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Namaste yogis and yoginis!
Well the silly season is almost upon us, but no need to go silly! No, quite the opposite. That’s the beauty of being yogis and yoginis, we still have the choice about how we want to feel, think and do at this crazy time of year. To help out, I have included the famous easing-xmas-over-eating pose and a few tips on how to get through the season mindfully. This isn’t to say don’t participate, but stay mindful even in your celebrations and you will enjoy them even more! Stay well, be joyful, value the time with friends and family, replenish and have a very merry xmas!
VIRASANA (the saviour of xmas pudding tummies - also excellent for any digestive ailments, overeating, nausea and morning sickness)
Seat yourself on the floor (kneeling) with your bottom between your heels if ultra comfortable. For most of you, this will be quite strong on the knees so place a firm folded blanket under your bottom to give a bit of height and take the pressure off the knees. You can straddle a bolster if your knees are very stiff. The trick is to make sure your legs are comfortable as the effectiveness of this pose is the length of time you stay in it – about 10 mins! Your upper body should be sitting naturally upright, chest open, back relaxed, neck long with the chin slightly towards the base of the throat. Rest your hands on your lap. Breathe evenly and rhythmically into the belly, trying to feel the belly expand on the inhale and deflate on the exhale. After about 10 mins come out, straighten the legs and massage around the knees to ease any joint stiffness. You should notice an improvement in that over full feeling. Let us know how it goes!!
HYDRATE YOURSELF!
Another of the main energy sapping things that happens over xmas (and in general) is we tend to dehydrate. Not only do we need about 2 litres of water (not juice, coffee, beer or champagne) a day but we have to drink even more if we have any dehydrating beverages (coffee, alcohol) or foods (processed foods, party foods) just to compensate for the body having to process these things. Also remember that when you’re busy or stressed your electrolyte balance can go out and this effects your ability to absorb the water you do drink. So if you are drinking enough water but still feel parched, try a few electrolyte sachets over a couple of days and see how you feel!! (Gatorade, powerade and lucozade also effective but contain a fair bit of sugar!) Dehydration symptoms include feeling exhausted, lethargic, tight around the kidney/back area as well of course as thirst. Remember by the time you’re thirsty, you are already dehydrated!
SUMMER – THE SEASON OF PITTA
In the Ayurvedic (yoga natural therapies) cycle of the year, summer is the season of the fiery pitta dosha. The increases in day length and sunlight can cause an accompanying increase of pitta dosha (the Ayurvedic quality of fire in our bodies and minds). In our bodies, pitta controls the luminosity of our skin, our vision, enzymatic processes, metabolism, detoxification and our ability to digest food, thoughts and emotions. The organs ruled by pitta are the eyes, liver and skin. The emotions associated with pitta include drive, ambition, enthusiasm, anger, impatience and jealousy. When there is an excess of pitta it can aggravate the eyes and liver making the eyes sensitive and interfering with the liver’s detoxification processes and can cause inflammation of the skin. Other feelings of too much pitta can include feeling overheated and irritable.
To cool pitta adjust your yoga practice to one that focuses on moving with ease and calm even breathing. You may do fewer salutes and more forward bends. Even if you choose to do heating poses, such as backbends, by approaching them in a calm, easy way they don’t have to overheat you. Spend longer in the poses with less intensity; this is a time for lots of savasana! Some other pitta calming techniques include lots of cool water, cool salads (be mindful of fruit, some can heat if you have too much) staying still, staying in the shade and cool environments. You can even enjoy ice-cream for a change but avoid after a meal as it may dampen digestive fire, which is fire we don’t want to cool! Speak quietly, move softly and try to listen more than talk. Practicing meditation with a quiet inward focus can also be very calming. Avoid excessive movement and busy-ness. For more complete info check the article on the website “Season of Fire”.
DECEMBER SPECIALS
A free class with every 10pass bought during December!
5 days extra with every monthly bought during December! *
2 only Gold Passes (yearly memberships) are available and we will give you a free mat on purchase!
* Monthly holders, remember to let teachers know if you are going away, it’s no problem to extend your monthly for the time you are away.
Kam meditation classes $5 each or just $50 for all 12 over xmas meditation week!
Xmas timetable on web, noticeboard, front desk and phone message during hols
BAKED APPLES – pretty healthy xmas treat
Ingredients: 5 baking apples, ˝ cup chopped walnuts, 1 teaspoon cinnamon (plus some for dusting), 4 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon butter divided into 4 dabs, 4 squares aluminium foil, 6x6 inches.
Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 F or 180 C. Using a sharp thin paring knife, remove cores from 4 apples keeping them intact. Core and chop the remaining apple and mix with the walnuts, cinnamon and brown sugar. Place each hollowed out apple on a piece of foil, dust inside and out with cinnamon, fill the cores with the chopped mixture and dot the tops with butter. Pull the foil up round the apples but not over the top. Place on a baking dish and bake until a skewer/toothpick can be inserted easily (30-40min). Can be served hot or room temp, try a dash of yoghurt. Serves 4.
GREEN GIVING
Give a gift that gives twice. By buying metres of the magnificent Daintree, you are giving a unique gift and helping conserve the rainforest at the same time. Every $20 buys 10m, check out www.rainforestrescue.org.au
Or check out www.worldvision.com.au “smiles” gift catalogue and sponsor a child or make a donation on behalf of someone you love.
And don’t forget our little “shop”. There are yogi friendly gifts galore. Giving someone the gift of yoga just might be the gift that changes their life.
BITS & BOBS
Check out Kath on front of this issue of Australian Yoga Life, she looks amazing!
Check out the new articles on our website including a great one on moving past limits in a non-violent way
Check out our links page, there’s plenty of groovy stuff if you’re bored & surfing the web over the hols.
Please take time to add your details to our student info book. We aim to be able to notify you of events, changes in timetable, and even send newsletters by email. Plus every now and again, we need to grab hold of someone, maybe to let them know of a change or an opportunity. Help our network get stronger!
CHANT: om asatoma
Om asatoma satgamaya From ignorance to truth
Tamasoma jyotir gamaya From darkness to light
Mrityorma amritam gamaya From death to immortality
This chant is about the transition from one level of understanding/being to a higher level of understanding/being. It is very popular at times of transition such as year’s end or at death, but can be said anytime. We are always hoping to become more knowledgeable, have more wisdom, skill and better understanding. We are always hoping to improve and become better people and this chant both acknowledges and reinforces these aims.
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