a short-term, strong immuno-provoker. However, after 2 to 3 weeks of daily use, it can overtax the immune system, which can lead to an immuno-suppressant effect.
Regarind Swine Flu: With this current strain, preventative immuno-boosters may be counter-productive. This is due to early indications - as established by the CDC - of a 'cytokine storm' pathology.
What follows are only suggestions.
______
First, for prevention, a family remedy. During flu season, drink a daily tea made from:
-2 Cinnamon sticks
-1 Tbls Echinacea (or 1 Echinacea tea bag)
-1 clove Garlic (minced)
-1 tsp Honey (to taste)
-juice of 1 Lemon
-2 Star Anise
-1 shot Whiskey
Add the cinnamon, star anise, echinacea, garlic and lemon to 2 cups of water. Boil and remove from heat. Let steep for 3 minutes. Add the shot of whiskey, and honey to taste.
Next .. if you are already having cold or flu symptoms, this next recipe may help you sweat it out.
-3 cloves of Garlic (minced)
-1 inch fresh Ginger Root (minced)
-1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper (powder is fine)
-1/2 tsp Dill
-1 bag of Black Tea
-juice of 1 Lemon
-Honey to taste
Boil 2 cups of water, lower the heat and allow to simmer. Peel and crush the garlic and ginger .. add to the simmering water. Add the cayenne, dill, tea bag and lemon juise .. remove from heat. Steep for 5 minutes, strain, and add the honey, allow to cool. This is best drank before going to bed at night.
Finally .. if your not sick yet, but feel on the edge .. then try this recipe:
-juice of 1 Lemon
-1/2 Lemon rind
-1/2 a Lemon (cut into small pieces)
-1 Cinnamon stick-1 tsp Thyme (or 3 fresh sprigs)
-1 inch Ginger root (minced)
-Honey to taste
Add the lemon juice, the lemon rind, and the cut-up lemon, with the cinnamon, thyme and ginger, to 2 cups of water. Boil, then immediately take off heat and let steep for 5 minutes. At room temperature, add the honey to taste (never boil honey). You should drink 3 to 6 cups of this a day.
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
! Understand that I am not a doctor !
What follows are only suggestions.
Regarding Echinacea: It is a short-term, strong immuno-provoker. However, after 2 to 3 weeks of daily use, it can overtax the immune system, which can lead to an immuno-suppressant effect.
Regarind Swine Flu: With this current strain, preventative immuno-boosters may be counter-productive. This is due to early indications - as established by the CDC - of a 'cytokine storm' pathology.
What follows are only suggestions.
______
First, for prevention, a family remedy. During flu season, drink a daily tea made from:
-2 Cinnamon sticks
-1 Tbls Echinacea (or 1 Echinacea tea bag)
-1 clove Garlic (minced)
-1 tsp Honey (to taste)
-juice of 1 Lemon
-2 Star Anise
-1 shot Whiskey
Add the cinnamon, star anise, echinacea, garlic and lemon to 2 cups of water. Boil and remove from heat. Let steep for 3 minutes. Add the shot of whiskey, and honey to taste.
Next .. if you are already having cold or flu symptoms, this next recipe may help you sweat it out.
-3 cloves of Garlic (minced)
-1 inch fresh Ginger Root (minced)
-1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper (powder is fine)
-1/2 tsp Dill
-1 bag of Black Tea
-juice of 1 Lemon
-Honey to taste
Boil 2 cups of water, lower the heat and allow to simmer. Peel and crush the garlic and ginger .. add to the simmering water. Add the cayenne, dill, tea bag and lemon juise .. remove from heat. Steep for 5 minutes, strain, and add the honey, allow to cool. This is best drank before going to bed at night.
Finally .. if your not sick yet, but feel on the edge .. then try this recipe:
-juice of 1 Lemon
-1/2 Lemon rind
-1/2 a Lemon (cut into small pieces)
-1 Cinnamon stick-1 tsp Thyme (or 3 fresh sprigs)
-1 inch Ginger root (minced)
-Honey to taste
Add the lemon juice, the lemon rind, and the cut-up lemon, with the cinnamon, thyme and ginger, to 2 cups of water. Boil, then immediately take off heat and let steep for 5 minutes. At room temperature, add the honey to taste (never boil honey). You should drink 3 to 6 cups of this a day.
