Define Your Health:
Do you embrace the common perception that health is the absence of symptoms of disease?
But then wonder when you're not feeling well, tired, having digestive issues. . . Just what's going on?
A person in good health is balanced in all aspects of mind/body. They have strong digestion and metabolism, toxin free, have timely formation and elimination of urine, sweat, feces. They have excellent coordination between mind and senses, mind and intellect, intellect and soul. They are happy and content.
Digestion is key to Your Health as undigested food is the root cause of inflammation in the body. Semi-digested food is the root cause of inflammation!
Your digestive system grabs what is useful and sends it into the body tissues and drives what is not useful our for elimination. If your agni is low, undigested proteins, fat molecules can be fully absorbed and linger in small intestine, irritating it and causing allergies to heavy foods, such as those containing gluten, lectins, or lactose. The unused food then ends up in the lymphatic system, which acts as a garbage disposal in the body. Over time the lymphatic drains become clogged. The congested lymphatic system can lead to accumulation of fatigue, belly fat, bloat, brain fog and more. Ayurveda calls this semi-digested or unripe food residue AMA. It is food we have eaten but has not transformed to become a part of our body.
The more ama that accumulates and clogs the pathways in our body, the weaker our agni becomes the more ama. Ama is heavy and sticky and attaches to coronary arteries, digestive tract, lungs, sinuses, brain and thus becomes the main cause of inflammation. This does not happen overnight; it is years of eating unsuitable foods.
18 categories of food compatibility:
State of your digestion or strength of your agni
Health condition
Dosha balancing needs
Climate and geographical location
Time of day, season, and life (age)
Physical activity and upbringing
Here is your first check in with yourself:
How does your stomach feel? Acidic, bloated, heavy, hungry.
Ayurvda Workshops will teach you how to balance your digestion of body and mind.
Ayurveda
Explore the Wisdom of Ayurveda
Ayu = life and Veda = science the science of Life. A 5,00-year-old holistic system from India, that looks at prevention of disease. Here is where Ayurveda differs from allopathic medicine in its qualitative view of life and the universe. The universe is the macrocosm, and the human body is the microcosm, in terms of why it is referred to as elemental medicine.
During the British occupation of India, the use of ayurvedic medicine was lost publicly as allopathic healing took the forefront in the culture. Allopathic medicine compartmentalizes people and symptoms into a standard diagnosis and treatment plan. Ayurveda considers the difference in a person’s natural body humor and the symptoms occurring with the person. Ayurveda looks at the whole person, your innate body composition referred to as dosha.
A dosha is one of three elemental combinations. The Āyurvedic approach is preventative, meaning that intervention occurs long before the disease has a name. With the onset of symptoms an Ayurvedic councilor or practitioner finds the cause of the disturbance.
Elemental combinations can be air, space (either), fire, water, and earth. These four elements exist in all things living. In science terms the cellular structure is of a gelatinous water base creating the cytoplasm, and you look at the structures within the cytoplasm there is the mitochondria often referred to as the powerhouse – Fire. The nucleus at the center of the cell has space surrounding the strands of DNA/RNA as they move to create tissues, to organs, the human body. There are three doshas, Vata which is air and space. Pitta which is fire and water. Kapha which is earth and water. Now Pitta and Kapha share the water element. However it is different due to the other element it shares. Kapha with earth and water has a water element that binds or holds together. Think of thick fluid of the body.
Dosha is defined as that which can go out of whack! Your dosha is your fault, like the fault line in the earth. How do you find your dosha, by taking a quiz that was created by Dr. Lad on the website or in the workshop #1. Your doshic distribution is determined at birth and referred to as your Prakriti constitution. Knowing that you don’t remain the same and changes occur due to illness, or unhealthy living, stress, etc. The changes are your Vikriti constitution. The degree of changes or the onset of symptoms is where the healing begins. You are not like anyone else and don’t need to be put into a compartment of symptoms with a standardized treatment plan.
Lifestyle and your gut are important in your health. Only in the last decade have we been seeing advertisements about your gut health and how that contributes to disease. Ayurveda has been looking at this for 5k years.
