Live Wide Open!
The tagline of Joyful Heart Yoga is "Live Wide Open!" What does this mean? It means dismantling our defenses and habitual patterns of reacting from fear -- fear of the unknown, fear of loss -- and opening ourselves to all of life's wonders and mysteries. We find that sense of awe and enchantment that we had as children. We open ourselves to love even though that means opening ourselves to sorrow and loss. We allow ourselves to live in the flow of life even though we have no idea of where it will take us. Instead of sleepwalking through life, we become fully awake and alive.
The best way I know to live wide open is through the regular practice of yoga, pranayama, and meditation. These practices slowly peel away layers of resistance and help to loosen our old "stuff," sending it bubbling up to the surface so we can look at it and learn from it as it dissipates into the ether, leaving us feeling more free, more clear, more clean. In otherwords, wide open!
Namaste!
Sandy Pradas
The Benefits of Yoga
While cleaning up my files, I ran across some notes that I scribbled in the year 2000. It was a list of the benefits that I had gained from my daily yoga practice. These benefits came automatically, without any conscious decision to change:
Benefits I've noticed from my daily yoga practice:
· I feel better.
· I have better posture.
· I have more body awareness, especially in my spine. I am always comfortable now.
· I go to bed earlier. I used to go to bed at 2:00am, and now it’s around 11:30.
· I drink less alcohol, and never have it to relax or because I’ve had a hard day.
· I drink less coffee.
· I have no problems with eating or digestion. I know how much to eat and when to stop. I seem to know what my body wants.
· I am more compassionate.
· I’m less judgmental.
· I’m more accepting and try to see other viewpoints.
· I’m more comfortable with my place in life. I don’t fear the unknown.
· I want what I have – I’m content!
· I can adjust my energy, moving it through the chakras as needed.
Courage
The seed cannot know what is going to happen. The seed cannot even believe that he has the potential to become a beautiful flower. Long is the journey, and it is always safer not to go on that journey because unknown is the path, and nothing is guaranteed. Thousand and one are the hazards of the journey, many are the pitfalls. But the seed tries, it makes an effort; it drops the hard shell which is its security, and starts moving. Immediately the fight starts: the struggle with the soil, the stones, the rocks. The seed was hard, but the sprout will be very, very soft and dangers will be many.
But the sprout starts towards the unknown, towards the sun, towards the source of light, not knowing where, not knowing why. Great is the cross to be carried, but a dream possesses the seed and the seed moves. The same is the path for man. It is arduous. Much courage will be needed. -Osho
Dear Yogis & Yoginis,
When I meditated on what my New Year's message should be about, the word "courage" immediately came to mind. Maybe it's because my son is moving to the other side of the country tomorrow. It takes courage to leave the known for the unknown. But like Osho's seed, the voice within is strong and he's willing to put aside his fears and doubts and move forward anyway.
How to Create a Time Warp
Life has been extremely busy for me this year: I've attended several out-of-town trainings, led retreats in Costa Rica and Spain, taught numerous classes and workshops, and my private yoga therapy practice has really picked up steam. And that's just work -- I've had a whole slew of activities and travel for family and friends as well. Which is why I was taken by surprise when I realized that I was soon to host Thanksgiving dinner even though my calendar was booked up to the very last minute.
In the period B.Y. (before yoga), I would have started spinning my wheels and wasting a lot of time with "how am I going to do this" thinking. My panic about how much I had to do in so little time would have caused me to be unfocused and unclear, and I would have been completely exhausted before my guests arrived.
But living with yoga day to day has taught me how to warp time. The method is simple, yet takes lots of practice: Stay in the Present Moment. At first, this is hard to do. When we are in class, we can watch how quickly the mind jumps back to the past or forward into the future. But if you keep practicing, you'll find yourself more and more in the present -- the only place we should be. In the present moment, you have all the time you need. You are focused, clear, and efficient because you are fully present. Your brain isn't scanning through time, dredging up old stuff and imagining things that haven't happened.
A Shout-Out to the MyPillow.com People
Photo of Michael J. Lindell, Inventor & President of MyPillow, Inc.
As many yogis know, once you start walking around with good posture, you start noticing how uncomfortable a lot of furniture is. Chairs, car seats, sofas, etc., just don't seem to be designed for holding yourself up properly with an elongated and well-aligned spine. And then there's our beds: A place where we spend 8 hours a night rejuvenating our bodies and minds is the most important piece of furniture in the house.