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Friday, April 24, 2009
Peacock Pose at 83
Grandma Still Teaches Yoga at 83
(April 23) - Bette Calman is 83, but she has no trouble doing a headstand or sitting in lotus position. Downward dog is no stretch for her.
A grandmother who lives in southeastern Australia, Calman has been teaching yoga for 40 years -- and it shows. The octogenarian is more limber now than many people in their 20s.
"You're never too old," Calman told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper. "The body is a remarkable instrument," she said. "It can stretch and stretch, and get better all the time. Forget age."
Calman was a yoga pioneer in Australia in the 1950s. She has written three books on the discipline, including one called 'Yoga for Arthritis.'
"Even a basic posture, or just going to a window and breathing deeply, can have big benefits," she told the Mail.
Calman teaches as many as 11 classes a week and has no plans to cut back her schedule.
"Yoga keeps you young," she said.
PICTURES!
http://www.aolhealth.com/condition-center/arthritis/news/article/_a/bbdp/yoga-grandma/444345?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl3link3http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolhealth.com%2Fcondition-center%2Farthritis%2Fnews%2Farticle%2F_a%2Fbbdp%2F%0D%0Ayoga-grandma%2F444345
(April 23) - Bette Calman is 83, but she has no trouble doing a headstand or sitting in lotus position. Downward dog is no stretch for her.
A grandmother who lives in southeastern Australia, Calman has been teaching yoga for 40 years -- and it shows. The octogenarian is more limber now than many people in their 20s.
"You're never too old," Calman told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper. "The body is a remarkable instrument," she said. "It can stretch and stretch, and get better all the time. Forget age."
Calman was a yoga pioneer in Australia in the 1950s. She has written three books on the discipline, including one called 'Yoga for Arthritis.'
"Even a basic posture, or just going to a window and breathing deeply, can have big benefits," she told the Mail.
Calman teaches as many as 11 classes a week and has no plans to cut back her schedule.
"Yoga keeps you young," she said.
PICTURES!
http://www.aolhealth.com/condition-center/arthritis/news/article/_a/bbdp/yoga-grandma/444345?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl3link3http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolhealth.com%2Fcondition-center%2Farthritis%2Fnews%2Farticle%2F_a%2Fbbdp%2F%0D%0Ayoga-grandma%2F444345
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Stressed-Out in Atlanta
Atlanta has to be one of the most stressed-out cities in the world these days, what with the economic uncertainty, the swine flu, and a growing population that threatens the quality of life.
Which is why one woman - a Yogini recognized as a healer, a 'teacher's teacher', a center of calm and inner peace - has opened her doors for FREE YOGA classes.
Hamsa Yogashala in Gwinnett County is the first step to re-tooling our lives towards inner calm in a sea of turmoil.
One of Yogini Valarie Devi's students, some of whom have been taking her classes for ten years, say, "My life was tough. I spent so much time in my car, working in a volitile industry, I was nervous, stressed out and started loosing my hair!" Until Kathy Watson took a Yoga class at Hamsa Yogashala.
"Breathing is the singlemost important thing that we do, which is why we should learn to do it well", says Yogini Valarie. And she is right. Scientific and medical research has proven that deep breathing coupled with coordinated movement will reduce anxiety and stress, promote and improve health, and bring about an overall sense of calm.
"Yoga is inner peace without religion", says Yogini Valarie, "Its all about getting to know ourselves, and enjoying that self-discovery."
"I have been taking Yoga for twice a week now, and have seen a difference in how I feel when I wake up in the morning, how I treat my family, my co-workers, and just everyone I meet in general", says Renee Stoddard.
Hamsa Yogashala has THREE FREE YOGA classes EVERY THURSDAY, at:
7-8am
4:30-5:30pm, and
6:30-7:30pm
Which is why one woman - a Yogini recognized as a healer, a 'teacher's teacher', a center of calm and inner peace - has opened her doors for FREE YOGA classes.
