Dear ,
Welcome to December edition of Satori e-news. The hustle and bustle of Christmas is upon us, along with all the trimmings of this busy season - present hunting, tree decorating, party attending, cookie baking and a multitude of other important things that leave us little, if any time for self care. Is it any wonder many of us feel utterly spent by the end of December? In this newsletter you will find a mindful way of approaching ups and downs of stressful season ahead, learn a brilliantly multitasking breathing technique that calms anxiety and clears stuffy nose at the same time, and revisit a recipe for potent stomach - soothing, flu - basting ginger elixir (you know, just in case.)
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Beyond Ideas of Wrongdoing and Rightdoing
The way I see the start of my day depends on how I slept the night...Good sleep equals to good morning, and, of course, vice versa. Feeling under slept and tired in the morning is an experience I have filed as " bad", allowing it to drag my energy down and influence the rest of my day. But do I really have to? What if I simply paid attention to how tiredness feels in my body without giving it a label or writing its story? Our impression of the world is colored by our thoughts, interactions and experiences: the ones we label as positive, or " good" bring us increased happiness; the ones we label as negative, or " bad" bring us sorrow and discomfort.
Our happiness, then, is at the mercy of our thoughts, people around us, and random events. They sway and bend the way we feel about ourselves in positive or negative ways. Why give them such power? Ancient wisdom traditions teach us that "positive" and "negative"
experiences both arise from the same place. Some call it the silent gap between our thoughts, others - universal consciousness or the field of energy and information. Like waves in the ocean, our thoughts arise from that field, and dissolve back to that same field. We can bypass the ever-present fluctuations of our mind by diving below the superficial waves, and accessing our inner silence through contemplation and mindfulness.
The way we practice yoga is a reflection of how we live our lives; and the tools we use on the mat can easily be applied to everyday living. For the last week or so I have invited yoga students to spend a few minutes observing their breath, and also their thoughts and body sensations. I asked them to suspend the judging mind just for a few short moments, and simply welcome whatever is present into their awareness. We observed our tendency to react - and jump away from the experience. When discomfort arose, we received and welcomed it as a messenger. This practice, deeply enjoyable and freeing on its own, is the first step toward emotional balance and mindful living. Try it for yourself.
Once you do, "Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I'll meet you there." ~ Rumi
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Got nasaly cold settling in?
Try Bhrimary Pranayma, or Bumblebee Breath:
- Start by sitting in a comfortable pose, and relax your shoulders.
- Keep your teeth slightly apart, lips lightly closed, jaw relaxed.
- Close your ears with your thumbs, your eyes with your fingers.
- Slowly exhale with low humming sound.
- Repeat 5-10 times.
- Afterward, sit quietly for several breaths and enjoy the feelings of clarity and peace.
Bumblebee breath is excellent for clearing stuffy noses and congested sinuses. In addition to that, Bhrimary prompts the body to release seratonin, calms the mind and soothes anxiety, helps memory and concentration; it is good for headaches including migraines, and also for the thyroid.
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Yoga Class Notes and Reminders:
Winter Session registration is now open for all yoga classes.Please register early - space is limited.
Important dates to remember:- December 14: last day for all yoga classes.
- January 7: first day of winter yoga session
Missed classes:
Going to miss a class? Please give me a ring at 780.512.7573 Missed a class or two? Feel free to join any other class to make up for what you've missed. Out of consideration for yourself and your fellow yogis:
please stay home and sip ginger tea if you are feeling under the weather - your body will appreciate the rest and recover faster; we all will really appreciate you not bringing germs to class. Chant the healing mantra " Om Shree Dhanvantre Namaha" while you are resting. Thanks!
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Tis the season! Seems like nasty colds, flues and stomach bugs have been running rampant through Grande Prairie yet again. Here is a coveted recipe from the Chopra Center cookbook: Ginger Elixir will improve your digestion, perk up your immune system and get you feeling fabulous in no time ( as an added bonus, this potent mix has proved lethal to cold bugs - be sure to take it at the first signs of yuckiness!) Ginger Elixir: 1 cup purified water 3/4 cup raw organic honey Juice of 4 to 6 lemons Juice of 3 to 4 inch piece of ginger ( or 3 to 4 tbs of ready made ginger juice - Homesteader Downtown stocks this miracle product) 1/4 tsp of black pepper Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until blended. Store in glass jar in refrigerator.
Take one ounce of Ginger Elixir before lunch and dinner to kindle your digestive fire, or add it to a glass of hot water for a yummy tea.
Enjoy!
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Important One-on-One Consultation Reminders
Would you like your private sessions to continue in January? Please remember to re-book early! Looking to schedule your first one-on-one? On-line scheduler is a super easy way to book. And, of course, if that seems too complicated, simply give me a call at 780.512.7573
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