Photo by Brooke Ziegler

Connecting to Health through Time Outdoors

In many ways, getting out of the studio and into nature during the Covid-19 pandemic have unintentionally deepened our yoga practice, our connections to each other, and our connections to the earth. As a naturopathic doctor, there a number of benefits I see that relate to spending more time outdoors in nature.

Moving beyond Walls

Without our usual cozy yoga studios to house our mindfulness practices, we have moved outside and connected to each other (our quarantine crew or our family) and to the earth by finding creative ways to practice yoga and meditation. No doubt we all had our share of Zoom classes and YouTube “stress reduction meditation” during our multiple lock downs. But as our need to heal our eyes from screens, our minds from worry, and our bodies from staying inside constantly, we are being drawn to nature.

Om Outside The Home

Families living under one roof have at times in the past 12 months felt like guinea pigs in a lab. People have been moving within a confined space for much longer than usual, with rules about when and how to leave if at all.

Through our resiliency we have found unique ways to play, to learn, and to work. In doing so, we have deepened our family roots. Yet when we safely emerge to a spot on the beach or travel to a desert to be together without masks, we unexpectedly feel like we have returned home. We have returned home to ourselves. We have been moved to practice in nature and in doing so reconnected to the earth and to our families.

“Pandemic-related stress has made girls in our Girl Powerful program feel confined to their rooms and lonely. What the girls can control in their lives and what they can do to feel good (mind, body, soul) has been our most frequent conversation. We encourage girls to take action and create a safe space outdoors to unplug and connect with nature. This helps youth think clearly, feel free and alive and hit their inner reset button.”  –Sonya Serge, Co-founder of Girl Powerful

Photo by Brooke Ziegler

Vitamin Sea and Theta Therapy

Being near the ocean and other large bodies of water can actually have a medical effect–and science explains some of the reasons why. According to marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols, author of the Blue Mind, just being near the water engages relaxation. Research backs this up by showing that being near the water reduces levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. And we experience an increase in Theta waves in our brains (which also occurs during meditation or falling asleep). Our nervous systems lean more toward a parasympathetic state (rest and digest) instead of the sympathetic state that has become the “new normal” in today’s world. (In the sympathetic nervous system state, the body shuts down or slows proper digestion, while our pulse, blood pressure, and cortisol levels all rise since the body thinks we are running from a bear…or a virus).

Negative ions flow from the ocean to our bare feet and into our lungs, circulating in our blood and gently reminding our brain and our gastrointestinal tract to increase serotonin production. Serotonin strengthens our motivation and improves our mood.

Vitamin D and Time Outdoors

Most of us have required supplementation with this crucial vitamin (it is actually a hormone). We need our Vitamin D levels to be high enough to support bone density, mood regulation, and hormone health. When we spend daily time outside without sunscreen (while avoiding the damaging midday UV rays) for about 15 minutes, the sunlight helps us to absorb Vitamin D through our skin. For supplementation, keep in mind that Vitamin D must travel through the liver and kidney to be activated, so it is important to do what we can to maintain organ health.

Hydrotherapy: Heat and Cold

Switching between warm/hot and extreme cold water as a formal therapy has a long history of use, thousands of years in fact, throughout the world. It arrived in the United States in the late 1800s. Hydrotherapy is used to reduce pain and anxiety. It can reset the mind, metabolism, and nervous system. The practice is to go from warmth to cold quickly (and always ending on cold). The alternation in temperature reduces inflammation and supports detoxification by changing flow of blood in the body’s small vessels. It also stimulates nerve endings. As Wim Hof, also known as the Iceman explains, “We have become alienated from nature. But the cold is capable of bringing us back to what we once had lost.”

Earthing and Time Outdoors

By practicing yoga directly connected to nature instead of through a studio floor allows us to experience another layer of healing and connection. Feeling the sand or dirt under our feet brings us a sense of deep grounding and connection. Moving and balancing on the uneven natural floor of nature challenges us to stay present and movable in our flow. From the book, Earthing, The Most Important Health Discovery Ever! Ober, Sinatra, and Zucker explain, “ Contact with the earth restores your body’s natural electrical state.”

Mother Nature inspires and informs the practice of Yoga. We bow to the luminaries, we fill our lungs with oxygen, and we connect to the earth. In this way we remember that we are not separate from nature, we are very much a part of her.
– Desi Bartlett

Photo by Brooke Ziegler

Imitating Nature

We all need to let go, laugh, and have a bit of fun with our yoga practice. Try creating new postures inspired by nature and animals. Can you make the shape of a wave, a cactus, or a mouse? Teaching each other, getting creative, and playing is good for our mental health. In fact, research strongly shows a correlation between laughter and increased dopamine levels.

May we remember the depth and creativity we have found by practicing in nature so that we can come to the earth more often and know that she supports us. Grab your round mat or just your bare feet and reconnect to yourself and heal by spending time outdoors and practicing outside in nature.

Natiya Guin

Dr. Natiya Guin is a family medicine doctor and safe skin leader who enjoys healing skin from within, increasing client self-confidence, and magnifying whole person health outcomes. Deep Living Skincare by Dr. Natiya

Her vegan, organic line by Deep Living is founded on the belief that skincare should not only be healing, it should be safe. Her products are designed for all ages and are designed to be shared with the whole family.