Hamsa Yogashala in Gwinnett County is the first step to re-tooling our lives towards inner calm in a sea of turmoil.
One of Yogini Valarie Devi's students, some of whom have been taking her classes for ten years, say, "My life was tough. I spent so much time in my car, working in a volitile industry, I was nervous, stressed out and started loosing my hair!" Until Kathy Watson took a Yoga class at Hamsa Yogashala.
"Breathing is the singlemost important thing that we do, which is why we should learn to do it well", says Yogini Valarie. And she is right. Scientific and medical research has proven that deep breathing coupled with coordinated movement will reduce anxiety and stress, promote and improve health, and bring about an overall sense of calm.
"Yoga is inner peace without religion", says Yogini Valarie, "Its all about getting to know ourselves, and enjoying that self-discovery."
"I have been taking Yoga for twice a week now, and have seen a difference in how I feel when I wake up in the morning, how I treat my family, my co-workers, and just everyone I meet in general", says Renee Stoddard.
Hamsa Yogashala has THREE FREE YOGA classes EVERY THURSDAY, at:
7-8am
4:30-5:30pm, and
6:30-7:30pm
Friday, April 17, 2009
Georgia Vegetarian
I started a list for vegetarians and vegans in Georgia. It will be a great place to share recipes, meet other health conscious folk, and share notes on area restaurants.
Join here:
GAVegetarian-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Join here:
GAVegetarian-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Physical Fitness and Yoga
I hear all the time that Yoga is not a 'good form of exercise because there is no cardio or core work'.
When I am told this, I merely smile and invite them to a Yoga class.
After a basic Hatha session, these dear souls are breathing deep, sweating, and can feel every muscle in their body because it has been activated and so invigorated.
In all, I think the fitness industry does a very good job of promoting the fact that they alone have the key to fitness. In their stale air, mirror walled, pounding music filled gyms, they jump in aerobics or spin in cycling class or pound away at the weights or run countless miles to nowhere on machines.
Conversely, Yoga requires little to no equipment, and its approach to physical fitness matches perfectly with what modern sports physicians now all agree. Namely, that "physical fitness" means : strength, flexibility and endurance. That is the three-way winning combination of Yoga, and has been for 10,000 years.
Yet .. Yoga takes it one step further, because Yoga incorporates a body/mind connection. In fact, that is what the word yoga means, to "yoke" or unite the body/mind. This too is something that sports therapists are starting to suggest, and is actually the long-time practice among Olympiads and professional atheletes. For, when we can see, in our mind's eye, what we aim to do - when we can visualize the goal - then it will manifest in the body.
In all, our physical practice must be aimed at our goal, and all too often, most well-intentioned souls do not have a clear idea of what that is other than 'be in good shape'. Or, follow the latest fitness regime as outlined by the fitness industry.
So it is that many spend many dollars and much time in a gym trying to achieve something that leaves them feeling vaguely unsatisfied.
Yoga has been around for as long as it has because it works. Its really that simple. But why does it work? Well, because Yoga is simply the way our body was designed to work. Hundreds of thousands of Yogis over the course of hundreds of years have studied human movement to arrive at the optimum exercise practice for our body.
In short: If you were given an owner's manual at birth, it would be a book on Yoga.
So do yourself a favor and take a *real* Yoga class, from a *real* Yogin (as compared to a gym class that is merely stretching to music). You will be glad you did!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
When I am told this, I merely smile and invite them to a Yoga class.
After a basic Hatha session, these dear souls are breathing deep, sweating, and can feel every muscle in their body because it has been activated and so invigorated.
In all, I think the fitness industry does a very good job of promoting the fact that they alone have the key to fitness. In their stale air, mirror walled, pounding music filled gyms, they jump in aerobics or spin in cycling class or pound away at the weights or run countless miles to nowhere on machines.
Conversely, Yoga requires little to no equipment, and its approach to physical fitness matches perfectly with what modern sports physicians now all agree. Namely, that "physical fitness" means : strength, flexibility and endurance. That is the three-way winning combination of Yoga, and has been for 10,000 years.
