Month: March 2014

Categories
Beautiful Rituals Yoga

Tonight’s Lunar Aromayoga

If there is to be any, Lavender is the scent of choice for practically all the Restorative classes I have stepped into locally; but maybe because one of my private students and a friend is suffering from a flu  … tonight I changed to natural remedy of eucalyptus… and anyone in tonight’s class might have noticed I was suppressing a cough – no, no worries.   I do not have a cold – it’s a bit of an allergy due to confused plum tree blossoms flowering before spring..  my eyes are watering and my respiratory system was …       and selfishly my aromas were chosen to relieve me as much as, hopefully my students.  My “intention” was to have us step into a Native American forest… and I heard some sighs of  “ahhh”:)

*Majority requested  the optional White Sage spritz… a mist during modified Savasana so just in case, one did not know, White Sage is used to purify the space for rituals in Native Indian cultures…

Traditionally, Native Americans have used white sage as a holistic remedy to cure coughs and colds as well as reduce mucous secretions of the sinuses, lungs, and throat.  Thus, the White Sage spritz as a “choice” for tonight’s lunar class.  White sage has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties apparently substantiated in laboratory tests.

Those who know my obsession for a ritual in the everyday, you would know I would choose White Sage over lavender for tonight’s class .. White Sage is considered a sacred herb by Native American people and used in ceremonial rituals to purify the air by clearing away native energies.  It evokes our connection to nature, the sacred and the beautiful, our source.

**Here is an excerpt sourced from internet and I have no real scientific evidence to back it up but perhaps there’s a research out there… nevertheless, seems Native Americans have used it as “holy” herb and scent for a long long time:

“The American Indians referred to white sage as the king of all sages, and frequently used this herb for medicinal and ceremonial purposes.  In fact, it is believed that the term “Holy Smoke” originated from the American Indians “smudging” white sage to rid people and places of unwanted evil spirits, and to protect themselves from those spirits.  In addition, they believe that the smoke of sage attaches itself to negative energy found within a person, and removes it from their body.   …

**In addition to smudging, white sage may be used for topical applications by preparing teas, poultices, and/or oil infusions.  White sage is used in these applications because it has anti-fungal, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, calming, deodorizing, and healing properties.  White sage contains diterpenoids, which are compounds which have been shown to fight bacterial infections, and reduce allergy symptoms.  It also contains cineole, which acts as an anti-inflammatory/anti-bacterial agent.  Tannic acid content provides anti-fungal properties.  Sage is also used as an antipyretic; used as a sweat bath to reduce fever. White sage has a calming effect on the body and soul.  This is likely due to its miltirone content (a compound which performs similar to valium to reduce anxiety).  Finally, white sage contains phytoestrogens, which are compounds very similar to the female hormone estrogen.  Herbalists have used white sage to help treat the hot flashes that accompany menopause.” These claims found on the internet, I have no scientific data for but to me…it just plain smells wonderful… ahhh with a smile.

**Disclaimer:  Nothing in this article, or this blog for that matter is to be construed as medical advice; please consult your doctor before using any herbs for treatment purposes. Aroma is sometimes provided in class to serve only as a playful mood enhancement but not by any means for medical purposes.

 

Categories
Beautiful Rituals Healthy Activities Healthy Living Yoga

Benefits of Restorative Yoga

The following is straight from International Restorative Yoga Day’s HP.  I didn’t make it up (lol) …If you click on the pink texts, related study details are found, compiled by Lindsay Sisti.  In my mind, it’s a meditation practice and an effective preventative medicine and… so much more.  I had known all these years there’s something precious that’s been neglected and amiss in our lives – this practice represents exactly what I had missed all these years.  We need to make it a ritual.  In parenting, parent education class often stress the importance of setting a “routine” – and I hated that word, routine – ugh – so boring. I  say – make it a “ritual”.  a Ritual for adults… Make it a sacred ritual in which you honor yourself by being kind to yourself. It’s not merely a 5 minutes for the exhausted, an after-thought post sweaty practice (which is very good for you BTW!).  It’s for everybody. It’s mindful not mindless.

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Benefits Of Restorative Yoga

Restorative yoga actives the parasympathetic nervous system, which balances out the over-charged sympathetic nervous system, bringing about overall balance, wholeness, in a natural yin-yang way. The practice, if well designed, allows the body to reap the benefits dwelling in its restorative ‘rest and digest’ mode that yields the body’s natural functions to enliven you at top efficiency:)

This style of yoga can be beneficial for people struggling with a variety of conditions such as insomnia, asthma, migraine headaches, and chronic pain.