A comfortable mattress and pillow are of supreme importance. A mattress needs to have enough give for your shoulders and hips to sink in without putting your spine out of alignment if you're a side-sleeper, and enough give for your rear to settle in without throwing off your alignment if you sleep on your back. If your tailbone is tilted up or down, or if your shoulders and hips are high and everything else is sinking, you're going to wake up with a sore back.
And then there's the pillow. If you sleep on your back, you need support under your neck that doesn't lift your head so much that your chin points down to your chest. And it can't be so thin that your chin points up to the ceiling. If you're a side sleeper it's even more tricky finding the right pillow. The pillow needs to support all of that space between your neck and shoulders. When the pillow is right you should feel supported and comfortable and your neck should be aligned -- not raised up or down. Since we all come in different shapes and sizes, it's not easy to create a pillow that would suit everyone.
A Meditation to Clear the Mind
It's nearly the end of August -- summer is almost over and once again time seems to have raced by me. Since it was a beautiful morning, I went out for a walk in the woods. I sat by a creek and watched the water -- in some places it was swirling and busy, and just a little downstream it was still and quiet. It reminded me of a meditation that I did once in Sedona, so I thought I'd write it down so you can do it yourself. It can bring peace, calm, and clarity.
If you have a creek, stream, or river nearby, go visit it and carefully choose an inviting place to sit along the bank that offers a good view of the water. If you don't have a body of running water nearby, you can visualize one: See yourself sitting on the bank of a moving stream. You are surrounded by trees. You hear the light song of birds. The water is clear and clean, and it flows over moss-covered rocks. Settle in, take a few cleansing breaths with big, long exhales, and then sit quietly. Close your eyes or create a soft gaze, and absorb the surroundings. Take time to simply sit and feel connected to nature.
The Yoga of Eating
It's no secret that many people in the U.S. have a dysfunctional relationship with food. We eat on the run, we eat what's easiest and fastest, we often eat alone under stressful conditions such as cramming down a sandwich at our desks while working, or we eat mindlessly in front of the television.
Contrast this eating style to what I've observed in Spain. Of course, I'm generalizing, just as I did in the above examples, but after several visits, including our recent Joyful Heart Yoga Retreat in Spain, I've noticed some big differences between the way they eat and the way we eat, and I am trying to adopt some of their habits.
For breakfast it's typical to eat a roll and coffee. (I'm not adopting this habit -- I need a little protein in the morning, so I prefer my yogurt and flaxseed or a whole grain cereal.) But I am picking up the habit of keeping the portion small, and that goes for coffee too. In Spain, coffee and tea are served in small cups rather than large mugs. I found that my stomach enjoys the smaller size because it's less filling, and I don't feel bloated. I bought smaller cups and bowls to help me with portion control, and I make sure to eat mindfully so I enjoy the taste of my breakfast.
Diamond in the Rough
My husband and I went to a local jewelry store this weekend to get a new battery for his watch. While there, the owner offered to clean my wedding ring. When she brought it back, we were amazed at how it shined and sparkled. I hadn't realized that over time the ring had collected a film that dulled it's beauty.
This is kind of how it is with us. Over time, living in the world and going through our day-to-day lives can leave us covered with a grimy film that masks our inner light. If left unchecked, this grimy film can turn into a hard shell that makes it difficult for other people to see our sparkle, but also makes it difficult to feel it ourselves.
Think about the average adult American's life: The alarm goes off way before we've received enough rest. We gulp down whatever is quickest and easiest to eat, then run out the door to sit in a traffic jam so we can spend the next 8 hours or more doing something that we would not be doing if only we could win the lottery. We come home tired, exhausted, hungry -- not just for food but for fulfillment that we don't know how to get.
Yoga as a Survival Tool
My heart goes out to all of the people in Japan, to the creatures and plants, and to the earth itself. This disaster is particularly heart-breaking because on top of the earthquake and tsunami, there is now radiation leaking from the nuclear facilities. It's devastating.
On the day of the earthquake, one of my students sent me a poem called "The Peace of Wild Things," by Wendell Berry.
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
It's true that most wild things live in the moment, and there is great peace in that. It's also true that we are wild things -- we are part of nature. And as a natural species, we are subject to the laws of nature, to the cycle of birth and death. No matter how much we fill our lives with busyness, no matter how technologically advanced we become, we still do not have control. There is no safety; there is no security in worldly things. Our jobs, our bank accounts, our homes, buildings and monuments, our electronic gadgets, our relationships, our loved ones, and even our own bodies are all here on a temporary basis. We can lose them at any time, so if we base our sense of peace, happiness, and security on any of those things, what will happen to us when we lose them?