Yet .. Yoga takes it one step further, because Yoga incorporates a body/mind connection. In fact, that is what the word yoga means, to "yoke" or unite the body/mind. This too is something that sports therapists are starting to suggest, and is actually the long-time practice among Olympiads and professional atheletes. For, when we can see, in our mind's eye, what we aim to do - when we can visualize the goal - then it will manifest in the body.
In all, our physical practice must be aimed at our goal, and all too often, most well-intentioned souls do not have a clear idea of what that is other than 'be in good shape'. Or, follow the latest fitness regime as outlined by the fitness industry.
So it is that many spend many dollars and much time in a gym trying to achieve something that leaves them feeling vaguely unsatisfied.
Yoga has been around for as long as it has because it works. Its really that simple. But why does it work? Well, because Yoga is simply the way our body was designed to work. Hundreds of thousands of Yogis over the course of hundreds of years have studied human movement to arrive at the optimum exercise practice for our body.
In short: If you were given an owner's manual at birth, it would be a book on Yoga.
So do yourself a favor and take a *real* Yoga class, from a *real* Yogin (as compared to a gym class that is merely stretching to music). You will be glad you did!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Your Body
Every cell in your body knows exactly what to do and how to do it perfectly, whether its a liver cell, a brain cell, a bone cell, or some other. Likewise, detoxifying is a natural part of the nature of every cell.
Help you body do what it does best by doing Yoga, eating right and having positive thoughts.
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Help you body do what it does best by doing Yoga, eating right and having positive thoughts.
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Monday, April 13, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Diet
We have all heard of the 'father of disease'. No doubt his wife's name is 'Improper Diet'.
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
First Fifty
Today is my birthday! I am half-a-century!
I have never been one to shy away from my age. I am who I am - warts and all - because of what I have done, where I have been, and the beautiful souls I have encountered and chosen to align with along the way. I am proud of my life, proud of my accomplishments, proud and comfortable in my skin. In the morning, looking in the mirror, I can breathe deep and smile at myself, for I am content.
My life is blessed and filled with a bounty of Yoga. In fact, the thread of Yoga in my life is a strong, supportive, and constant presence, one that has been lovingly nurtured for these last 39 years. Nor have I squandered this Yogic gift, which is not to say I have not made mistakes - for we all have - just that, I boldly embrace my mistakes, then move on. Something I learned on my Yoga tapas.
A Yoga tapas is a "mat" or "sticky mat". This is a Sanskrit word that means "austerity, discipline, effort". Its an important concept to keep in mind while practicing Yoga in a class or while living your life day-in and day-out.
Yoga has taught me that part of being human is our ability to adapt, adjust and accomidate, and I have taken full advantage of this evolutionary trait. Which was sage advice from Swamiji Vishnu-devananda.
In my life, there has been hardship and advantage, profound loss and assistance, burden and aid .. and in all, I have remained centered in Yoga. For Yoga is a sutra - a "thread" - that flows through my life, ever supporting my every step, firming my every pose. Beyond doubt, Yoga has taught me to embrace greatness, because I have embraced my life with passion.
This passion - a Yogic concept - includes positive perspective and an undaunted ideology. For example, at every crossroad, where a decision was called for, I chose passion .. so that I became passion, and in so doing, passion became me. This is something I learned on my Yoga tapas.
Certainly, I am not saying that every course of action is the 'right' one - or that which leads to maximum potential - but that I did not shy away from any challenge, life situation or pose. And regardless of the outcome of my actions, I have kept my eye on Yogic excellence, which includes rejecting the ordinary.
Some of my life choices - well intentioned at the time - have fallen to the wayside. This is the nature of evolution: That ideas begun, that do not gain momentum, must be cast aside - even if they are favorite projects. So at every turn I have done my best to be honest and rid myself of dross - which is a Yogic trait that I greatly admire. Which is why, today, on my birthday, I have no baggage.
Lets be honest: Being 'who you are' is not as simple as it sounds, for it takes intelligence and motivation and personality, which are not innate abilities but things acquired along the way. For me, they have been acquired on my Yoga tapas. And lets be honest again: Many souls may feel 'prone to greatness', as if they have a 'destiny to fulfill', but excelling in anything has nothing to do with innate gifts, and sometimes, little to do with intent (which often falls to the wayside).