These are some of the benefits of restorative yoga:

  • reduces cortisol, the stress hormone
  • lowers blood pressure and heart rate
  • reduces muscle tension, insomnia, and generalized fatigue
  • boosts immunity
  • reduces serum triglycerides and blood sugar levels
  • increases “good” cholesterol,
  • improves digestion and elimination
  • greater capacity to regulate blood glucose levels
  • lessens or alleviates chronic, severe pain
  • enhances fertility
  • increases blood flow to the heart
  • stimulates flow of the lymphatic system
  • increases oxygen levels in the blood
  • greater flexibility
  • reduces brain arousal
  • feeling balanced and grounded
  • increases mental acuity
  • increases ‘vividness’ in daily sensory life
  • cultivates greater patience with yourself and others

Researchers have been investigating the benefits of restorative yoga. Here is a sampling of the findings:

Restorative yoga for women with breast cancer: findings from a randomized pilot study.
These pilot data suggest potential benefit of restorative yoga on emotional outcomes and fatigue in cancer patients. This study demonstrates that a restorative yoga intervention is feasible for women with breast cancer.

Restorative yoga for women with ovarian or breast cancer: findings from a pilot study.
Significant improvements were seen for depression, negative affect, state anxiety, mental health, and overall quality of life. Fatigue decreased between baseline and post-intervention follow-up. Health-related quality of life improved between baseline and the 2-month follow-up.

Feasibility and acceptability of restorative yoga for treatment of hot flushes: a pilot trial.
This pilot trial demonstrates that it is feasible to teach restorative yoga to middle-aged women without prior yoga experience. Mean number of hot flushes per week decreased by 30.8% and mean hot flush score decreased 34.2% from baseline

Restorative yoga in adults with metabolic syndrome: a randomized, controlled pilot trial.
Restorative yoga was found to be a feasible and acceptable intervention in overweight adults with metabolic syndrome.

 

Categories
Healthy Activities Healthy Living Yoga

I’m too young! Really?

There appears to be a trend that more and more women are experiencing various discomforts attributed to onset of menopause early on – a premature(*) peri-menopause that comes to the unprepared is alarming, even scary. ( “*Premature menopause means the woman’s ovaries have spontaneously stopped working before she has reached the age of 40 years. Women can be affected in their teens or early 20s: About one in 1,000 women may reach menopause before the age of 30.”)

Yet it is nothing to be in denial about or feel negatively about – your body is on its natural trajectory of … aging. Yes, aging – I said it without flinching – and … let me tell you that it’s okay because you can do something about it. No you cannot reverse the clock but you can change the bias and prejudice you, yourself have about this very natural process every human being alive undergoes.  You can choose to age with grace and acceptance.  It begins with you. Then you can change how you treat yourself with more compassion. You need not fear the change. In this outer world we live in, everything changes; nothing is permanent.

The average age of menopause was 55 just ten years ago but now it’s something like 51; however, many start noticing the tell-tale signs in their 40’s; some as early as in their 30’s… and perhaps this earlier occurrence is directly related to the fact that more and more young girls are experiencing early puberty (the new “normal”). It follows logic that what starts early must end early… (so know that it’s okay to be a late bloomer girls – early bloomers, on-time bloomers, late bloomers – like flowers, all are beautiful:) This is a mystery but some say it’s due to increased additives/chemicals such as growth hormones in our foods.

Women’s experience in living in their bodies will bring about 3 major life altering events – this is as far as their physical biological development is concerned: First – when you start having your monthly cycle; Second – pregnancy and childbirth; then finally, menopause.   Some may skip the second event but no women is likely to skip over the last transition in their lifeline. When these junctures come varies but they follow a general statistical trajectory.

And what about men?  That typical term used by lay-people “mid-life crises” or “Man-opause”… is apparently also prevalent and I am here to propose there’s a healthy way to deal with this change that may often be unwelcome:

“Although male menopause occurs in older men whose testosterone levels have declined, it tends to affect older males with heart disease, obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure) and/or type 2 diabetes. In other words, unlike the female menopause, several factors together contribute to the development of male menopause. Some underlying health problems, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, stress, anxiety, and sleep deprivation could also be key factors.

Psychologists suggest the male “midlife crisis”, when men are supposed to wonder what they have accomplished so far professionally and personally, can be a cause of depression and might possibly trigger a cascade of factors that lead to symptoms associated with male menopause.”

– excerpt from Medical News Today Knowledge Center

Some go to yoga to escape the daily stress, some for fitness to burn calories and lose weight and some because … maybe their doctor told him/her to… whatever motivates you to get on with the journey with all your senses engaged is… all good.  I want to assure you (1) you are not alone; and (2) if you are committed, you can find the power to heal within; It’s a mind-body-spirit all working together to get you to that place of balance, freedom and stability.

And to those who are just hooked for no reason other than it makes you feel good, you might stumble upon rediscovering your body – mind – spirit.  Yoga allows you to rediscover who you really are under all those layers of habits and societal and self-imposed limitations.  You are then practicing preventative medicine and meditation in motion and … stillness… it’s… sublime.