Photos in article and meditation by Dr. Natiya Guin

Testimony about the author:
Dr Natiya is an amazing naturopathic doctor, who will guide and nurture you in discovering health, expressing your creativity and support you in seeing your magnificence. -Dr. Moira Fitzpatrick

www.natiya.com

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Mandy Ingber knows something about the experiences that break our hearts, how to find the inner strength that allows us to straddle the chasm of our challenges, and how to move in order to heal the body, the mind, and the emotions.

These are lessons she learned the hard way over a lifetime. Throughout much of her life, yoga has played a role in both the heartbreak and the healing. She says that yoga represented the breakdown of her family. It’s a story she tells in her latest book Yogalosophy for Inner Strength.

Sometimes our heartache can span generations; this is certainly the case for Mandy. Her grandparents were Holocaust survivors whose parents and siblings were lost in the war. Mandy’s mother Chava Luba was born into a displaced children’s camp in Germany, and after emigrating to America, endured all the intricacies of a non-native speaker. Mandy’s father Lloyd was a renowned lawyer, whose interpersonal relationships were challenging and complex. As early as age 29, Lloyd’s back would go out, forcing him to lie still for a month at a time. At the urging of his friend and gym buddy Dirk Benedict (of Battlestar Galatica fame), Lloyd engaged in a disciplined Iyengar yoga practice, started cycling, and ate only macrobiotic food (prepared by Mandy’s mother).

Mandy recalls, “For me, my dad was sorta self-obsessed. I was always looking for ways to connect with him.  So, that’s how my practice started. I would practice on my own from the B.K.S.Iyengar Light on Yoga book from the time I was a kid.”

Lloyd’s fellow students included yogis like Erich Schiffmann, Ganga White, and Chuck and Maty Ezraty. He enrolled in teacher trainings, and the family had a yoga teacher, Keshava, throughout the 1970s. Mandy’s practice progressed privately with Keshava. The 80s brought her devotion to the gym, aerobics, and yoga. The first public class she enrolled in was around age 16 with the late Urban Yoga Institute co-owner Billy Porter. Soon thereafter, she continued classes with teachers including Alan Finger, Chad Hamrin, Baron Baptiste, and Bryan Kest. “I like the group energy of a class,” explains Mandy, “I love the feeling of being in a room full of people who are collectively bringing an energy. You might not even connect with a person, but you’re all breathing in and out with each other, so you become this one entity.”

During her parents’ tumultuous divorce, Mandy sought shelter in the safety of physical activity and the pursuit of a career on stage and screen. She starred in the original Broadway cast of Brighton Beach Memoirs, as Carla’s daughter-in-law on the long-running TV show Cheers, and sang the now infamous rap in the cult classic movie Teen Witch. When her friend and colleague (My Sister Sam star) Rebecca Schaeffer was brutally murdered by a stalker, Mandy’s relationship to the spotlight shifted. She jokes that she became her own sugar daddy, using the savings she accrued as an actress to change her life. “I learned a lot about trusting and not looking outside for approval, about finding my own inner strength essentially. That’s when I started teaching.” Mandy’s passion for both spinning and yoga inspired her to teach both disciplines. As she describes her spin classes, “I became a kind of motivational speaker on a bike.”

Mandy Ingber’s clients are “drawn to her honesty, encouragement, wisdom, and humor.”

Participants were drawn to her honesty, encouragement, wisdom, and humor. Not surprisingly, she acted as a spinning shepherd to seekers during turbulent times. “Many people, both celebrities and the average person, have come to my class during times of transition: break-ups, people that are going through radiation for cancer, divorces, moving, job changes. While I was teaching group classes, around me the whole music industry changed, the financial industry changed. People were going through transitions.”

The most famous transition was when Mandy publicly served as private confidante to Jennifer Aniston during one of the most sensationalized break-ups in pop culture history. The rest of her celebrity client roster rivals the Oscar nominee list and includes Aniston, as well as Jennifer Lawrence, Helen Hunt, Kate Beckinsale, and Brooke Shields.

Throughout her teaching, she says, “I just started writing down the things I was using.” That writing resulted in Mandy’s first book, New York Times bestseller Yogalosophy and her latest, Yogalosophy; 12 weeks to heal your heart and embrace joy. It is a workbook to guide readers through change and transition. Mandy says, “Yoga is not just about asana and the practice; it’s about bringing it into our full selves.” In her books, Mandy discusses the transformational potential found while moving the body in asana, and she also includes practices such as journaling, listening to inspirational and uplifting music, and choosing supportive and nourishing food. She shares her own journey in the pages, as she does when she teaches groups and individuals. Mandy says, “I’ve learned that sharing myself, my healing process, and my pain is helpful to people, and so I encourage others to share too.”

When asked about her non-negotiable practice, Mandy quickly mentions meditation. She reflects, “I can’t just isolate it to when I’m by myself, sitting in the perfect position, the incense is going, and the Guru Gita is on in the background. Everything in my life is a meditation. It’s like a muscle, it’s like going to the gym. When you go to the gym, you lift the weights everyday, you get stronger. It’s the same with sitting. Then that muscle becomes stronger and stronger, and then everything we do—even in this moment—there’s a meditation occurring. This is the integration of the practice that truly allows us to heal our heart. In every moment, even this moment.”