Hummingbirds
What do hummingbirds have to do with yoga? I'm not quite sure, but I know there's something to it. I've been thinking about these little flying jewels a lot since our recent Joyful Heart Yoga retreat in Costa Rica. I've always liked hummingbirds, but right now I feel especially connected to them. The winter at home has been so long and cold, and by the time we arrived in Costa Rica I was longing not only to feel warmth but to see color. And the hummingbirds provided!
On our second day, 14 of us planted ourselves in front of a group of hummingbird feeders in the cloud forest. I don't know how long we sat there, but it was a very long time. The hummingbirds flitted in and out, and we sat there with complete presence and awe and enjoyed them ... respected them ... and at least for me, felt very connected to them.
Even now that I'm back at home, I still think of them. I made the top photo my screensaver, and that little guy brings me great joy whenever I go to the computer. Look at his wide open wings and wide open heart!
Present Moment
This has been an odd day -- nothing really came out as planned, but it was all fine because I was able to stay in the present moment. I had to cancel my morning class and a trip to see my son in a play -- the only chance I had to see it in this run. Right now I have a heating pad on my back trying to prevent a backache after shoveling some very heavy snow (despite all the hard work, I still can't get my car out of the driveway), and I've got ice on my bruised and bloody finger, which got pinched in a closet door. Although the pinched finger hurt like heck and was the last in a line of insults, I was actually able to laugh when it happened. Even though I would have preferred to have things turn out differently, I was able to stay on an even keel all day. None of these things upset me, which was good since there wasn't anything I could do to change the circumstances. What good would fussing and complaining do? Or feeling guilty? It was what it was.
And it wasn't all bad. Being snowed in gave me some extra time to pack for my retreat to Costa Rica, which starts in just three days. A day that was supposed to be jam-packed with busyness turned out to be somewhat relaxing (except for the snow-shoveling, back ache, and bloody finger). Learning to stay calm and centered in all circumstances is a recurring theme in my classes, but we did extra work on that topic this week -- perhaps better preparing me for this day. When we're in a pose that really challenges our bodies and minds, we have a chance to work at creating greater equanimity. We can use our breath to stay in the moment and not be overwhelmed by physical sensations or the fearful chatter of the mind. We don't have to get involved in any stories that the mind wants to spin. We can stay present and open to fully experience whatever comes. Then we can use those same skills in our lives.
Rich with Time and Peace of Mind
Happy New Year! I hope that you receive many blessings, much happiness, and good health in 2011.
If there’s one thing that I heard over and over again this past year, it’s “I don’t have enough time.” Many of our days pass like this: We wake up, grab a quick breakfast, sit in traffic jams, and spend the majority of the day at work. We often work through our lunch breaks or spend that time running errands. Then we sit in more traffic, and arrive home tired, hungry, and low on patience and energy for our loved ones. Weekends are spent on more errands, catching up with bills, household chores, etc., and then it’s time to start the work week all over. Even those who are retired can find themselves over-booked and short on time.
Trying to schedule time out with friends and family can be almost ridiculously difficult, as everyone has such busy schedules. Advanced technology, which was supposed to make our lives more simple, has actually taken more time out of our days, as we now feel compelled to spend a lot of time catching up on e-mail, Facebook, and surfing the web.
Change in the Air
Over the last few weeks I've felt a surge in energy. A lot of creativity has sprung up, and I've started several projects in addition to my regular work, family duties, and trying to get ready for Christmas. I have so many things going on that I'm not really making much headway on any of them -- it feels like I'm flitting about from one thing to another, almost bouncing around like a ping pong ball. So I feel a little frustrated that I don't have enough spare time to sit down and do what I want to do. Sometimes this frustration turns into restlessness or aggravation. This is unbalanced vata dosha at work.
When the weather turns cold, there is increased vata in the air. This energy can affect us all, and can be especially strong in anyone who already has vata tendencies. Restlessness, high energy, frustration, aggravation, sleeplessness ... if you are experiencing these symptoms, it's time to bring yourself back into balance:
1. Yoga. This is no time to let your practice slide. Although you may be attracted to vigorous workouts at this time, what you really need is slow, deep breathing like dirgha, ujjayi, and nadi shodhana; slow, deep posture flows where you stay firmly connected to breath; and meditation. Do whatever other exercise you want, but don't skip your yoga, breathing, and meditation as it will be most effective in bringing you back to balance.
