Relationship of Yoga

Elemental OM is a spiritual yoga studio and not really a “power” studio, so we are not flooded with young people.  Mostly, we are all over 40 and figuring it out on some level.  During the summer months, EOM offered a really sweet package to kids home from college.  We had a dozen or so take advantage and hang out with us for the summer months.  I just loved it.  All were fresh, vibrant and amazingly curious about the philosophy of yoga.  They were dedicated and passionate in the quietest way.  On some level, they brought out the best in me when I was teaching.  I guess you hit 43 and look back at your life and get nostalgic.  I don’t want to live a life of regret on any level, but dear Lord I wish I had found yoga earlier.  All the different choices I would have made….

I digress.

One of these students is a young budding artist.  She’s introspective, hard working and lovely.  We didn’t really talk very much at all.  I learned bits and pieces about her and met her boyfriend once.  I loved watching her practice.  She simply exuded an elegance and poise that I found fascinating.  As we practiced, I always found myself wondering if she was turning her yoga into art or was her art turning into yoga.

She went back to school.  Yesterday was our last practice together.  I hugged her goodbye and was quite shocked to find myself in tears.  I’m going to miss her so much.  I find this so weird because on a personal level, we really didn’t share too much yet I grew to love her like a mother simply through the daily movement and breath of yoga.

For me, this is a deep lesson of yoga revealed…a tangible experience of the idea of energy being transferred between two humans simply because we consciously move and breathe together. Missing you...

Shanti,  Pamela

Back to school....YOGA FAIL!!!

So, my kids back to school today.  I love back to school!  I especially love getting up and making breakfast and packing lunch.  It may be the control freak that hides inside of me, but I love that I know what they are eating healthy that day.  As I pack, I imagine myself in a "healthy packed lunch" competition on a world scale and I intend to win.

I'm not a total freak.  It's a recognizable lunch.  All organic, whole and local as it gets.  Whole wheat breads, butters and jams....fresh fruit and yogurt....a "special" treat of a specially crafted cookie or cracker.  It's the kind of lunch that would surely win the award.  I send them off to school proud and fantasize about how envious all the other kids must be.  Surely, they must think my kids more special and more loved with a packed lunch like that.

I eagerly await for my kids to return home.  My son is first and loved his lunch.  The cookie was "pretty good."  This satisfies me.  I feel smug.  Driving my daughter to volleyball practice, I inquire as to how happy her lunch made her.  She makes a disgusted face and explains that so and so got chips and so and so got Doritos and every other kid eats white bread with real meat sandwiches.  We argue.  I tell her about chemicals, obesity, heart disease, cancer and the deplorable state of the farming industry.  I explain the rules of parenting and how it's my job to make her the healthiest human possible.  I explain that kids in Africa are starving.  She rolls her eyes and agrees to eat just the fruit and sandwich next time.  I'm not to bother with the other stuff.

I head to the grocery determined to please her.  It's a competition after all.  Walking through the lanes, however, I begin to seethe.  I mean, I'm really pissed.  I grab some chips and put them back.  I grab some chocolate this and that and put it back.  I look at the turkey lunch meat and put it back.  I read the label on the white bread and put it back.  I get even more mad. 

Oddly, I'm not mad at her.  I'm mad at all the other parents who are packing white bread, chips, cookies, and soda.  How can I compete with that?  They are cheating at this game of mine.  It's not fair.  How am I supposed to raise kids that are healthy and holistic when they are surrounded by crud?  I know everyone is busy.  I know it's hard to feed and please a kid.  I know healthy cooking requires time, planning, and can be a frustrating.  I know.  Can't you help me out a little though? 

Does the world really shift when you shift?

Elemental OM is halfway through it's Yoga Teacher Training course.  In my course, the teachers must experience the Elemental Cleanse and embrace an Ayurvedic Lifestyle for the duration on top of learning to be a yoga teacher.  This means that they have a daily personal yoga practice, meditation practice and lifestyle routine.  You might imagine that this facilitates some pretty serious physical, emotional and spiritual shifting.  The purpose of all of this to help the teacher transform into a healer.  Yoga teachers are healers after all.  Why not graduate with aura expanded and your divine light shining through?

One interesting thing that has happened in the last few weeks is that a lot of my teachers in training have started to ask for advice about their families.  There is concern for interpersonal relationships as well as for the health of family members.  It really struck me the other day because it seems EVERY one of them is asking about this.  My first response was to give them all kinds of advice for the situations.  But then, I had an "ah-ha" moment as I realized what was really going on.