Learn more about Mandy and Yogalosophy at: mandyingber.com (Instagram @MandyIngber Twitter @msmandyingber)

Jeff Skeirik is a Los Angeles-based photographer: rawtographer.com

Hair and makeup by Jeannie Jeffries using Kevin Aucoin Cosmetics and Schwarzkopf Professional Hair: jeanniejeffries.com 

Amy V Dewhurst

To Check Out Amy’s Work Go To; Sense + Color, You Can Reach Her At IG:  Amy_V_Dewhurst  + AmyVDewhurst@SenseAndColor.co #PutYourGoodWhereItWillDoTheMost

www.senseandcolor.co

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Self-care may sound indulgent, but the fact is that it’s never been more important than it is today. So much of our physical state is a result of the stress and tension we carry around on a day-to-day basis. When we’re stressed, we store up toxins and our energy (or chi, an Eastern concept that translates to life force) gets blocked. Obtaining true well-being involves working with the body as a whole, three-dimensionally, from top to bottom and from the inside out. The foam roller is good for so much more than aiding in physical therapy or working out knots and tightness. When used regularly and correctly, it can be utterly transformative and unbelievably healing. The roller is the best tool that allows you to independently remove the stored-up density and toxins in the tissues—and specifically the fascia—while simultaneously hydrating the tissue with oxygenated blood and fluid. The end result is healthy, malleable tissue.

Snow Angels

1 Lie on the roller with your spine supported from head to tailbone.

2 Begin with your arms extended down by your sides, with the palms of your hands facing up to open and expand the chest.

3 Inhale deeply as you reach your arms up overhead slowly and with control, keeping them as close to the mat as possible and parallel to the floor.

4 Exhale completely as you draw your arms back down to your sides.

5 Repeat eight times.

Slinky Spine

1 Inhale as you reach your arms up.

2 Exhale as you round your spine down to roll into a forward fold position that looks like an upside down letter U. Be sure to soften your knees to help gently open the lower back. 

3 Inhale as you ground down through your feet, spread your toes, soften your knees, and use your core and strong legs to roll up, reaching your arms upward to stand. 

4 Repeat four times.

Toe Tendon Joint Mobilization

1 Come down to a deep squat position, checking to see how low your heels can go to the ground. Shift the roller under your mid-upper shins and keep your toes curled forward so your feet are really stretched out. Bend your elbows and place your hands shoulder-width apart on the mat. Keep your shoulders drawn down for the duration of the exercise.

2 Use your feet to roll forward and back, stretching you feet and rolling your shins.

3 Repeat eight times.

Calf Roll with Ankles Crossed

1 Sit on the mat with the roller placed under your calves, right below the knee (but take care to stay off the back of the knee). 

2 Cross your left calf over your right calf on the roller. 

3 Place your hands on the ground a few inches out on either side of your hips, fingers pointing outward. 

4 Press down into your hands to lift your bottom off the mat, keeping your calves balanced on the roller. 

5 Continue pressing your hands down behind you and engage your core to drive your body weight forward and back, moving the roller slowly up and down the calf, from right below the knee to that area right above the ankle. 

6 Repeat movement eight to ten times, then switch calves, put your left calf down on the roller and cross your right over top. Repeat movement eight to ten times on this side.

Back of thigh roll

1 Sit on your mat with the roller under your hamstrings. Place your hands on the mat behind you, with fingertips pointing in toward your body.

2 Press your hands on to the mat to lift your bottom off the floor. 

3 Continue pressing your hands on to the mat and engage your core to rock yourself forward, exhaling as you move the roller from the sitz bones to just above the knees. 

4 Inhale as you draw the roller back, pushing it to your sitz bones. 

5 Repeat eight to 10 times. 

Inverted Tush Roll

1 Lay down on the mat with your knees bent and feet hip-width distance apart.

2 Lift your hips up off the mat and slide the roller under your hips/sacrum (the triangular bone at the base of your spine), just above the tailbone. Lift your knees up so they are hovering directly over your hips. 

3 Inhale as your release your knees over to the right. 

4 Exhale as you release your knees to the left.

5 Repeat eight times on each side. 

Diaphragm Release

1 Place the roller underneath the bottom of your shoulder blades (at the bra line, for the ladies). Gently interlace your fingers and bring your hands behind your head to support your neck. Place your feet on the ground, parallel and hip-width distance apart. 

2 Inhale as you arch your thoracic (or mid- to upper-back) over the roller. 

3 Exhale as you curl back up as if you were doing a crunch, squeezing all the air out of your stomach. 

4 Repeat eight to ten times.

Front of the Thigh Roll

1 Lie down with your belly facing the mat, elbows placed directly under your shoulders, palms facedown. Keeping your legs straight, place the roller just above the front of your knees.

2 Engage your core to prop yourself up and protect your low back. Ground down through your forearms and bend your knees to lengthen the thigh muscles, thus breaking down the thickness and density around the thighs and increasing circulation.

3 Using your arms and core, exhale as you roll the roller up the front of your thighs to your hipbones.

4 Inhale as you press the roller down to just above the front of your knees. 

5 Repeat eight to 10 times.

Lauren Roxburgh is wearing clothing by Under Armour: underarmour.com

LoRox Aligned Roller: laurenroxburgh.com

Yoga mat by Yoga Rat: yogarat.com

Staff Writer Lakshmi

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If there is one thing Angelenos are always in hot pursuit of, it’s a creative workout. For those who may have tired from endless crunches and arm curls, aerial performer and celebrity trainer Jill Franklin offers an exciting alternative fitness center. Her studio is Aerial Physique. Originally located in Santa Monica, Aerial Physique has moved to an expansive 10,000 square foot space in the LAX area (with free parking). The new location features classes that combine aerial work infused with Pilates and ballet concepts.

