Energise your entire body by breathing consciously and with awareness. Each and every moment of the day we are taking in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide, it is involuntary and is a matter of life or death. Yet most of us are not even aware of this simple gaseous exchange taking place throughout our lives. We are breathing in around 600cc with each breath.The tidal capacity of our lungs is around 6000cc Our lungs are capable of much greater efficiency than what we are experiencing "unconsciously" . Keeping in mind that the oxygen is held in the lungs while it is transferred into the bloodstream, it makes sense that the longer it's held in the lungs the more oxygen will be absorbed and transferred. Meaning that more oxygenated blood will flow around to all the cells of each and every organ in the body. So it's then reasonable to assume that the deeper we breathe, the more efficient this gaseous exchange. I have described a basic deep breathing technique for you to start practicing daily :

Sit in a comfortable position with the spine erect and head balancing comfortably on top of the spine with chin paralel to the floor. Relax shoulders, soften the eyes and start to breath with awareness. Be aware of each breath in, follow it as it flows in the nostrils, down the throat and into the lungs.Visualise the oxygen being transferred into the blood cells, then follow the carbon dioxide flowing backup and out nostrils on the exhalation. Be aware of the cooler air going in the nostrils and the slightly warmer air coming back out. Follow your breath for about 6-8 rounds. Now try to lengthen this  inhalation and exhalation.  Without taking tension into the body aim at 4 seconds in and 8 seconds out. Keep trying until you feel comfortable with this. 3/6 is also okay. See if you can practice deep breathing for 5 minutes x 2 each day. This is the introduction to Pranayama, where eventually we will be holding the breath and increasing gaseous exchange even further. It is most important to take this step by step and to practice daily before progressing to the next level.

The key to safe and effective breathing is to stay relaxed in body, as well as in mind and for regular practice.

Stand Tall

Drink lots of water

Go out on a limb

Branch out

Remember your roots

Enjoy the view

 Suddenly the cooler weather is upon us here in KZN but I just love the warm days we still experience right through  the winter months. It will be my 2^nd winter here on East coast and I am loving it !  While taking a dip in the ocean last Tuesday it occurred to me that here in Ballito we have no excuse for depression, lethargy, negative thoughts etc. as all you need to do is take a plunge ! The warm Indian ocean is so healing, the salt content alone will change your mental state and the “fizz” of the white water is so energizing that it leaves you feeling ready to take on the world.  That is the “stoke”  surfers take with them  into their day , after they have their morning surf.  Only grumpy surfer I know of is the one who is unable to be in the water for reasons such as injury or other commitments.  Try it out for yourselves, it’s on your doorstep and it’s free !

Last week we discussed how we literally are what we eat. Staying with this vein of thought, here is another reason or two to be more aware of what we place in our mouths. Every 35 days our skin is replaced. Our liver is replaced about every month. These cells necessary for this rejuvenation are made up from the food we eat. So it is only logical that the quality of our nutritional intake is directly responsible for the types of cells which will be formed. What you eat, literally becomes you. You have a choice of what you wish to be made of. So remembering what we have discussed previously, try to eat as many of your “greens” as raw, fresh and organic as possible !  If you try to follow this rule, your physical body will remain energized and in a state of homeostasis (well-balanced). Capable of allowing you to concentrate more fully on the other all important bodies we are made up of.

“Life  is a balanced system of learning and evolution. Whether pleasure or  pain; every situation in your life serves a purpose. It is up to us to  recognize what that purpose could be.”

Compliments of the Season to each and every one of you !  As the year 2012 winds down I find myself experiencing similar feelings to when I have walked the labyrinth. As you probably all know, when walking the path inwards, it is symbolic of the path towards self realization. It takes us out of the ego and to that which is within.The number of times the path takes you close to the centre and then leads you all the way out again, repeatedly, is just as it happens in our daily lives. So often we think we have discovered  the answers, only to find they have led to even deeper and more unanswerable questions. This is in fact, the journey inward. Towards  our Self . On our way inward (in the Labyrinth of life) we should work on sorting out the “stuff” that’s weighing us down. Consciously letting go of these things, ideas and fears that are holding us back from achieving all that is ours. Just as when we walk into the centre of the labyrinth, we sit and meditate, we should take stock here of how we feel, do we feel lighter, are we a cleaner page to fill with positive energy ? Once we feel this lightness of body, mind and spirit, we are empowered to boldly walk back out towards our “physical” lives and better equipped to manage them. As with the winding road inwards, so is it on the way outwards. Each time you think you are ready to embrace the world, as you touch on the outer  path, so you wind back inwards with more time to reflect, strengthen your focus until eventually you exit feeling ready, grounded and balanced. Follow this link to read more about the history of Labyrinths http://www.unitync.net/Labyrinth.html

I wish you all  the time to cleanse, reflect,let go, prepare for the new and enabled to walk boldly and confidently into 2013. May it be filled with much light, love, adventure and much yoga !