As I look forward into my next fifty years on Earth - standing with feet deeply rooted on my tapas, arms reaching outwards, my head extending upwards - I am able to clearly look back to see - to experience anew - all that has past.
And what do I see?
My life, thus far, has been marked by hard-work - by tapas, or austerity and discipline - or the idea that there is no free-lunch. In fact, I have developed a 'ten year rule', meaning: If you truly want to achieve something, work on it for ten years. Which also explains what I mean when I say: I have been a Yoga student for 39 years, and I am still working on it! I am still a student!
Aside from hard-work, I have had lots of practice - which is also tapas; and, as we all have heard, 'practice makes perfect'. Anyone who has read my emails or read this blog, or better yet, knows me personally, know that I live Yogically! I have accomplished what I have accomplished, and arrived at a place of wholeness because of living Yogically. This means that I explicitly intend to improve every action, every pose - to adapt, adjust and accomadate that which fails or simply doesnt 'feel' right. And so it is that, through persistant repetition, I have accomplished so much.
This is nothing less than what happens on a Yoga tapas.
Anyone can do a headstand or warrior pose or scorpion pose, but can they also continually observe the results of their Yoga practice - the life practice - and make appropriate adjustments, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year? That is how, as a Yogini, I achieve living Yogically.
Which brings me to the third aspect of my success: consistancy - which is, yet again, a part of tapas! And as 'they' say, consistancy is crucial. I am who I am 24 / 7 / 365. I am who I am to strangers I meet, to family members, to my friends - again, warts and all. I do not shy away from my successes or my failures. Living Yogically simply means getting closer to the ALL that I AM.
Every judgment I have come to, every interaction with another human soul, every source of information I have drank from, every pose I have meditated in, and every decision I have made, has all been derived from imperfect information. Why? Because there is no such thing as 'perfect information', just as there is no such thing as a perfect pose! At every turn its been all about what I have been already doing, which means - for me, as a Yogini - its not about getting something done, but experiencing who I AM.
And karma? As a Yogini I live my life around and through karma, but, what does that really mean? Well, every action (karma) is rooted in finding, analyzing and presenting it as an accomplishment or an improvable skill. This means that karma is not cast in stone, but based on understanding at that moment, or forming a coherent perspective on a given subject at a given time. Which means that karma is an improvable skill; meaning, not always 'right' in the long run, but 'right' at that moment.
Life is a living experience!
This is Living Yogically: Hard-work, Practice, Consistancy. This is Yoga tapas. And in each, living Yogically means seeking more information so that a new or different perspective - and pose - can be reached (achieved) and something can be made better. Clearly, this takes a long-term view, because 'getting better' or 'being a better person' or 'becoming who you are' .. becoming a Yogin, does not happen overnight, but over the course of a long time.
As a human being, I have had fifty years of practice, and as a Yogini, I have had thirty-nine years of practice - both mean looking at the big picture or grasping the larger sense. Never has it been about doing one thing well - doing one pose well - or just 'because', but to improve and increase my concentration and focus to improve my life. To improve my tapas.
And feedback is crucial in all of this - and dont we all get plenty of that!
Well .. where some may shy away from criticism - waiting for it, hiding from it, half hoping it never really comes - as a Yogini, I seek it .. deliberately. Not seeking feedback equevacates to not caring, to not learning. And being the deeply passionate and caring Yogini that I am, I know that being better means listening to others. Something I learned on my Yoga tapas: Listen to your Yoga teacher!
As a Yogini I consciously create my reality - meditating on how things work and flow and fit and influence each other, including both worst and best case scenerios. Over the years I have learned, Yogically, through hard-work, practice and consistency, that the more focused my meditation is, the more deliberate - and so Yogic - my life has become. This means holding the future - the desired outcome - firmly and deliberately in my mind, while being able to quickly respond to unforesee circumstances and conditions, so that benefit is gained. Again, this is wisdom easily gained on a Yoga mat.