The result is a fun way to strengthen upper body and core muscles, while experiencing the rush of a circus performer. Much like inversions in yoga, aerialists reap many benefits of being upside down — increased blood circulation and decompression of the spine. Aerial students also gain quick flexibility and experience better posture. Jill cherishes the inner benefits of her clients just as much as the physical ones. “I love watching the transformation in people during the class,” she says. “They come in timidly and aren’t sure what to expect. Within an hour, I see their faces light up, their fears have been conquered!”

Aerial Physique offers beginning, intermediate, and advanced Silk classes, as well as Aerial Lyra (hoop), private sessions, teacher trainings, and programs for kids and teens. A special introductory class can be booked online for just $30 by visiting aerialphysique.com.

The studio’s website also features an opportunity to order Jill’s book A Beginner’s Guide to Aerial Silk, and the option to subscribe to video tutorials, in order to become more familiar with the practice. Teacher training begins in January 2016.

Aerial Physique Los Angeles

8717 Aviation Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90301

Studio photos by TC Franklin Photography

tcfranklinphotography.com

Kiara Kinghorn

Kiara Kinghorn is a cardio-dance enthusiast, writer and editor for LA Yoga Magazine, and manager at The BOD by Kym.

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Photos by David Young-Wolff 

Practicing Gyrotonic® and Gyrokinesis® have decompressed my joints and given me a deep core connectivity, providing me with more range of motion and joint stability. These remarkable techniques make every other physical activity that I do easier, including my yoga practice.

As I child, I used to challenge myself on the trampoline for hours, repeating acrobatic moves like split jumps, and back and front flips, and even challenging myself (and succeeding!) to execute 500 flips in a row. Discovering the capabilities of my body has driven my joy for movement, performance, and now teaching.

My formal training began at age nine in Coral Springs, Florida, inspired by watching a classmate’s back handsprings across the school yard. I studied acrobatics, tap, jazz, and ballet, which I particularly fell in love with due to the amazing Cuban ballet instructor Alina Guerrero. This led to my ongoing study of ballet, including summer training at the prestigious School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center in NYC, the Boston Ballet, the Harid Conservatory, and the USC Summer Dance Conservatory.

I was introduced to Gyrokinesis® twelve years ago while attending the University of South Carolina, by my modern dance professor and Gyrotonic® master teacher trainer, Miriam Barbosa. She incorporated it into class warm-ups and my body felt more connected and aligned than I had ever experienced. My joints felt more stable, my extensions came with more ease (as a result of improvements in range of motion), and my balance was much better.

The more I practiced Gyrokinesis® the more my body transformed. My flexibility improved, my muscles lengthened, and I was able to keep my hips from clicking and popping for the first time due to the newfound stability that was forming around my joints. What more could a dancer ask for? I became certified to teach Gyrokinesis®, so that I could consistently cross-train my body using it.

Gyrokinesis® is a floor work conditioning method involving fluid spherical movements that are designed to simultaneously stretch and strengthen the body without using any outside weight resistance. A Gyrokinesis® class is taught to a group by a certified instructor; the equipment is a Gyrokinesis® stool and mat. Within each class the instructor faces the students and leads them to mirror his/her movements. Classes consist of the trainer giving the students verbal cues to guide them through movements and stretches.

 A few months after earning my certification in Gyrokinesis®, I experienced Gyrotonic®. Because Gyrokinesis® was the foundation for Gyrotonic® both of these systems of movement use much of the same vocabulary, and share a conceptual and philosophical framework.  Gyrotonic® is a system of movement that systematically stretches and strengthens the body using a specifically designed apparatus. A Gyrotonic® session is most often taught one-on-one but can also be offered in group classes. The instructor demonstrates the movements and breathing and then offers hands-on and verbal corrections. In both Gyrotonic® and Gyrokinesis® (known as the Gyrotonic Expansion System®), students performs spine, hip, and shoulder mobilization exercises that balance strength and flexibility and restore the body to its ideal alignment.

The Gyrotonic Expansion System®

The Gyrotonic Expansion System® was conceptualized and put into practice by Juliu Horvath, a Hungarian who was born in Romania in 1942. Horvath pursued a career as a ballet dancer and performed with the Romanian State Opera, New York City Opera, Houston Ballet, and at Radio City Music Hall. While dancing with Houston Ballet in 1976, Horvath’s career came to a halt when he ruptured his Achilles tendon. Horvath applied his knowledge of Kundalini yoga and meditation practices along with other movement techniques to develop his own core-based movement system to heal and repair his body.

Horvath began teaching his method in New York in Central Park and later to dancers at Steps on Broadway, a renowned New York dance studio. Once he established a following, he opened White Cloud Studio in New York City in 1984. According to his assistant Gina Muenstenkotter, at this time, Horvath began developing his first apparatus in a dressing room in the White Cloud Studio. Since the 1980s, it has been utilized by athletes, pre-professional and professional dancers, and others who wish to improve their health and/or rehabilitate from injuries.

Because Horvath had a background in gymnastics, swimming, ballet, Tai Chi, Pilates, and yoga, the Gyrotonic Expansion System® reflects many of the movements used in those disciplines. Gyrotonic® trains the body in fluid, expansive movements and connects and coordinates everything with an internal abdominal lift. The combination of this lift with contrasting movement encourages decompression of the joints and spine; this can provide pain relief in the joints and improve agility. The continuous spiraling and twisting movements massage the muscles surrounding the joints and give the limbs more breath and space to move freely. 