If you have gut disturbance, and you are not eating correctly for your body. Or to say you are not eating in balance with your dosha, your stress levels are high, you often suffer from IBS or similar. The “one pill fits all” is not a cure for your health. Your gut health is important as you have heard the phrase “you are what you eat”. Health goes deeper than food you ingest, your thoughts, what you see on social media or television can be unsettling. Fact: the health of the mind and spirit is influenced by what is digested, trauma, unsettled emotions, anger. How you find peace of mind is also important in a healthy balanced life.
Ayurveda looks at the whole person and makes recommendations for dietary changes, movement and meditation, affirmations, massage, oils, herbs. Basic kitchen herbs help with digestion. Ayurveda uses Marma points as opposed to acupuncture points. While they do differ, in marma therapy oil is used at the point and massaged into the body. This can be taught for self-use as well as having an Ayurvedic councilor assist you. While there are marma points that help with digestion there are also those that hold tension or stagnation. The marma points also align with and share chakras, nadis. Marma therapy can be used in conjunction with energy medicine or other practices the councilor is trained in.
Ayurveda spans into other areas and is known as the sister science of yoga. Yoga is the yoking together the 8 limbs of yoga consist of the following: The first is know as Yama or self-restraints, the second is Niyama’s know as religious observances. These two have very close association with the ten commandments. The practice of yoga is always associated with Asanas – the postures, or the physical practice of yoga. The breath or prana or pranayama. Pratyahara is the senses, drawing deeper into the sensation of the practice as you move body, breath, and mind. Dharma is concentration as concentration is needed in the mindful practice of yoga. Dhyana is meditation, and Samadhi is bliss. With the last two you come into a relaxed state allowing the mind to calm down the body/ mind and when that is successful you find bliss.
Learn ayurveda yoga meditation. Become teacher
Psalm 34:18
May 14 - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Women's Day Retreat
The Month of May is about women, it’s a time when seedling begin to bloom. Women are the flowers who carry the life process forward, maintain balance, provide support and nurture all. Take this day to celebrate you, take a break from the rest of the world. A day of Yoga, Meditation, Ayurveda, Healthy lunch, more...
New Moon is in Gemini
Goddess Moon Meditation - June 10 - 8:00 PM
We have so much to be grateful for, come together to honor your feminine. With song, drumming, focus on your inner spirit. Connect with the meditation into the animal world. Move into the next phase of your life with renewed insight from the animal world.
In person location: home studio
or Zoom
New Moon - illumination
From the teachings of the four cardinal directions
In the morning the Sun Rises in the East
The Eastern direction is the Spring, as the plants come to life in spring. Spring brings about renewal. Renewal in the cycle of life. The East is the direction of illumination, clarity and your life path. This is a time of new beginnings a time to bring forth what you wan to illuminate in your life. Take a moment and visualize what you want to illuminate in your life?
Bring Clarity to your illumination
Take a moment and reflect on old intentions that did not manifest. Take a new approach and bring clarity to what you want to illuminate in your life?
New Moon intention
With the New Moon in Taurus a sign considered stable, reliable, and even-keeled how can you illuminate your path with these traits? The New moon is a time for self-care and comfort, bring forth what you want in the new lunar cycle. Set an intention with what you want to illuminate. Ask, where am I going? Be specific~
If you need help with this process - see the group meditation series.
Osteoporosis! - let chat about it
The bell shaped curve shows at age 40 risk increases
Those who know me, know that I promote Yin Yoga as a great practice that will help to alleviate symptoms of aging. Yin is a gentle form of yoga with intent on stretching connective tissue in the body. All positions are seated in a position on the mat. I generally discuss how this connective tissue has become tight, stiff and by the age of 40 we should have been involved in a yin practice to keep the body supple. What else does that age of 40 reveal --
Taking a look at osteoporosis, ligaments and tendons pull on the bone stimulating the bone physiology that keeps us strong and mobile. Bone is composed of support cells, osteoblasts and osteocytes, remodeling cells - osteoclasts, along with a matrix of collagen, mineral salts, non-collagenous proteins called osteoid. The remodeling cycle consists of three consecutive phases: resorption, during which osteoclasts digest old bone; reversal, when mononuclear cells appear on the bone surface; and formation, when osteoblasts lay down new bone until the resorbed bone is completely replaced. While that may sound complicated --
Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease that results from osteoclastic bone resorption not compensated by osteoblastic bone formation. This causes bones to become weak and fragile, thus increasing the risk of fractures.