Living Yogically means deliberate hard-work, deliberate practice and deliberate consistancy. Where many may do things sporadically, I do things regularly. This is the way of Yoga.
Some students of Yoga's life lessons may think they work hard already so never challenge themselves to go further or with more intent. Some students of Yoga's life lessons may view extra steps or added effort as painful or difficult or 'too much', and their result / outcome indicates this. Again, this too is discovered on the Yoga mat.
In these first fifty years I have not been a total hostage to my environment or circumstance. I have made my life what I willed it to be - Yogically, which means consciously, purposefully, deliberately. That means, I have created my own reality, which is far more than a cliche, but a true truism. Nor is this idea a popular one - even where its thought to be understood. Along the way I have met many who speak much but accomplish little, and when I delve into this matter with them, I often see that they were expecting their 'innate gift' or a 'divine blessing' to grant them a free-pass, and so allow them to coast through life with no hard-work, no practice and no consistancy. In short, they chose the path of least resistance, hoping to coast on the waves of the wave-makers.
As a Yogini, I am a wave maker.
Yogah citta vrtti nirodhah
-Rajayog Sutra 1:2
Vrtti are "fluctuations, movements, waves" of the mind, and Yoga teaches us how to direct and focus them.
I do tapas on my tapas to attain tapas. Thats something I learned while doing Yoga.
Tapas is the bed of nails that a Yogin lays on, it is the cutting edge of every new venture, and the blazing of new trails. Tapas is peering deeply where no path exists. Some who attempt to live Yoga may fall prey to the challenges before them, turning and running away from the tapas before they have even begun. But .. Yoga means 'life' .. and that is something none of us can run from.
This is why I am so excited about the next fifty years ahead of me - its all unknown territory!
At the first of this year I decided to dedicate myself anew to Peace and Truth .. making them my 'gods'. This was a good decision on my part, a good place to start the New Year, and, though it has been challenging, it has been a rewarding condition to nurture. So it is, that, standing here, upon my tapas, at the apex of my life - this great adventure - I am able to look back at the first fifty and look forward into the next fifty. And so it is that I have given my self - self-chosen - the gift of perspective.
Hard-work never ends, nor does practice and consistancy, for living Yogically is, and will continue to be, the nature of my every inhale and exhale.
Om Peace!
Live Yoga!
Yogini Valarie Devi
I have never been one to shy away from my age. I am who I am - warts and all - because of what I have done, where I have been, and the beautiful souls I have encountered and chosen to align with along the way. I am proud of my life, proud of my accomplishments, proud and comfortable in my skin. In the morning, looking in the mirror, I can breathe deep and smile at myself, for I am content.
My life is blessed and filled with a bounty of Yoga. In fact, the thread of Yoga in my life is a strong, supportive, and constant presence, one that has been lovingly nurtured for these last 39 years. Nor have I squandered this Yogic gift, which is not to say I have not made mistakes - for we all have - just that, I boldly embrace my mistakes, then move on. Something I learned on my Yoga tapas.
A Yoga tapas is a "mat" or "sticky mat". This is a Sanskrit word that means "austerity, discipline, effort". Its an important concept to keep in mind while practicing Yoga in a class or while living your life day-in and day-out.
Yoga has taught me that part of being human is our ability to adapt, adjust and accomidate, and I have taken full advantage of this evolutionary trait. Which was sage advice from Swamiji Vishnu-devananda.
In my life, there has been hardship and advantage, profound loss and assistance, burden and aid .. and in all, I have remained centered in Yoga. For Yoga is a sutra - a "thread" - that flows through my life, ever supporting my every step, firming my every pose. Beyond doubt, Yoga has taught me to embrace greatness, because I have embraced my life with passion.
This passion - a Yogic concept - includes positive perspective and an undaunted ideology. For example, at every crossroad, where a decision was called for, I chose passion .. so that I became passion, and in so doing, passion became me. This is something I learned on my Yoga tapas.
Certainly, I am not saying that every course of action is the 'right' one - or that which leads to maximum potential - but that I did not shy away from any challenge, life situation or pose. And regardless of the outcome of my actions, I have kept my eye on Yogic excellence, which includes rejecting the ordinary.