The Spinal Motions of Gyrotonic®  and Gyrokinesis®

The basic spinal motions of Gyrotonic®  and Gyrokinesis® can be done anywhere. They are the foundation of everything movement-based (arch and curl, twisting, side arching, and wave). When working with the equipment, I feel as though I am moving through water while the resistance from the pulley tower allows me to feel weightless. The traction provided by the system of pulleys contrasted with an internal lift of the core musculature, (particularly of the bandhas, or internal locks) gives the limbs a sense of weightlessness.

If I don’t have access to the equipment or if I am warming up without it, I practice a Gyrokinesis® sequence to harness my body’s internal connectivity. I create the push-and-pull contrast that the equipment trains me for by using the friction of my hands and feet against surfaces (such as the floor, a mat, the wall, or a stool), to facilitate traction in my joints. I frequently give these sequences and instructions to my clients as homework. 

Neutral Stasis and Perfect Alignment

In order to experience what is known as neutral stasis—the position where your joints are in the perfect alignment for your unique structure, moving the entire body is necessary. The Gyrotonic Expansion System® does this by exercising the front, back, inner, and outer sides of the body in a balanced way so your spine and joints can freely move with both optimal range of motion and joint stabilization. Every day, the body’s alignment shifts and the changes may be subtle so a watchful eye is helpful to shape the body into its ideal alignment and access the greatest strength and flexibility. I love being that watchful eye. Recently, my husband started teaching Gyrotonic, and it has been fun to teach alongside my best friend.

I have used this system to help a child with cerebral palsy decompress her spine, open her shoulders and hips and improve once-weak joints to give her much needed relief. I have seen the reduction of chronic pain in numerous people, and have observed young movement prodigies become strong and stable acrobats. Diligent practice can restore youth and vigor and provide a sense of ease in the body. After a Gyrotonic® class, people feel taller, more supported in their joints, and as though they’ve experienced both a massage and a workout in one hour. A regular practice provides mind-body connectivity, breath-movement coordination, decompressed joints, excellent posture, lengthened musculature, and improved agility.

The Gyrotonic Expansion System®  is unparalleled for helping people with injuries and chronic pain and serves as best cross-training for those who want to take their athleticism to new heights. A regular practice of Gyrotonic® can take an ordinary dancer or athlete and help them become extraordinary. 

Rosemary Jeanne Carnes Meslter

Rosemary (Rosey) Mestler earned a BA in dance from USC and an MFA from the University of California, Irvine. Her thesis research examined how Gyrotonic® affects the mobility and stability of the hip joint of advanced ballet students. Rosey performed as soloist with the SC Contemporary Dance Company under the directorship of Miriam Barbosa. She became the South Carolina USA Yoga Asana Champion and competed at the USA Yoga Asana National Championship. Rosey is a certified Gyrotonic® Pre-Trainer and Gyrokinesis® instructor and has been instructing since 2003. She co-owned Gyrotonic® Columbia with Miriam Barbosa and currently owns Gyrotonic® Marina del Rey. Rosey is passionate about movement and teaching and thrives on helping clients feel great. GyrotonicMarinaDelRey.com 310-910-7515

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Walking is more my speed, though every time I take an indoor cycling class I emerge feeling victorious, wondering when I will make it my regular beat. Such was my experience after a 45-minute class at SoulCycle’s newest location in Hollywood.

On Hollywood Boulevard, by the Hollywood Walk of Fame, there’s a new apartment block called Eastown LA whose ground level is an ode to wellness. Here you’ll find a juice bar, gourmet salad chop shop, bootcamp studio, and SoulCycle. Opened in April 2015, the Hollywood outpost is the brand’s largest in LA and is already as busy as any of its other six studios dotted between Malibu and Pasadena. At 8:30 am on Saturday, nearly all of the 65 seats were filled by a surprisingly upbeat crowd of guys and gals. Led by the super-fit Pixie, our class cycled to a killer playlist, moving the upper body to core-focused choreography and hand weights. Progressively amping up the resistance, we broke a good sweat. I made ample use of all water breaks.

Was my soul uplifted? Yes. Was the class tough? Definitely, but it felt less intense thanks to the dimly-lit studio and music that kept me in the zone. In addition, Pixie’s motivational coaching was subtle enough to help me find strength in the struggle. “LA, get out of your own way,” she exclaimed at one point, helping me pick up the pace. As for everyone else? All I can say is this: LA, you’re one fit bunch of people!

SoulCycle Hollywood

6201 Hollywood Boulevard, LA, 90028, 323-462-7685, soul-cycle.com

Marina Chetner is an Australian freelance writer based in Los Angeles.

Marina Chetner

Marina Chetner is a Los Angeles-based Australian freelance writer.

The post SoulCycle Hollywood appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

The female body is miraculous and ever-changing. The pre-pregnancy body is often the body that we are attached to; we have that body for many years and it feels comfortable and familiar. The pregnant body is a wild and wonderful adventure into daily changes of shape, size, and weight distribution. The post-baby body is not the same as the pre-pregnancy body; people may assume that this means that the new body is heavier or carries extra inches around the waist. In fact, the opposite can be true; the post-baby body can be stronger and leaner. How is this possible? In a word… Postpartum Pilates.

Pilates helps us to love our bodies, because there is both the feeling of a return to center, as we connect to our “powerhouse,” as well as the aesthetic benefit of having a longer, leaner torso. We look stronger, because we are stronger. The powerhouse muscles are the source of this strength. Powerhouse refers to your abdominal muscles, pelvic floor muscles, lower back, and gluteal muscles. In order to activate these muscles correctly, it is important to be mindful of our movements, and focus on the details that help the body train effectively and efficiently.