You see, they are dynamically shifting in a very quick way.  (If you are on a spiritual path, you may be too.)  Their partners, families, and coworkers are not.  As you begin to vibrate on a different frequency than those you are used to (and them used to you) it causes some conflict until the others catch up to you.  Here's the rub.  You can't actually change anyone to help them catch up.  People change.  You can't change them.  You can only change yourself.  So, while you are doing your work of shifting, they are doing nothing.  By simply showing up your best self, however, you are going to help them shift unawares.

You may find yourself impatient with this process, annoyed by those around you, and simply DONE with a lot of the interpersonal "habits" that have developed through the years.  This is going to cause conflict in your relationships.  Drop into the heart center and do your best to simply meet people where they are.  All things happen with divine timing.  Stay your path with dedication and care.  Don't let others hold you back from your growth just because they aren't quite ready for it.

Sadly, you might find that some relationships go away.  The people who truly love you will follow you even if it's just a little tiny bit.  Make room for new friends that support your life's journey and dharma.

Om Shanti,  Pamela

 

Ayurvdic Approach to High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is defined in an adult as a blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg systolic pressure or greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg diastolic pressure. High blood pressure directly increases the risk of coronary heart disease (which leads to heart attack) and stroke, especially when it's present with other risk factors.

High blood pressure can occur in children or adults, but it's more common among people over age 35. It's particularly prevalent in African Americans, middle-aged and elderly people, obese people, heavy drinkers and women taking birth control pills. It may run in families, but many people with a strong family history of high blood pressure never have it. People with diabetes mellitus, gout or kidney disease are more likely to have high blood pressure, too.  ~ From the American Heart Association

High Blood Pressure kills approximately 2 million people each year and is known as the "silent killer".  Blood pressure should be below 120/80.

Diet and Lifestyle

High Blood Pressure is an indication of an imbalance of both the energies of Vata or The Wind and Pitta or The Fire.  This discourse is a a short term strategy to facilitate relief from this situation that can cause headaches, fatigue, irritability and mood swings.  A long term strategy requires further education as discussed below.

In the moment:

Sit down alone and in silence.  Close your eyes.  Even the breathe by simply breathing in through the nose for 3 seconds and breathing out through the nose for 3 seconds.  Use long, relaxed breath.  Once your breath is under control, place your attention on your heart.  You will feel it beating in your chest and probably elsewhere especially if you have a headache.  Focus on the heart.  Relax your hands and turn your palms face up.  Imagine that you can send your heartbeat to your hands and imagine you feel your heart beating in your palms until you actually do.  Sit this way drawing your attention to the heartbeat in the palms for at least 5 minutes and probably longer until your blood pressure begins to normalize.

Take it easy for the rest of the day.

Immediately Take Action:

• Eliminate Caffeine even if causes withdrawal from caffeine.
• Eliminate Alcohol.
• Eliminate Salt.
• Eliminate fried and oily foods.  No more fast food full of salt and bad fat.

Herbal Therapy:

• Neem:  Neem has an antihistamine property of nimbidin which causes the blood vessels to dilate and may be helpful in reducing high blood pressure.
• The Alcohol extract of neem leaf has been shown to produce immediate decrease in high blood pressure that can last for several hours.  You can buy it in liquid form and take by the dropperful.
• Flax Oil raises the good LDL, feeds the frontal lobe and the sheath that covers the nerves of the body..all of these are depleted by stress which is a primary indicator of HBP.

Movement:

• Gentle Yoga focuses on relaxation 2 - 3 times each week
• Daily casual walking of no less than 30 minutes
• 15 minutes of seated meditation followed by a 5 - 10 minute relaxation in Shavasana or the Corpse Pose

Massage

A daily massage or abyangha before or after a cool bath.  Use Sesame or Coconut Oil. 

Other Therapy:

Something to think about....

What is the root cause of your stress?  What is going on in your life?  Do you need a little coaching to get you organized, prioritized, and on the right path?  I do private consultations, so feel free to contact me.  email>>>

The American Heart Association has the following recommendation.....an Ayurvedic lifestyle would support and complement these recommendations.  Consider participation in The Elemental Cleanse or The Elemental Lifestyle to learn how to embrace a routine and nutritional plan right for you.

• Lose Weight
• Get regular physical activity
• Stop smoking
• Manage your stress
• Eat for heart health
• Follow the advice of your physician
  
  
  

Relationship with food quiz

Every time I open my email, I receive some sort of quiz.  I can't help but take the quizzes.  Inside of me lives a student who always wants to excel and not disappoint the auto responder email system.  Anyhow, after receiving yet another diet quiz, I paused and really thought about what does make a healthy relationship with food.  You see, I've struggled with all kinds of things, but never really food.  Of course I get into the occasional bad habit of poor choice making, but I can pull myself back. 

