Lately my yoga practice has included standing in front of a mirror, staring into my own eyes, and sweating from every pore of my body in a heated room. Though I have always enjoyed all styles and approaches to yoga I have had very little experience with Hot Yoga until my recent eight-day immersion in Hot Yoga Teacher Training and now I’m in love with this simple, strong, and potent approach to Hatha Yoga practice…..
Like most people I know who have lived a few decades, or more, my life has always been marked by great change, tidal shifts and new beginnings, and as student of yoga, which is a path of constant refinement, I would be in trouble if I couldn’t swim in these waters with relative comfort. However that doesn’t mean that change is easy or that I don’t at times feel fear, discomfort, sadness, or confusion….
While I haven’t been writing much this past week I have been busy making some short videos for your home practice. I will do my best to add new videos each week and you can subscribe to my You Tube Channel to stay updated if you like.
When I can allow myself to simply be in the quiet moments of my life, the silent pause between one activity and the next, one breath and the next, then I am provided the nourishment, and often the inspiration, for the next cycle of fullness. It is a beautiful dance….
Here are some of my favorite spring time recipes that I have been making lately while spring cleansing. Cleansing does not need to be an exercise in deprivation but rather can be a celebration of the lighter, brighter spring season. All of these recipes highlight the spring tastes that assist our body in releasing the heaviness of winter, support our bodies in detoxing naturally and nourish us with prana…..
According to the science of Ayurveda each season is ruled by two of the five elements of Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space. The spring season is characterized by an excess of Earth and Water (Kapha Dosha) and has the qualities of coldness, heaviness, and dampness. So even though the cherry blossoms are out and the days are longer there is still a winter chill in the air on most days, the spring rains are heavy, and the ground is wet and cold….
One of my favorite ways to ground and nourish myself is by spending time in my kitchen preparing food for my family. My first Ayurvedic teach Kimberly Loeb introduced me to the concept of Kitchen Sadhana, or conscious food preparation, as a genuine path of practice, and since then my time in the kitchen has become even more purposeful….
Most of us crave cycles of growth and renewal in our lives, as we all want to feel the newness of discovery and expansion in our relationships, in our careers, and in our spiritual practice. But we often forget that before growth there must be a period of birth, and before birthing there is a period of change, death or release. It is in these aspects of the pulsation that we often become stuck, because death or letting go is painful, and birth requires effort and a willingness to push into the unknown….
A common question that comes up for yoga teachers, and students is “how do I stay inspired?” Inspiration is key to great teaching and as such is vital for teachers of yoga, but it is equally important for students of yoga as inspiration is what keeps you coming back to your practice despite the busyness of life or the challenges it may present….
The daily routine, or Dinacharya as it is called in Ayurveda, is central to promoting health and well being and preventing imbalance and in my experience is one of the simplest and most powerful tools we have to take our health into our own hands….