Some of my life choices - well intentioned at the time - have fallen to the wayside. This is the nature of evolution: That ideas begun, that do not gain momentum, must be cast aside - even if they are favorite projects. So at every turn I have done my best to be honest and rid myself of dross - which is a Yogic trait that I greatly admire. Which is why, today, on my birthday, I have no baggage.
Lets be honest: Being 'who you are' is not as simple as it sounds, for it takes intelligence and motivation and personality, which are not innate abilities but things acquired along the way. For me, they have been acquired on my Yoga tapas. And lets be honest again: Many souls may feel 'prone to greatness', as if they have a 'destiny to fulfill', but excelling in anything has nothing to do with innate gifts, and sometimes, little to do with intent (which often falls to the wayside).
As I look forward into my next fifty years on Earth - standing with feet deeply rooted on my tapas, arms reaching outwards, my head extending upwards - I am able to clearly look back to see - to experience anew - all that has past.
And what do I see?
My life, thus far, has been marked by hard-work - by tapas, or austerity and discipline - or the idea that there is no free-lunch. In fact, I have developed a 'ten year rule', meaning: If you truly want to achieve something, work on it for ten years. Which also explains what I mean when I say: I have been a Yoga student for 39 years, and I am still working on it! I am still a student!
Aside from hard-work, I have had lots of practice - which is also tapas; and, as we all have heard, 'practice makes perfect'. Anyone who has read my emails or read this blog, or better yet, knows me personally, know that I live Yogically! I have accomplished what I have accomplished, and arrived at a place of wholeness because of living Yogically. This means that I explicitly intend to improve every action, every pose - to adapt, adjust and accomadate that which fails or simply doesnt 'feel' right. And so it is that, through persistant repetition, I have accomplished so much.
This is nothing less than what happens on a Yoga tapas.
Anyone can do a headstand or warrior pose or scorpion pose, but can they also continually observe the results of their Yoga practice - the life practice - and make appropriate adjustments, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year? That is how, as a Yogini, I achieve living Yogically.
Which brings me to the third aspect of my success: consistancy - which is, yet again, a part of tapas! And as 'they' say, consistancy is crucial. I am who I am 24 / 7 / 365. I am who I am to strangers I meet, to family members, to my friends - again, warts and all. I do not shy away from my successes or my failures. Living Yogically simply means getting closer to the ALL that I AM.
Every judgment I have come to, every interaction with another human soul, every source of information I have drank from, every pose I have meditated in, and every decision I have made, has all been derived from imperfect information. Why? Because there is no such thing as 'perfect information', just as there is no such thing as a perfect pose! At every turn its been all about what I have been already doing, which means - for me, as a Yogini - its not about getting something done, but experiencing who I AM.
And karma? As a Yogini I live my life around and through karma, but, what does that really mean? Well, every action (karma) is rooted in finding, analyzing and presenting it as an accomplishment or an improvable skill. This means that karma is not cast in stone, but based on understanding at that moment, or forming a coherent perspective on a given subject at a given time. Which means that karma is an improvable skill; meaning, not always 'right' in the long run, but 'right' at that moment.
Life is a living experience!
This is Living Yogically: Hard-work, Practice, Consistancy. This is Yoga tapas. And in each, living Yogically means seeking more information so that a new or different perspective - and pose - can be reached (achieved) and something can be made better. Clearly, this takes a long-term view, because 'getting better' or 'being a better person' or 'becoming who you are' .. becoming a Yogin, does not happen overnight, but over the course of a long time.
As a human being, I have had fifty years of practice, and as a Yogini, I have had thirty-nine years of practice - both mean looking at the big picture or grasping the larger sense. Never has it been about doing one thing well - doing one pose well - or just 'because', but to improve and increase my concentration and focus to improve my life. To improve my tapas.
And feedback is crucial in all of this - and dont we all get plenty of that!
Well .. where some may shy away from criticism - waiting for it, hiding from it, half hoping it never really comes - as a Yogini, I seek it .. deliberately. Not seeking feedback equevacates to not caring, to not learning. And being the deeply passionate and caring Yogini that I am, I know that being better means listening to others. Something I learned on my Yoga tapas: Listen to your Yoga teacher!