Two fantastic movements for focusing on your powerhouse after baby are bridge, and double knee lift. It is not necessary to enjoy these movements with your baby, but it is a lot of fun.

photos by Victoria Davis

Bridge

Bridge is a great exercise for gaining strength in your lower body, specifically in your gluteal muscles. Begin with your feet hips width apart, and a neutral pelvis (not tucked). If you are working with baby, place your baby on your lap and hold baby steady with your hands. If your baby does not yet have neck control, it is fine for baby to lie on your chest. Slowly lift your hips to the sky. At the very top of the movement, feel the gluteal muscles contract, and hold for five seconds. Slowly lower your hips, controlling the speed of the descent. Work towards three sets of 15. If you would like to sing “London Bridge,” to your baby during the exercise, it can lead to some really great belly laughs.

Double Knee Lift

The double knee lift can increase the strength of your lower abdomen. Begin lying down on your back with a neutral pelvis. If you are enjoying the movement with your baby, it is often easier to start the exercise sitting up so that you can help place the baby on your shins. Either way, you will begin the movement lying down with both knees bent in towards your chest at a slight angle (as shown). It is normal for the ribs to flare out a little after pregnancy, so think about grounding your ribcage at your bra line. Begin to lift your legs up towards 90 degrees (until the feet are parallel with the floor) and contract your abdominal muscles as you do. Traditionally this is done with the hands behind the head and the upper body lifted to engage the upper portion of the abdominal wall also. This variation is a gentle way to ease back into core work after baby.

Desi Bartlett

Desi Bartlett MS, CPT, has been teaching health and wellness for more than 20 years. Originally from Chicago, she has a degree in kinesiology and her master’s degree in corporate fitness. Desi holds advanced certifications in Yoga, personal training, group fitness, and is a certified pre- and post-natal fitness specialist.

desibartlett.com

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Much like yoga, Pilates is a practice that over the course of years of study can help you connect on a deeper levels to your body through movement.  The two disciplines can work together well for this reason.  Even though the two practices share some common foundations, there are differences in the use of the body and equipment.  Since they are complimentary, some targeted Pilates mat exercises can help enhance a student’s ability to engage in some of the more challenging yoga poses by building strength and increasing body awareness.

Try this foundational Pilates techniques to support yoga practice through cross-training different muscles groups and attentional mechanisms.

Also read Kara Wily’s sequence with suggestions for Pilates for snowboarders.

SPINE STRETCH

This exercise involved sitting with the legs in front of you and rolling the spine down and then back up one vertebra at a time.  This serves as a counter stretch to the way most yoga positions ask you to use your spine.  Instead of straightening the spine, this Pilates position curves the spine to stretch and open, while engaging the abdominal muscles.  The arms are held alongside the body with the shoulder blades pulled down as though you are sliding them toward your back pockets.

With each repetition, sit taller and lengthen the spine.  On on the roll, the fingertips and heels are reaching in opposition to the abdomen on the roll and the head, neck and spine stretch tall in opposition to the legs pressing down into the mat while sitting up.

This position is a cornerstone of much of the Pilates work and can help you with yoga poses including uttanasana (standing forward fold) and downward facing dog.  Because of its strong use of planting the hips to the mat and drawing the abdomen back, this exercise can assist when doing a similar action, but against gravity, in the yoga asanas.

Directions

Photo of Kara Wily by Liz Carney

Extend your legs in front of you, slightly wider than the shoulders.  Keep the feet relaxed if you are strong and tight.  Flex the feet if you are building strength in the legs.  Sit tall with the hands extended in the air in front of the shoulders.  Inhale to stretch tall pulling the abdomen into the spine.  Engage the glutes and press the legs down into the floor.  

Photo of Kara Wily by Liz Carney

Exhale to roll the spine down to to the mat one vertebra at a time so you end up with your back in contact with the mat.

Photo of Kara Wily by Liz Carney

Inhale to roll up, stacking the vertebrae of the spine one on top of the other. 

Photo of Kara Wily by Liz Carney

Repeat five times.

Kara Wily

Kara Wily is a Pilates teacher at Hummingbird Pilates in Beverly Hills (hummingbirdpilates.com).  She is also a contributor to pilatesology.com and PilatesAnytimes.com.

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There was a time when the hula hoop was simply a plastic toy. For decades, since its invention in 1958, the large twirling ring-around-the-waist was a fun, simple, and carefree activity; a hobby kids could revel in and adults could laugh about. In recent years, however, hooping has blossomed into something much more powerful. It has become a form of meditation—a spiritual practice—one that empowers, heals, saves lives, creates peace, and cultivates mental and physical balance in its practitioners.

The Hooping Life, a documentary by filmmaker Amy Goldstein and produced by Anouchka Van Riel, examines the impact this playful fitness device has had on culture and society. With the keen eye of an anthropologist, Goldstein dives deep into the lives of eight hoopers and over the course of nearly 10 years, documents their paths and careers. We learn that hoops are not simply toys, but effective tools to look inward and heal. Anah, aka “Hoopalicious,” is a young woman who is a significant pioneer in the modern hooping movement in California. Goldstein introduces Anah’s narrative as a way to connect the hoop to universal concepts we can each connect with. We all love, hurt, yearn, and chase our dreams. As Anah’s story unfolds, it is revealed that she has led a life filled with trials and tribulations. She is a woman who has walked right up to the edge of death and was ultimately saved by the hula hoop. Goldstein does a compelling and respectful job of exploring Anah’s struggles on her road to success.