What prevents it and how do you treat it?
Weight bearing exercise, calcium, vitamin D. Often people are confused when you throw out "weight bearing exercise". It is simply walking, as you transfer your weight from one foot to the other. Mild strength exercises such as Yoga and Pilates. Simple resistance band exercise done correctly are great as they start off light, low repetition to allow for slow adaptation. Since the spine is of major concern, gentle core isometrics type exercise are also a great beginning. Referencing the picture postural exercises are very important and simple.
Combining guided meditation for relaxation and stress reduction are beneficial in any healing process.
www.movementfocus.com
Movement Focus offers many programs for people with emphasis on creating a healthy, functional life to pursue their passion for as long as they wish.
A Shaman Was Asked- by: Bret Buckley
What is Poison?
Anything beyond what we need in Poison. It can be power, laziness, food, ego, ambition, vanity, fear, anger . . .
What is Fear?
-Non - acceptance of uncertainty. If we accept uncertainty, it becomes adventure.
What is Envy?
-Non-acceptance of good in other. If we accept good, it becomes inspiration.
what is Anger?
- Non-acceptance of what is beyond our control. If we accept, it becomes tolerance.
What is Hate?
-Non-acceptance of people as they are. If we accept unconditionally, it becomes love.
Benefits of a Yoga Practice
8 week series- Begins January
Yoga meets the fitness components of strength, flexibility and balance, While meeting a deeper need. The breath alone brings you to focus the mind into the body, the movement of the breath with the movement of the body. A slow subtle flow to align the mind and body together allows us to decrease stress, improve sleep/work cycle and over all how we engage with others. When you truly practice yoga, the 8 limbs of yoga teach you to be present to self, others, world.
Yoga Philosophy - 8 Limbs of Yoga
Yama's - Self Restraint's
The Yama's translate as restraints, pro social behavior. How we show up and connect with others, how we interact in social settings, do we show empathy, do we co-regulate or dis-regulate.
Niama's - Religious observances.
- Saucha Cleanliness.
- Santosha Contentment.
- Tapas Self Discipline.
- Svadhyaya Self Study.
- Isvara-pranidhana Surrender.
Asnasa - Postures, the physical practice, movement.
Prana - breath
Pratyahara - senses, as you move you focus on the sensation of the movement with the breath.
Dharma - Concentration
Dhyana - meditation
Samadhi - bliss
Event descriptions: Moon Meditaitons - Card readings - Blogs
Animal Spirit Card Reading
Have you ever had an animal show up that was out of the normal flow of your daily doings? Or have you had an animal appear in your dreams. Animals provide information for us, they appear as spirit guides. Through Animal Card Reading you can get in touch with your inner world, gaining guidance in life situations. There is much to be learned from the animal world as they provide guidance.
A Guided meditation will be created with your animal card, many times in meditation a second animal may appear with a message.
Align with your feminine during the Dark Moon
Upcoming Event: November 15 - pm Location this month:
As Grandmother moon begins to cover her face and gently withdraw to a quieter place. I invite you to come to this quiet place within, a time that has more to do with being than doing. Honoring this time in the cycle of the dark moon to meditate, to be receptive, to bring forth creative ideas, opening yourself to dreams and visions.
2020 is the year to attune with nature and yourself. Coming into alignment within, "as above is below".
Each ceremony will have an intention, meditation, song, prayer, drumming.
History of Moon cycles of the feminine
In the beginning the world was created in cycles of time, days, nights, moons, seasons. Farmers planted seeds at specific times to harvest what was needed to sustain life. In the business world we find cycles run on a fiscal year, which does not always match with the calendar year, monthly accounting cycles can be cut off before the 30 day lending themselves more to 28 day cycles. The cycles of the feminine are no different and should not be overlooked. This is a time to allow ideas from dreams and visions in meditation to come forth. As stated from Brooke's book, Native American women of ancient times has "visions of giant silver birds flying and of great spider webs covering the land". The interpretations of these are planes and power lines. "White Buffalo Woman Comes Singing".
Not to be excluded, Grandmothers or moon pause women are wise in experience and provide support and guidance to younger women.