Breathing is in the News!
Imagine my delight this morning to hear NPR doing a story about the benefits of breathing. You can listen to the story, or read it, here: http://www.npr.org/2010/12/06/131734718/just-breathe-body-has-a-built-in-stress-reliever
I love to hear cases of western medicine using ancient wisdom! Merging the two disciplines can bring so much more healing power to the world. In my yoga therapy practice, I find it beneficial to combine medical science with the science of yoga. Most of my clients are working with their doctors, and I need to be sure that what I'm doing is working with their treatment -- enhancing it and not taking away from it. Medical knowledge has even changed the practice of yoga. As we've learned more about the body, we've realized that some of the old ways of doing yoga postures is not ideal, or not really safe. Yoga is evolving all the time, as it should. And in some circles, doctors are opening up to the wisdom that yoga brings. Let's hope it continues so that more people can live vital, healthy lives with less medications and less surgery!
Warm, Nourishing Breakfasts
According to the ancient science of Ayurveda, cold air can aggravate Vata dosha. We might find ourselves feeling agitated or flighty. We may start to become more dry from the inside out -- creaky joints, dry skin and hair, brittle nails, etc. To pacify Vata dosha, we should move away from eating cold, raw foods and eat warm, nourishing, foods as fall and winter approach. This is especially important for the first meal of the day, so I've listed three warm breakfasts that you can make on a weekend and have lots of leftovers to heat and serve during the week. All of the recipes are user-friendly, so you can adjust the ingredients to your liking.
But before you eat or drink anything else, start your day with a glass of room-temperature water with a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime to hydrate your cells and flush the digestive tract. If you eat fruit in the morning, eat it next -- after your water and before your warm breakfast. Buen provecho!
Gallo Pinto
This traditional Costa Rican breakfast is tasty, hearty, and will give you energy for hours. It's important to use rice that has already been cooked and thoroughly chilled, so you might want to make the rice one day before. A key ingredient is Salsa Lizano -- a unique sauce made from vegetables that is produced in Costa Rica. It is available online, but if you join us on our Joyful Heart Yoga in Costa Rica retreat this winter, you can stock up on Lizano! In the meantime, you can substitute Worcestershire sauce -- it is not the same but will still make a tasty recipe.
We Are One
There is no other happiness here in this world
Than to be free of the thought
That I am different from you.
What other happiness is there?
--Utpaladeva
A recurring theme in the news these days is hatred. One group of people lashes out at another group because their race, religion, sexuality, or some other characteristic is "different." It seems especially ironic to me that many of the people in this country who are acting in a hateful way are calling themselves Christians. The term Christian implies that they are followers of Jesus Christ, who by all accounts was a peaceful man whose message was "Love one another as I have loved you." In other countries, it's the same -- much of the fighting is done in the name of religion. If your religious leader is preaching intolerance, don't follow blindly. Find a new leader.
Much of this hatred comes from fear. Fear keeps us from being loving, and we are afraid of what we don't know. Mark Twain said that "travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." It's true. Once we get to know people who appear different from us, we can understand them. We can see that they are actually just like us. We can love them rather than fear them. So if you find yourself afraid of a group of people, get to know them. Learn about their culture, read their literature, find out about their struggles and dreams. With the internet, this is not difficult.
Delicious Veggie Recipe
This simple, southern Italian dish is a family favorite in my house. Take advantage of the summer bounty of fresh tomatoes and basil and enjoy!
photo from Smitten Kitchen
Orecchiette
- 2 pints of cherry or grape tomatoes, sliced in half lengthwise
- 6 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup of good quality extra virgin olive oil
- handful of fresh, chopped basil leaves (for a different taste, you can substitute 2 large handfuls of chopped arugula)
- salt & pepper to taste
- Parmesan cheese
- orecchiette (little ears) or 9 oz. of any fresh pasta, cooked and drained
Heat oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add tomatoes and garlic and let simmer for 20 - 30 minutes, until sauce starts to thicken. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in basil or arugula and cook for two minutes. Mix into cooked pasta. Sprinkle with grated parmesan and enjoy! You can't mess this up -- it's ok to add more tomatoes, olive oil, and garlic. If you use cherry or grape tomatoes, this recipe is good all year round!
Namaste!