And of course AHIMSA

Cheryl

Hari Om friends, in the spirit of the upcoming celebrations I have a mind to offer some food for thought.

There is no problem of greater or of more moving importance confronting us humans, than that of possible awareness of our own consciousness, the deep significance of the place we occupy in the world as a whole , and of the PURPOSE we should first discover and then pursue. We wander from the cradle to the tomb, yet not knowing our true destination, which is not the tomb, but rather the discovery of our SUPER SELF. “Path of the Masters-Charan Singh”

Yoga offers us help in doing just that, finding self – realization. Regular practice strengthens and purifies the physical vessel, helps discipline the mind, keeps us healthy and more able to attend to our daily meditation .  It is as simple as it sounds, take, no , MAKE the time to attend to your physical health as it will then in turn take care of your spiritual wealth !

In closing, I guess what I’m saying, is enjoy the holidays but try not fall into the annual trap of over-indulging and starting 2013 filled with regrets.

Peace and love to you, your family and your friends

Ahimsa

For those of us practicing regularly, we have all experienced our own personal healing at some time or other. In large group classes it is extremely difficult to pass this knowledge along in a meaningful way. Thats where one on one, or a small personalised group will benefit the student and he or she can discover what to do to encourage the body's natural healing power. Yoga develops the unity between mind and body and we will discover our weaknesses and learn to make the necessary changes in order to deal with them. We get to know ourselves, in depth.

Yoga developed fir.st for helping to still the mind. It was soon realised that a body in pain or disease was blocking the path to this peaceful mind. Asanas were originally developed to stretch and strengthen the body to aid in the long hours for meditation. It was discovered that all manner of physical ailments were being healed. Hence, YOGA THERAPY. a good therapist will not diagnose, but we do read some of the familiar signs and sometimes it's necessary to recommend seeing a doctor. Mostly we are able to recommend not only specific asanas, pranayamas and kriyas but provide you with the skills for looking inside to find the areas of weakness and making the changes necessary for optimal health. This usually incorporates the diet, lifestyle, stress management and some mental shifts. "As you think, so you become." I also incorporate a unique blend of therapies called Deva Hitti, to help restructure and balance the musculo-skeletal system.

Each morning we choose what clothes to wear, so should we also decide what thoughts to have for the day .

Maybe its why we refer to someone as " adressing their problems "

as always with thoughts of " Ahimsa "

Namaste

Cheryl

There's these waves rollong into the shore, breaking, then dissipating. Wave number one goes happily along, breaks and disappears, wave number 2 sees this and falters, holds back, wave number three comes up behind wave number 2 and asks "whats the problem, why are you holding back ?" Wave number 2 replies " do you see what happens, we roll in and then we break up into nothing, i dont want that to happen to me!" so wave number 3 says " oh no, my friend, you got it all wrong, you are not the wave, you ARE the ocean !"

Veganism is a way of living which tries to exclude any form of exploitation and animal cruelty in the diet our clothing or make up. This way of living is particularly important for yogis and yoginis due to the yoga philosophy of "Ahimsa". This is just one of the eight limbs of yoga laid out for the practioner in order to achieve a level of enlightenment. This limb comes under the heading of the "yamas," a type of social conduct. Ahimsa means the avoidance of harm to any living creature through action, thought or deed.(non-violence) Many people have become vegans for health, environmental and spiritual reasons. It is estimated that grains can produce 5 x more protein per acre than livestock, beans x 10 and leafy vegetables x 15 ! The amount of water needed to bring various meats to the table is x 8 more than plant protein. Yoga philosophy aside, these factors alone would make me re-evaluate my choices in my diet. When I became a vegetarian in 1976, it was impossible for me to eat out socially. No-one had a clue about serving meat free meals, we were continuously attacked and felt the need to defend our choices. Nowadays the wheel has turned, the attackers are becoming the defenders, we are openly receiving more and more acknowledgment internationally, information on a balanced and healthy diet for both us as humans, the environment and the plight of exploited animals is everywhere we look. I for one am proud and excited to be living in these incredible times of changing consciousness. What a delight to be able to go out for dinner with friends and find a few options for a "conscience free meal " on the menu. Having said all the above, I notice the meat free monday has died down a little. Lets stoke the fire, re-ignite the flames and bring back that Meat Free Monday awareness, especially in your own homes ! I am going to challenge the restaurants in and around where I live to offer a dinner special for meat free mondays ! Why dont you do the same ? Please send feedback if you have any supporters, lets take this "yogic" philosphy, off the mat, out the studio and into everyday lives !

Making small changes, second by second...

Namaste

Cheryl

Take care of your thoughts, because they become your words

Take care of your words, because they become your actions

Take care of your actions, because they become your habits