Had a change of heart lately? May be more then once?

The holidays have come and gone (thank God!), but for many of us they have left behind little more than depleted budgets and deflated spirits - a case of raging VATA imbalance. Now, let me explain.

Every seasoned healing arts practitioner (this quite possibly applies to other fields, but I can only speak for my own) knows that you get more cancellations in January then in the whole rest of the year. Why is that? I mean considering that getting healthier is at the top of everyone's resolution list, why would people skip on self care now of all times? Everybody has their own theory: Dr. Su, my acupuncturist, thinks it's all about counting pennies after the holidays; yet my good friend Dr.Lyddell has just as many cancellations this time of year, and patients don't have to pay for his services. Sure, the roads are bad, the flu bugs relentless and Mexico beacons with warm sands, BUT there just as many " good reasons" to skip on self care in summer, as it is now. So what's the deal with January?

If you study Auyrveda, the answer is pretty easy to find. Let me introduce you to a couple of Ayurvedic concepts.

First one: say hello to the queen - queen of doshas that is, your VATA dosha. If the word dosha leaves you shrugging your shoulders and rolling your eyes, just replace it with " energy". In Ayurvedic terms, VATA is a part of your nature responsible for movement - whether it is the movement of food through your digestive tract, the movement of blood through your circulatory system, the movement of nerve impulses, or the movement of thoughts. The first signs of impending VATA imbalance are constipation, insomnia, racing thoughts and inability to stick to commitments we have made. Ringing any bells yet?
BTW, VATA also governs the flow of cash out of your wallet - people with VATA imbalance are prone to overspending and compulsive shopping...

Second principle:  Body-mind in balance leans towards balance - we naturally make choices that bring us into more balance. Sadly, the opposite is also true - body-mind out of balance leans toward inappropriate or unhealthy choices. Do you know anyone with chronic heartburn who is totally addicted to spicy or salty foods? How about someone who is vouching to loose weight, yet cannot pass Tim Horton's Boston cream even if his or her life depended on it? We all sabotage our health from time to time - if it ain't dirty, it ain't fun - but knowing when and how return to balance is the skill many of us lack.

Fortunately, those of us in the healing arts business spend the lifetime learning those balancing skills. Come January, and we know to kick back and take extra good care of ourselves. What's more, we've learned how to take good care of ourselves and which obstacles to watch out for. How about you?

How does frizzy, anxious energy of VATA imbalance show up in yoga practice?
Changeable and mobile, VATA makes it difficult for us to follow through with our commitments. Do you enthuse over starting a new yoga class, exercise routine or a healthier diet only to find your excitement fizzling out in a couple of weeks? Ironically, the first sign of VATA imbalance is you NOT showing up on the yoga mat! And usually (oh, believe me, I know this one), you provide yourself with a really good excuse of why you simply cannot go.
The flip side of the coin is that many VATA imbalanced students are addicted to movement and faster - paced practice styles. In fact, they often exercise to excess because for them being still is next to impossible. They may fidget through the centering practice at the beginning of the class, or keep opening their eyes and moving their toes to channel the excessive energy during Shavasana.
To balance overactive VATA dosha choose a slower class with a focus on forward bends - they provide much necessary grounding. Practice breath awareness to connect with the present moment, and pay attention to the quality of movement - excess VATA can make it difficult to realize how fast or erratically we are moving. See you on the mat!

 May be low back or hip pain just snuck up on you... Or, perhaps, pain and tension have been your faithful companions for the last few years, and by now you have given up hope for lasting solution. May be you've been just diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and now your feet, and especially toes, are giving you grief. May be you are a weekend warrior with a recent injury, or an avid runner/ hiker/ skier with super tight hip flexors and IT bands.Or, may be, you are a yoga or movement teacher who wants more knowledge and tools under his or her belt.
Whatever the case is, if your roots - feet, legs, knees, hips or low back - are troubling you, you will benefit from Therapeutic Yoga For The Roots workshop.
No, I am not promising you an immediate solution - instant healing is a myth. What I am offering you is a proven program that has worked wonders for myself and for countless number of students. In signature Satori style, this workshop combines the scientific foundation (the why's), movement practice (the how's), and a healthy dose of humor to dilute the dryness of anatomy and help everyone feel and learn with ease.