Good News about Yoga and Osteoporosis
There's exciting news in the world of yoga therapy: Dr. Loren Fishman has been conducting a long-term study on the benefits of yoga for osteoporosis, and the results are very promising. One group has been doing yoga regularly for over two years, and a control group is not doing yoga. The yoga group has shown statistically significant improvement in bone density of the spine and hip, while the non-yogis have lost bone density during this period. (Let's hope that they get to be part of the yoga group eventually!) Most people with osteopenia were returned to normal bone density, while one woman with an osteoporatic hip regained the bone density of a healthy 25 - 30 year-old!
This is great news, especially considering the fact that nearly 55% of everyone over age 50 has low bone mass, which can lead to fractures.
At this time, the DEXA scan is the best way to measure bone mineral density, so if you're over 50 and haven't been tested, you might want to ask your doctor for a DEXA scan.
The best time to prevent osteoporosis is while you're under age 30. Exercise and get lots of calcium from your diet to store up as much bone mass as possible. But if you're over 30, it's not too late. Eat a healthy diet that's rich in calcium; avoid carbonated beverages and limit salt, both of which use up our precious calcium stores; and do yoga!
Keeping Up with Your Practice
This week I've heard from several people who are frustrated by not being able to have a consistent yoga practice. Mothers with young children, yoga teachers, and even retired folks all had one thing in common: not being able to find time for themselves. Our lives are so busy that it's easy to fill every moment before we flop our exhausted selves into bed at night.
I try to have a daily yoga practice, but there have always been times in my life when it's been a struggle. A couple of months ago I attended an inspiring workshop and came home all gung-ho and looking forward to stepping on the mat the next morning. But I woke up exhausted. I had to teach later, and I decided to conserve my energy for my students and resume my personal practice the next morning. But I woke up sick. I had caught a flu that wiped me out for several days. As soon as I started feeling better, I hurt my wrist carrying a heavy grocery bag. I could do a modified practice, but I was very frustrated that I couldn't apply the wonderful things I learned in the workshop. It seemed like a long time passed before I got back on track.
Green Tip
Why not take advantage of the power of the sun to dry your clothes outside? In my neighborhood, the homeowner's association doesn't allow clotheslines (something that I hope will change soon), but you can buy folding racks at Bed, Bath & Beyond, Costco, Target, etc. While I can't put sheets on these racks, I can dry everything else including towels, which saves a lot of energy compared to using the automatic clothes dryer. On a hot summer day, clothes can dry pretty quickly. Towels will come out looking more crispy than fluffy, but they will still be soft to use, and the smell of clothing dried in fresh air is fantastic!
Namaste!
Sandy Pradas
Taking on Other People's Problems
Lately I've been frustrated by a few loved ones who've been walking headfirst, eyes wide open, into a bad idea. The fact that it's a bad idea is usually obvious to everyone except the person involved. Family and friends circle the wagons and try to help, but often the person isn't interested and continues down his or her own path. Sound familiar?
One of my favorite benefits of yoga is that it enables us to see ourselves. The "witness" or silent observer part of our consciousness, which is usually obscured by the busy mind, begins to come forth as we tame the mind through focused practice, breathing, and meditation. The witness is like that deep, quiet friend that never gets a chance to be heard over the loud, chatty ones. As the witness comes forth, suddenly we can see ourselves very clearly.
Our shadow sides come up: "I'm acting out of jealousy." "I'm being greedy." "I want all the attention."
Our goodness is evident: "I really want what's best for him." "I want to help." "I'm so full of love."
Listening Meditation
I took a walk on this beautiful day, and as soon as I stepped outside I heard a symphony of birds. There were layers and layers of bird songs, so I decided to simply focus on listening during my walk. Sometimes I heard the sound as a whole, and at other times a certain sound would stand out for a moment, and then another would take its place. As I continued to walk, my ears seemed to open wider. In addition to the birds, I heard laughter in the distance, children playing, airplanes, someone coughing, a bee buzzing, dogs barking, the sound of my footsteps. All of the sounds seemed to be unusually rich. I was amazed at the musical quality that rang out from two children's voices as they played in their yard. As cars passed, I heard the sound of rubber rolling over the smooth pavement -- it was not unpleasant. Even the sound of a lawnmower, which I usually abhor, didn't bother me a bit. I noticed at least three different sounds coming out of that one machine.
It was not until I noticed a couple of "Tea Party" placards in someone's yard that my mind started to run off on a tangent, and I realized that up until that moment I was completely absorbed in the world of sound. My mind was quiet, calm, and non-judgmental. I was in a state of meditation. Give it a try sometime -- you can do this indoors or out -- wherever there is sound. Notice any grasping toward sounds you deem pleasant, or any revulsion to sounds that you have decided that you do not like. As you become more and more absorbed, does this change?
