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“don’t confuse exhaustion for relaxation and agitation for energy.”

per Judith H. Lasater as I make a note to self… noticing so many agitated people on the freeway this morning as I make my way to the studio… People don’t need more coffee to wake up; they need more Yoga to “wake up” from their unconscious living that goes from one extreme of scatter-brained mode of “busy” to avoid fear and Self – then 180 degrees to autopilot routine in a robotic, the “zone” mode.

Peace…
Let’s really “wake up” and smell the roses – hug that tree – as we take it all in with a deep invigorating breath – life is not about playing reruns – it’s not a rehearsal – it’s the center stage you are on, right now, unrehearsed. CALMNESS Prevail so much that you can even hear the pin drop as you play witness to that you on the center stage – that CALM is your inner landscape.

Joy…
I am off to the Big Apple !
Local Ragazzi Boys choir debut at a Choral Festival at Carnegie Hall – Big breath – must must take it all in. The Vibe – Music is so energizing and healing at the same time – I am so excited – New York is my favorite city after Tokyo!

Will have to pay a pilgrimage to Jivamukti Yoga studio as I adore Giselle, the Bay Area Jiva… love to see her place of learning and the feel the vibe of love. Then to Dharma Yoga & hopefully take a class from THE Sri Dharma Mittra… the place of learning of superb local teachers like Nancy and Wendy I adore; Locally, we are so blessed with amazing teachers like Jean and Brenna – I am most influenced and inspired by these two special Sri (radiant) teachers as they first planted the passion for Yoga in me. San Francisco- Bay Area is home to such great teachers, I know I need not travel to NYC to find anything greater but just the idea of legends you’ve read about you get to check out is … intoxicating of a high.

The thought of NYC yoga gives me the Goosebumps! Engaging in Ujai breath – detoxing to get ready as I have to clear my respiratory system TODAY.

I am so lucky to get to travel with R, the bright soul, the pure hearted innocent one, for this journey is a special one.

Both Peace and Joy are found within.

Yin-Yang Yoga at 6:00pm – it’s coming back! Flow practice during the first 30 minutes devoted to strong Yang practice of Sun Salutations A, B & L. Then some powerful standing poses to strengthen our muscles and standing balancing poses to improve our steadiness and mental focus; than transition to Yin practice of floor based poses that improves our flexibility and range of motion. Working on our joints, connective tissues, tendons while holding the poses a bit longer – during the duration, internal organs are juiced as well as your connective tissues for that supple and flexible body – this 2-styles combo hybrid practice cultivates the mindful awareness of both our mind and body. It’s a whole body workout that you can get into, balancing the ease vs. effort so that it’s just about the right level of challenge for most. Great on Monday nights after work where you have the need to exercise just the right amount but still be able to wind down enough in time for restful slumber.

Here’s an excerpt from an article in Yoga Journal on the subject of Metabolic Syndrome and Body Burden. It explains how Restorative Yoga actually helps with healthy body image:

“The notion of relaxing as a weight-loss technique seems ripe for a Jay Leno one-liner, but the idea has serious scientific merit. Here’s how it works: Chronic stress makes the body churn out too much cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. Cortisol affects both the adrenal glands and the immune system. Ultimately, the extra cortisol nudges the abdomen into opening its fat depots and storing more fat than it would otherwise.

“Restorative yoga isn’t aiming to get you to lose weight per se, but by reducing stress, you’ll automatically be putting less weight on your belly,” Kanaya says.

In the end, however, the biggest challenge in establishing yoga as an antidote to metabolic syndrome may be undoing yoga’s reputation as a practice limited to the lithe and willowy. “When people think of yoga, they think of difficult postures that aren’t accessible for people who are overweight,” Kanaya says. To address that misconception, Kanaya went straight to one of restorative yoga’s biggest advocates, Judith Hanson Lasater.

Healing Through “Real” Rest

Lasater sees restorative yoga as a way to fill a yawning gap in the national psyche—an inability to rest. Americans, she says, mistake resting for vegging out in front of the TV: “That’s not restful; that’s dull.” Restorative yoga, with its emphasis on supported poses, allows the body to enter the deep, restful state it craves. “When you stop agitating it, the body starts to repair itself,” Lasater says.

Some cardiologists are beginning to see the value of restorative yoga for their patients. Mehmet Oz, M.D., backs the notion of yoga for the treatment of metabolic syndrome.

“We know that meditation is effective in managing metabolic syndrome, but meditation is really, really hard for most Americans,” he says. “Yoga is the next best way to get that Zen experience.” He agrees with Innes’s hunch that the secret is yoga’s soothing effect on the jangled nervous system. “By relaxing your joints, you create that metaphor for your mind to relax too.”

But aren’t all styles of yoga relaxing? Lasater says any yoga is better than no yoga, but she thinks today’s yoga has lost touch with its restful roots. “Restorative yoga is a formal way of getting people to just stop and be.””

When there’s a sacred space created to breathe together to honor ourselves – it’s a ritual that enriches our lives while… maybe shedding few inches off the waistline in so doing … without that being the intent nor the goal.  It’s just a mere by-product; a bonus.  And for all of us, it’s that time you deserve, the time you carve out with intention,  to nourish and heal, restoring our ojas.  Let’s accept that invitation to clear our mind and return to that state of pure inner child.  It’s pure magic in a tribal setting. *

*Tribal setting ?  Why?  Well… when done solo, no denying has its own benefits, tendency is for one to agitate because there is no gate-keeper guarding your space and time.  You feel vulnerable at times and that’s not a show of weakness – it shows you are in tune with the natural order.  In ancient times, and in natural world still,  there always was one who kept the night watch, while others slept, that gatekeeper would guard the tribe from any possible intrusion, any unexpected harm… That protector allowed only the invited to enter… we need that one who keeps “guard” in order to truly “relax”.  It’s instinctive. Then, also, left to our own singular devices, there’s that tendency to get lethargic and melancholy… it’s that nap taking that could be either good or not so good – lucky you, if that nap is refreshing but for many that nap creates even more dullness and low energy. Having someone to tenderly and gently rouse you out of a nap… maybe a neighbor with a smile …can be precious… and actually …a very natural longing.  It’s coded into humanity.