As a Yogini I consciously create my reality - meditating on how things work and flow and fit and influence each other, including both worst and best case scenerios. Over the years I have learned, Yogically, through hard-work, practice and consistency, that the more focused my meditation is, the more deliberate - and so Yogic - my life has become. This means holding the future - the desired outcome - firmly and deliberately in my mind, while being able to quickly respond to unforesee circumstances and conditions, so that benefit is gained. Again, this is wisdom easily gained on a Yoga mat.
Living Yogically means deliberate hard-work, deliberate practice and deliberate consistancy. Where many may do things sporadically, I do things regularly. This is the way of Yoga.
Some students of Yoga's life lessons may think they work hard already so never challenge themselves to go further or with more intent. Some students of Yoga's life lessons may view extra steps or added effort as painful or difficult or 'too much', and their result / outcome indicates this. Again, this too is discovered on the Yoga mat.
In these first fifty years I have not been a total hostage to my environment or circumstance. I have made my life what I willed it to be - Yogically, which means consciously, purposefully, deliberately. That means, I have created my own reality, which is far more than a cliche, but a true truism. Nor is this idea a popular one - even where its thought to be understood. Along the way I have met many who speak much but accomplish little, and when I delve into this matter with them, I often see that they were expecting their 'innate gift' or a 'divine blessing' to grant them a free-pass, and so allow them to coast through life with no hard-work, no practice and no consistancy. In short, they chose the path of least resistance, hoping to coast on the waves of the wave-makers.
As a Yogini, I am a wave maker.
Yogah citta vrtti nirodhah
-Rajayog Sutra 1:2
Vrtti are "fluctuations, movements, waves" of the mind, and Yoga teaches us how to direct and focus them.
I do tapas on my tapas to attain tapas. Thats something I learned while doing Yoga.
Tapas is the bed of nails that a Yogin lays on, it is the cutting edge of every new venture, and the blazing of new trails. Tapas is peering deeply where no path exists. Some who attempt to live Yoga may fall prey to the challenges before them, turning and running away from the tapas before they have even begun. But .. Yoga means 'life' .. and that is something none of us can run from.
This is why I am so excited about the next fifty years ahead of me - its all unknown territory!
At the first of this year I decided to dedicate myself anew to Peace and Truth .. making them my 'gods'. This was a good decision on my part, a good place to start the New Year, and, though it has been challenging, it has been a rewarding condition to nurture. So it is, that, standing here, upon my tapas, at the apex of my life - this great adventure - I am able to look back at the first fifty and look forward into the next fifty. And so it is that I have given my self - self-chosen - the gift of perspective.
Hard-work never ends, nor does practice and consistancy, for living Yogically is, and will continue to be, the nature of my every inhale and exhale.
Om Peace!
Live Yoga!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Monday, April 6, 2009
Yoga Wisdom
As a Yogini, I am a master in the art of living, for I make little distinction between work and play, between labor and leisure, between mind and body, between information and recreation, between love and faith.
As a Yogini I can barely discern which is which, for I simply pursue all I do with excellence; leaving others to decide whether I am working or playing. To me, I am always doing both.
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
As a Yogini I can barely discern which is which, for I simply pursue all I do with excellence; leaving others to decide whether I am working or playing. To me, I am always doing both.
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Friday, April 3, 2009
Need to Stop and Take a Breath?
Do you ever feel like you just need to stop and take a breath?
Then come to Hamsa Yogashala and do just that!
Every class (all 20 of them!) is an opportunity to learn effective, calming and health creating breathing techniques!
Deep and concentrated breathing is the best way to create mental clarity, physical energy, release toxins, reduce stress, and just stop to relax for a moment.
So join us and take a moment to simply breath!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Then come to Hamsa Yogashala and do just that!
Every class (all 20 of them!) is an opportunity to learn effective, calming and health creating breathing techniques!
Deep and concentrated breathing is the best way to create mental clarity, physical energy, release toxins, reduce stress, and just stop to relax for a moment.
So join us and take a moment to simply breath!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
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