Inspiration
The Guesthouse
This being human is a guesthouse.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness.
Some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows who violently sweep
your house empty of its furniture.
Still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice—
meet them all at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
for each guest has been sent as a guide from beyond.
-Rumi
O friend, understand:
The body is like the ocean
rich with hidden treasures.
Open your inmost chamber and light its lamp.
Within the body are gardens,
rare flowers, peacocks, the inner Music;
within the body is a lake of bliss, and
on it the white soul swans take their joy.
--Mirabai
Mastering Yoga
I attended a yoga workshop this weekend, and my husband asked, "Why are you going? You already know everything." Hmmm. I've been practicing 11 years, teaching for 9. I've learned a whole lot -- from amazing teachers, from not-so-good teachers, from students, and from myself and what comes up in my own practice. And one thing I learned early on is that you never master yoga. It's like an onion -- you peel away a layer only to discover that there are still many more layers underneath.
For most people, yoga practice starts with asana -- focusing on postures and perhaps trying to master them and move on to more challenging versions. But even our postures open up and change over time. You might think you have a posture perfected, but one day on the mat something shifts, and you go to a new place that you've never been to before. As you advance in your practice, you start to realize that postures are just the stepping stones to get to the deeper aspects of yoga. You start studying the philosophy, playing with meditation, and pranayama. Maybe going off to explore a certain aspect very deeply, and then that leads you to another place, which in turn leads to another place.
Joyful Heart Yogis Plant Themselves in Costa Rica!
It was starting to look like the yoga retreat that would never end ... with one flight after the other being cancelled because of heavy snow at home, we ended up staying a whole extra week. Did we mind? Well, here are some of the yogis when they found out that their first flight home was cancelled and they would have to be "stuck" in Costa Rica two more days:
This scenario repeated itself two more times, so we were forced to stay in a perfect climate surrounded by beauty everywhere, and we had to continue eating mountains of fresh, juicy fruit; freshly caught fish; and the world's best coffee.
Costa Rica has a special magic that immediately makes you want to slow down, take a look around, and enjoy. That magic combined with twice-a-day yoga made noodles of our yogis right away. By Day Three I had to abandon my usual call to "pull up any tension that needs to be released and let it go with a big sigh" because there obviously wasn't any tension. They were as happy and relaxed as people could be. We practiced our yoga outdoors: in the rainforest, on the beach, and in one of the most delightful gardens any of us has ever seen. Everywhere we went, the beauty was breathtaking. We did yoga in the rain (we had a roof over our heads but open air all around); we did yoga in the dark, with the songs of the frogs as our music; we were serenaded by the sound of the surf, and we had a beautiful morning session in a garden full of flowers, while a lovely breeze wafted the most beautiful fragrance over us.
Natural Remedies
Winter is well underway, so it's a good time to talk about natural remedies. First, let me make it clear that I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. I'm simply telling you about some things that I do to make myself more comfortable. If you are sick, have a fever, infection, etc., please go to the doctor.
Dry Skin - With little humidity in the air, many of us are suffering from dry, flakey, itchy skin. Some remedies:
-dry brushing the skin before you shower to exfoliate
-massaging sesame, olive, or almond oil into your skin and scalp before showering (be careful not to slip in the tub) and slathering on oil or another moisturizer after showering while the skin is still wet
-use natural soap, such as an olive oil or oatmeal based soap that doesn't have harsh detergents
-massage a drop or two of olive oil into your face. If skin is super dry, you can put the olive oil on top of your regular moisturizer. Use a high-quality extra virgin oil that would be good for salads or dipping bread. This can give a lot of relief and usually does not clog pores.
Please Mind the Gap
If you've been on the London subway, you've heard that oh-so-polite voice urging you to "please mind the gap," between the train and the platform as you're about to step off. Those words are fitting for my latest topic -- nothingness ... no-thingness ... the void ... the space between ... the gap.
Every now and then we find ourselves in a gap: A place where something has ended and nothing else has yet begun. Maybe you've lost your job, have just ended a relationship, moved to a different city, just graduated from college, someone close has died. These are the biggies. Suddenly there is a void in your life -- where there was once a lot of activity, suddenly there is nothing and you don't know what to do with yourself. It's very common to rush to fill that space -- with anything, with anyone. We are uncomfortable with nothingness, with waiting, with silence. But Osho puts it beautifully: nothingness is not just nothing – it is all. It is vibrant with possibilities. It is absolute potential.