Wag-a-Yoga: Healing & Revitalization with Kay T Ananda Yoga Therapy – Page 500 – Oneness Yoga & Healthy Lifestyle in Silicon Valley/Bay Area

CPR Certification

Post author By Kay T. Ananda
Post date May 8, 2015

I hope I never ran into such a situation requiring me to do this but …it’s good to know just in case.

Certified as of last Monday – a crash course so wonder if I would remember anything under pressure when every second counts – SO seems like the most important thing is to just stay cool – so yoga breathing techniques would definitely be an asset:) but really – just take few deep breaths to center yourself before you dive in. To bring someone back to life would be such a pressure, but according to this teacher, there’s nothing to fear as there’s nothing to lose other than to help as the person is actually already “dead” and whatever we do can only be a plus. If we are unable to revive the heart, we are not to blame and there’s what’s called “good Samaritan” law which protects us from any liability allowing anyone to come to aid. This law reduces our fear of “what if I screw up and get blamed for this death?” that could prevent anyone from stepping in.

We were so in awe of this captain of fire fighters and a paramedic – so brave facing such trauma on regular basis as we listened to him retell some white knuckles heart palpitating stories. How does one do it? So thankful for these brave souls, warriors among us …He doesn’t know he’s a yogi but he is… He’s a Karma Yogi. (another key point shared by him – to not have to suffer from PTDS, it’s best to seek help, to talk it out rather than suppress the symptoms. To always seek support and company of others is the key to keep PTDS at bay … there’s yoga to serve – Click HERE.

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Taking it sllooooowwww
(from “Yoga Anatomy” by Leslie Kaminoff)

or hop over like a rabbit
(from yogabycandace.com)

While I am doing my 500 hrs.(very slow pace of a turtle… umm, is there a pose called ‘turtle’? yes, yes, there is, your back is the “shell”:) and bunny like the ‘rabbit’ pose …) and continuing education with yoga, I am studying Ayurveda for self-care… to complement the Japanese medicine box:) In a way, I am a bit discouraged that yoga seems to be treated as no different from say, pilates or some other form of exercise/fitness – it’s the best designed method for mind-body wholesome wellness is how I see it. At the same time, to deepen my understanding, debating if I should formally pursue Physical Therapy or Oriental Medicine (acupuncture/herbs) as my second, okay, third, career… I wish I had the time, energy and resource to do all three but… to go deeper, one must choose.

This is fascinating !

Not all acupuncture is the same as with yoga …

I do recall that in the old days in Japan, this was a profession mostly reserved for the blind – even just couple of decades ago, it would have been unthinkable for the seeing and well educated population to pursue such studies … as it was mostly thought to be a profession reserved for the vision impaired- in which it was felt that the vision impaired had a compensatory superior sensitivity to touch – thus, the use of touch was an integral part. How times changed and it’s no longer a profession for the vision impaired – and more regular people are re-evaluating and returning to the traditional alternative medicine as an effective compliment and supplement to Western medicine. The good thing about these traditional non-invasive healing models is that there’s no side effects – which is a huge plus. It is thought in some circles that Reiki also seems to draw from that tradition – relying on touch … soft light touch is so soothing compared to the heavy handed and more aggressive approach. Your aura remains intact … undisturbed as the touch is not an aggressive invasion of your personal space and the aura you emit.

Let’s take good care of our heart so that need for CPR diminish and … our aura brightens. Each of us emit an unique aura because such energy field envelopes each human being, just like this veil, this sheath, a connective tissue called the pericardium envelopes our hearts. (Did not know that ” the heart is enclosed within a protective triple walled bag of connective tissue”?- Yes, indeed, physically it’s wrapped in 3-fold sheaths like an amazing present that’s so well gift-wrapped!) It’s layer upon layer that we peel to get to the heart of the matter.

Relief Efforts on another scale…

Post author By Kay T. Ananda
Post date May 3, 2015

BEFORE:

AFTER:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dix9QGqgA8A
Eight million people in Nepal have been affected by last last weekend’s devastating earthquake. Remembering the outpouring of good will and aid from around the world, during the time of Japan’s 3/11 earthquake four years ago, feel compelled to send prayers and donation to the people of Nepal. There are other organizations I am sure but this is what I received so sharing…

To make a donation:
Below are a few organizations aiding those affected by the disaster. When making your donation, add a designation for “Nepal Earthquake.”
· American Red Cross

· Mercy Corps

And these I excerpt from local news:

Nepal Association of Northern CaliforniaBank of America account number: 000175928463
Contact: Uttam Karki at uklax.nca@gmail.com

Sunny Sagarmatha Society
Sunnyvale
Wells Fargo account number: 82015 86040
Contact Harihar Dahal at hariharnp@yahoo.com

Motherland Nepal
Contact: Anil Pandey at anilmelvin@hotmail.com

One of my favorite musicians Manos is from Nepal … Purchased a bansuri flute awhile ago after a concert so inspired by its sound BUT it is sooooo difficult to have any decent sound come out of this very simple flute… I must have been blowing into it until I was turning blue (LOL) and still … only an occasional and erratic peep would come out much less a note – so all the more respect for someone like him – in fact, I respect all musicians who bring so much light into this world. Each strum, each breath, is a note – a vibration.

You can find this on UTube – it’s from 5 years ago… hate to think what the place looks like today.