When Goldstein met Anah through mutual friends, she knew she had stumbled upon someone special: an innovator. In Anah, Goldstein also found a worthy and willing collaborator,who pointed her toward seven more extraordinary individuals of the hoop movement: Baxter, a formerly-suicidal young man, who hooped himself out of depression; Christable, an academic in deep debt who becomes Anah’s business partner; Jeffrey, an at-risk teen orphan from South Central Los Angeles, who turns to hooping—with the help of his hooping mentor Tisha—as a way to stay out of trouble and away from gang life; Karis, a skilled hoop dancer, who loves to play with gender identities during his soulfully dazzling performances; and Sass, a South African actress on a quest to heal her emotional wounds after having been brutally raped in her home country. 

The Hooping Life provides an irresistible glimpse into the lives of these eight trailblazers. Observing the anatomy of a subculture that has not yet been documented in this way, one can’t help but notice many similarities to the practice of yoga. Rushing up and down the torso and limbs, the hoop energizes the chakra centers the way yoga asana practice can also do. The discipline calls for focus on the present moment. Hooping demands that the practitioner let go and move in a way that aligns the internal and external worlds. Hooping requires us to surrender to the natural cycles of beginning and end, birth and completion. There’s a finite number of rotations a hoop will make.—and that’s okay, because once the hoop falls, it only asks to be picked up again to continue its dance.

For more information on The Hooping Life, visit: thehoopinglife.com

By Nadine Truong, an LA-based filmmaker, Ashtanga enthusiast, and Vinyasa/Power Flow Yoga teacher.

Nadine Truong

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Summer is A Season When We Do Well by Paying Attention to Staying Cool

The energy of the pitta dosha, according to Ayurveda, embodies qualities similar to fire. For any of us with a dominant amount of pitta in our constitution, researching decisions and operating in a way that maximizes efficiency and logistics are natural; we love reading consumer reviews. We want to know why, and spend a lot of time examining the why because we believe that it helps us find solutions or fine-tune our approach in the future. We are the pattern-finders of the universe. We also need suggestions for staying cool.

The sharp quality of fire can also mean that we can be short, blunt, and a bit insensitive when our fires are flared. In particular, pitta excess often manifests as an intolerance–especially to ignorance, hypocrisy, injustice, and people not doing anything to solve their problems (and still complaining about them).

Other mental, physical, and/or spiritual signs of pitta imbalance that I often see this time of year include the following:

• irritability
• intensity
• over-analysis
• more criticism, especially of self
• impatience
• short temper
• focus on problems and areas of improvement instead of appreciating what is good
• overworking or burning the candle at both ends
• to-do list mania
• feeling hot
• flushed face, ears, chest
• increased appetite
• loose stools and more frequent bowel movements
• yellow/green coat on tongue
• mouth sores
• inflammatory muscles and joints
• headaches (usually behind the eyes or accompanied by light sensitivity)
• rash or skin irritation
• gout
• pervading dissatisfaction (nothing is good enough)

Finding Balance

How do you bring pitta back into balance? Well, it’s about decreasing intensity, activity, and heat in all areas of your life. This includes diet, work, relationships, exercise, or routine while increasing cooling, calming, stillness, sweetness, and appreciation/joy in every way possible.

Try these five suggestions in a consistent approach over two weeks to feel yourself cool off:

5 Tips for Staying Cool in Summer

1. Reduce spicy-hot food.

This includes garlic and ginger. Tapatio, Tabasco, jalapeños, cayenne, and even garam masala and mustard seeds are all examples of heating spices. Favor cooling spices such as dill, fennel, coriander, and mint.

2. Avoid spicy people.

As pitta rises, the increase in those experiencing pitta imbalances means that there can be an abundance of criticism and confrontation. Create safe boundaries from those in your life that bring in pitta energy in this way. We don’t want to run away from issues; rather we want to balance our own energy so we can approach others in a loving, compassionate, and less aggressive manner. Surrounding ourselves with compassionate and supportive people is great this time of year, as are keeping interactions light.

3. Check your alcohol consumption.

While alcohol is a common component of summer celebrations, it is fiery (there’s a reason why it’s called firewater). Sweet wines or malted beers are the least aggravating to the pitta dosha. (For more information on alcohol and doshic energetics, visit: svasthahealth.com/living-ayurveda/doshas-in-alcohol.)

4. Get in water.

I mean immerse yourself in water as well as get water in yourself. Being in the ocean and pools is a perfect way to find balance in the heat of the summer. Staying hydrated (especially with some cooling cucumber, lemon, rosewater, or spearmint in your water) is an effective approach for cooling pitta. In addition, plentiful water intake helps to flush out toxins and inflammatory messengers in the blood. This can lead to a reduction in symptoms such as acne, skin irritation, and joint inflammation. Urine is a good indication of proper fluid intake: if your body is hydrated enough, your urine should be clear.

5. Decrease the intensity.

Create bubbles in your life devoted more to being than doing. This is why vacations are seasonally appropriate: they help to balance pitta’s intensity. Sleeping in, curling up with some engaging fiction, or spending a day at the beach without Internet are all simple ways to “chill out.”

Dr. Siva Mohan

Dr. Siva Mohan integrates Ayurveda with modern medicine in her Ayurvedic wellness practice and educational programs to define and achieve whole-being wellness. Dr. Mohan specializes in addressing the psychospiritual basis of healing. svasthahealth.com.

www.svasthahealth.com

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As we enter the cold and flu season, it is necessary for us to take steps to boost our immunity.

What do we do if we come down with a runny nose, body aches, sore throats, fever or a heavy feeling in the head?