Therapeutic Yoga For The Roots is a 2 - part, 6 - hour workshop.
Registration for Therapeutic Yoga For The Roots is now open. Please register early  - enrollment is limited to ensure that every participant gets plenty of personal attention and a chance to ask questions.

Saturday, March 9, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Part 1 - Yoga Therapeutics For Feet, Knees and Legs.
At the end of the fist session you will be given a homework assignment; I will also ask you to document your progress and your experiences on the mat. You will have access to unlimited e-mail support  for questions and sharings.

Saturday, April 13, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Part 2 - Yoga Therapeutics For Hips And Low Back.
Again, you will have a homework assignment - an addition to your already established practice.We will continue to journal our mat learnings and stay in touch for 4 weeks after the second part of the  workshop.

No Classes: There are no scheduled yoga classes on Thursday, February 14 and Monday, February 18. Have fun playing with your home practice, and please be sure to check some of the great yoga classes in town. My fave at the moment is Matt's Yin yoga class on Wednesdays at 7 PM at the Northwest Wellness Centre.

Spring Yoga Session: Yep, it is - 29 C as I am writing this, and yep, I am talking Spring Yoga Session.
Registration for spring session (...mmm, detox flow... delicious twists, yummy backbends...) opens on February 20th for all currently enrolled yogis, and on March 1st for everyone else. More info to follow.

Missed classes: Please remember to give me a ring at 780.512.7573 ( txt is fine!) if you are going to miss a class and feel free to join any other class to make up for what you've missed.

Attendance: Despite colds, flues, nasty roads and above mentioned VATA challenges, class attendance has been rocking awesome. Keep it up!

Yoga gets friendly: By popular demand, friendly yoga has been extended into February - bring your yoga-shy friends and significant others to class with you. Please share this newsletter and your practice with anyone who might benefit from it. Perfect strangers are a fair game!

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!

Excess VATA, dry, cold and spacey dosha (truly, the windy royalty), gifts us with such pleasantries as irregular or touchy-feely digestion, gas and bloating after meals, and, best of all, constipation.
If you are at all in touch with your innards, the immediate reaction is one of the two:
OMG, I need a cleanse!
or
OMG, I need to change what I eat!
Here are the unfortunate news: VATA imbalance makes your digestion that much more sensitive, so store - bought cleanse protocols, as lovely and effective as they are, don't do much good for VATA's (unless, of course, you have several days to spend in the vicinity of your toilet).
So, as it turns out, the second option is the only one we've got. This might come as a shock: we've been led to believe that eating more raw, leafy vegetables and salads  is the solution to any health problem. Further more, you might have even tried that, only to get more bloated and constipated. Ayurvedic truth? Excess VATA weakens our digestion, so we don't do well with the raw staff, especially in the dead of winter (the "why" might take another page or two, so if you really want to know, please book yourself a private consultation).
When I find myself leaning toward VATA imbalance (after traveling, in cold and windy weather, or after spending too much time in front of the computer) I treat myself to a few days of simplified diet. It's a double whammy - I spend almost zero time on cooking, while giving my digestion a much - needed rest. I hope you enjoy kitchary, too.

Kitchary:

1/2 cup organic short grain brown rice
1/4 cup split mung dal ( lentils)
salt to taste
1/4 tsp turmeric ( optional)
2 cups of water
2 tsp flax or hemp oil

In a medium pot on high heat combine all ingredients, except for oil, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover with lid, and cook for 45 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes, drizzle with oil before serving.

Starting this February, Satori's on-line scheduler is sporting a new look - be sure to check it out.
Booking on-line seem too complicated? Simply give me a call at 780.512.7573
And, as usual, please remember to book well ahead to guarantee the days and times that work for your busy schedule.