It is so weird because I was just talking about my desire to visit Nepal (some day far out in the future at the rate things are going) influenced by this documentary I saw on TV-Japan referenced in my recent post. That documentary tried to capture how Nepalese live – where life and death are so intertwined with little dividing line (shows a funeral celebrating life and death) and part of everyday life is a prayer and acts of creation celebrated and treated as sacred in their worship practices. It’s a place of pilgrimage. Praying from afar for their recovery and restoration. Gassho.

Yoga

Headache Relief

Post author By Kay T. Ananda
Post date April 30, 2015

Stress can be our friend – “The Upside of Stress” the latest book by Kelly McGonigal to checkout. How to get good at it? She is a yoga instructor so she certainly knows how to befriend and get better at stress:)

How do you get “better” at Stress? The up-side of stress is reaped when you make the impact stress has on you less toxic. Helpful to know the physiology of stress in that, besides all the damaging hormones released at times of acute stress, body also comes to your aid by drumming up the support to cope – and it does so by releasing a neuro-hormone, Oxytocin. Oxytocin, sometimes called the “cuddle hormone” is actually a stress hormone that encourages you to seek connections with others – it’s that tribal instinct so human of us. It brings out the latent courage we actually have deep inside us and brings us to that place of compassion for others and hope for all. We also try to find meaning in stressful situations as though there’s a purpose and some good that comes out of it despite the misery, while cultivating more compassion that promotes us to seek out others with empathy. The suffering and the anguish is not suppressed or denied – but accepted with courage and strength by seeking others to not only commiserate with but to actually be helpful to. That’s the upside – which is not to say that stress can indeed be harmful to our health if not dealt with. Of course easy to say for someone from Ivory Tower you say – as there are people direly stressed and we are not talking about workplace stress and interpersonal type stress but stress stemming from some terrible plight we would not wish on anybody, but the science behind it is credible and … the intention to help us by changing our perspective on stress is a honorable effort.

A HUGE difference in what stress does to you is dictated by how we choose to frame it. Is it a PMS (“Poor Me” thing) or is it an opportunity to grow and become more resilient? It’s not the mindless urge and a drive where the thrill of stress and pressures is something you relish and live on to propel you – or even take pleasure in (sic?)- because it gets things done (the deadlines, self-inflicted pressures to seek perfections) which apparently is unhealthy according to McGonigal as that’s more a case where you are hooked on that “high” of adrenalin rush and surge of Dopamine – no different than any other addiction – not healthy. Terrible for your blood pressure, your heart and digestion, making our body more vulnerable to free radicals that cause inflammations. Rather, seeing that there’s a meaning, almost a purpose when dealing with stress – while acknowledging the suffering and hardship…never denying or avoiding, but also knowing that you have the ability to handle it. Basically again, it’s about balance, through a mindset shift, isn’t it? McGonigal asserts that the paradox of stress is that meaningful life is often the more stressful – rather then denying or avoiding stress, face it squarely knowing that you have the ability to seek out others while at the same time possess the inner strength and tools to handle it, to overcome or persevere it. Just remembering that, that knowing alone will get you through very stressful life’s curve balls without having to damage your health. YES – she’s a yogi, before being an academic.

Don’t know much about Western medicine’s remedy other than popping aspirins for pain relief …as that’s what the doctor advised …If you complain enough, they might even order MRI or CAT scans to eliminate the fear of THE WHAT IF? … recalling there was a time when I absolutely thought something is deadly wrong with me only to find out after all the tests and procedures – probably contributing to rising healthcare costs – nothing, absolutely nothing wrong. You are left to feel half relieved and half afraid that now maybe something is wrong with you mentally:) to think that something is wrong with you – crazy. Still the headache and pain persists. What do you do? Homeopathic medication? Herbs? What? Go completely vegan? Go fast? Go back to the quick fix of Advil?

These are the times … when Western or mainstream medicine seems not all that helpful – grandmas’ and aunties’ words from the Old Country, brushed off as not being scientific enough, make a come back as we revisit their Shaman-like remedies – coming from Eastern or at least age-old, if not ancient, Japanese grandma perspective, and add-on Iyengar based therapeutics – for common headaches (and I mean common not brain tumors:(
In this, may I say, Asian tradition, it is thought that most common headaches are caused by blockages and obstructions、or even stagnation of chi or prana. Seeing a line of patients in an acupuncture clinic my mother used to visit in Tokyo, seeing is believing – not a dramatic result like Advil or whatever other chemicals you use, but over time… it works. Slow … gradual and easy on your body. And mind. And Soul-ful.

So when I learned that some yoga styles are likened to a needle-less acupuncture, I was intrigued. While I am actually studying acupuncture theory, I am very curious how it can be brought into yoga practice so there could be some synergy to benefit from.
What causes those blockages and obstructions?
What helps alleviate headaches so that you can restore the natural rhythm of your vibrant ENERGY to flow unobstructed ?
Show up to my yoga class that blends what I’ve learned not only through print but from teachers and direct experience receiving and giving pain relief.
Tough to do in group classes but … will try to incorporate what I’ve learned so far in bits and pieces.

Cardios for respiratory and muscle training is of course very important – whether through yoga or by other means, I engage in them too as exercise is a vital part of our health maintenance. BUT, everything teeters on balancing all the elements of your makeup. When there’s over-enhancement in one part at the expense of another, your body will signal some distress. Let’s heed that distress signal and be kind to yourself. I see myself as the best guinea pig and while everyone is different with different Doshas and body-type, it’s especially helpful to learn from if not a complete opposite, but someone possessing a different dosha – a varied makeup – curiously, sometimes that sheds more light. There will be new findings that will apply to you even more, as a result of possessing a different dosha. So focusing on not how we are different, but focusing on what’s all the same that we share at the core.