Things that I have to completely avoid and do struggle with are alcohol, diet coke, snickers and twizzlers, the need to be perfect, the need to excel, excessive working, self and other criticism and OHHHHH  so many more.  Today, I wondered, what is it about food that makes food not my issue and what is it about all those other things that make those my issues?  Are they different?  This is what I noticed about me after taking the quiz I made up for you to take!!

Do you spend a significant amount of energy thinking about your weight?

I do not spend hardly any time thinking about my weight even when I am in need of losing some.  I do however spend time thinking about how nice it would be to have a glass of wine or a diet coke.  My mind goes back to that again and again especially when stressed.  The only time I worry about my weight is when I feel, in general, bad about myself on multiple levels.  This usually follows "perceived" criticism. 

Have you tried multiple weight loss programs only to find nothing sticks?

I have never ever ever succeeded at dieting.  I have always failed.  I hate diets.  They do not work for me on any level.  In fact, my ego rebels big time and I tend to gain weight if I think I have to diet.  I think that's why I love the "no calorie counting" and "common sense" policy of Ayurveda.  I also like that if you slip up, you just make the more nourishing choice the next time.  I have tried every way on the planet to stop alcohol consumption.  For me, The Elemental Cleanse and living the Lifestyle have worked.  It was a process and a lot of self work, but I feel whole and like me or maybe like a new me.  I don't know.  None of the mandated systems worked.  I guess I was never really able to be so out there with my problem either.  It's hard to ask for help.

Do you crave heavy and dense food like sweets, pastas and chips?

I crave salty and crunchy snacks especially when close to my menstrual cycle.  If I have a snicker bar one day, it sends me down a path of craving for 3 days...same goes for cake.  I mostly avoid it, but do indulge and then suffer later.  I really sense the association of sugar and alcohol craving.

Do you find yourself emotionally eating or eating unaware?

I don't think I emotionally eat although sometimes I find myself alone on a Sunday night and I want popcorn and cheese and other stuff.  I use the distraction of going to bed early or I will indulge.  My cravings are usually post 10 pm when I should be in bed anyway.  I definitely emotionally drink, work, and criticize.

Do you find that your food choices and your behavior with food make you unhappy and feel shame?

I don't feel shamed when I indulge in a bad habit unless its alcohol.  I've worked so hard to be free of it that if I were to have a glass of wine now, I would immediately feel sad and start the self-loathing process.  It's a catch 22.

So, honestly answer my quiz yourself and realize that wowsie...you are human.  If you want to learn how to quit your habits and embrace new habits, come work with me.  I'll show you how to be human on a yogi level.  We can you all cleaned out and start fresh! 

I look forward to helping you.  OM Shanti,  Pamela

Health Status Quiz

The western definition of health is basically the "absence of disease."  What this means is that you can go to the doctor when you are feeling bad, have a ton of tests run, results come back normal and the doctor looks you in the eye and honestly tells you that they can't find anything and nothing is wrong with you.  This is no fault of their own, it's just the way we view health in America.

An Ayurvedic perspective of health is much more rich.  Health is viewed as having balanced doshas or energies of the body and mind, perfect digestion, appropriate metabolism for time of life, healthy tissues, the ability to discern and...drum roll...happiness.  

So, are you healthy from an Ayurvedic perspective?  Here's some questions you should be able to agree with:

I sleep well.

I wake up feeling fresh each morning.

I do not need to nap.

I eliminate daily at least once and not more than twice.

My elimination is easy and without effort happening at an appropriate time each day.

My joints are loose.

I am not suffering from inflammation.

I can focus, listen and understand.

I am able to make decisions that benefit self and others.

I enjoy other people.

I find that I am compassionate and nonjudgmental most of the time.

I am tolerating the summer heat and not suffering in excess from it.

I choose the more nourishing choice for food 95% of the time.  That means when choosing between and apple and a cookie, I choose the apple.

I have time in each day to relax and take care of myself.

I am of an appropriate weight and like my body.

My skin is clear, soft, and subtle.

My eyes sparkle.

 If you answered yes to these, you are in good shape.  If you answered no, what changes can you make in your routine, diet and life to allow health to blossom.  You might consider participating in The Elemental Cleanse. This course is offered online as an ecourse to be done in the comfort of your own home.  It's a 28 day immersion into Ayurveda that results in health!  

You can learn more here>>>

The In Person Elemental Cleanse Experience starts on Monday at 6 pm in the Montgomery Studio.  You can work with me and receive special attention!  email>>>

 

Om Shanti, Pamela