We may be tempted to stay away from those who have succumbed to these symptoms because we think that the more close contact we have with others, the more likely their germs will migrate to us. But not everyone who is in the presence of a sick person will become infected.  When we are strong and healthy and when our immune system provides an effective defense, we are unaffected by the germs that continuously surround us. But when our immunity is compromised, we are susceptible to catching even a simple cold. There are many factors that weaken our immune system; chronic unremitting stress may be at the top of the list. Fortunately, there are also Ayurvedic practices that can safeguard your immunity.
Herbs are our Friends

Herbs can be tremendous allies in supporting our immune systems during the winter months. Many herbs play an important role in strengthening, rehabilitating, and enhancing immune system function. Three “must have” Ayurvedic herbal immune boosters include:

Ashwaganda (Withania somnifera) is undisputedly one of the best Ayurvedic herbs for immunity. This adaptogen has a reputation as a strong and sure immune tonic and stress reducer.   This herb also has a specific affinity for the nervous tissue. It tonifies the central nervous system and protects it from becoming depleted. It is indicated for any “hyper” symptoms such as anxiety, rumination, insomnia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).  Ashwaganda is also one of the best rejuvenative herbs for nourishing and tonifying the whole body system. As a warming herb, Ashwaganda is a good choice in a winter months, especially for those with excess vata. To take this herb, use one teaspoon of honey plus two teaspoons of ghee added to a cup of warm milk. A pinch of nutmeg can be added to assist absorption and also promote a sound sleep.

Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) is another powerful adaptogenic, stress-relieving, and immune-supporting herb. It is a good choice for the winter months as it can be used as treatment for flu symptoms. Tulsi clears mucus from the lungs and upper respiratory tract; it treats fevers and flus by encouraging sweating, therefore reducing body temperature. This diaphoretic effect is amplified when tulsi is combined with cinnamon or lemongrass. In respiratory infections, Tulsi tea can be prepared with the addition of clove, a spice that helps boost respiratory immunity.

A cup of tulsi in the morning supports immunity on a daily basis. As a natural immune-modulator, it boosts anti-viral activities in the body.

Another important action of this healing herb is that it helps to create a positive, peaceful mind.

Another of the great immune supporters in Ayurveda is an ancient formula called Chyawanprash. The primary action of this wonderful elixir is to build ojas (immune strength) by increasing resistance to infectious diseases and building hemoglobin and white blood cells. Chyawanprash is a superb remedy to include as part of a program to recover from illness and stress. It utilizes immune boosting qualities of many herbs, but it relies for its success upon Amalaki (Embilica officinales). One of the names of Amalaki is “dhatri” meaning mother or nurse indicating that this herb is the ultimate healer. Amalaki has a massive vitamin C content which also serves as a powerful antioxidant. Amalaki is also renowned as a rejuvenative and adaptogen herb famed for slowing the effects of aging. This is due to its antioxidant properties preventing free radical damage to the cells.  A teaspoon of Chyawanprash can be taken twice daily, in the morning and in the afternoon, throughout the flu season to support the immune system.

Stay Hydrated and Lubricated

Winter dryness affects us internally as well as externally. What do we do to stay warm when the temperature drops? We turn on the heater and that just further aggravates the dryness. It is important to add water to your body as well as to the air in your home. Low humidity can dry the air and promote airborne germs to linger. Moisture in the air makes these germs grow larger and fall to the ground, so you are less likely to inhale them. The dryness also affects the mucus membranes in the sinuses. When the nasal mucosa is dry, it produces large amounts of reactive mucus to cope with the dryness. Mucus provides the perfect feeding ground for viral and bacterial infections. One solution is to keep your sinuses and the air in your space moist by using a cool mist humidifier.

The most obvious way to hydrate your body is by drinking water. During the winter months sip hot water or herbal teas every 10-15 minutes throughout the day. A general suggestion for hydration is to drink half of your body weight in ounces per day. For example, if you weigh 120 pounds, drink 60 ounces of water.

In the winter months, it is good to lubricate yourself by performing daily self-Abhyanga (full body massage) with warm sesame oil to counteract the skin’s dryness, which is increased during this season. The Charaka Samhita, the most authoritative work on Ayurveda, states that daily Abhyanga makes one strong and least affected by old age. Abhyanga may also influence the skin’s contribution to immunity and hormonal balance. A number of studies have found significant benefit from massaging newborns, such as enhanced weight gain and responsiveness.

You can also lubricate your nasal passages by inserting a few drops of Nasya oil or just putting a tiny bit of ghee (clarified butter) into your nostrils by immersing the tip of your pinky finger into ghee and then rubbing it into your nostrils.

Eat a Well-Balanced and Nourishing Diet

Winter is the season to enhance our immune system and support and nurture our body. Foods that are typically harvested in the winter help the body hold onto fats, proteins, minerals and vitamins. To stay strong and healthy, eat with the seasons. This means consuming foods that are most nourishing during the cooler and dryer months of winter. From November to February, eat more foods that are sweet, oily, moist and hot. The most beneficial foods from the vegetable category will be squash, zucchini, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, beets, avocados, and carrots. Vata-pacifying foods include nourishing grains such as oats, quinoa, amaranth, and wheat.  Sweet, juicy fruit such as pears, persimmons, mangoes, grapes, and baked apples promote maximum nourishment.

Generally, eat more soups, stews, and steamed veggies. Drink lots of hot water and herbal teas.

Finally, it is always important to avoid the foods that can cause ama (toxins) to accumulate. Stay away from leftovers, processed food, ice-cold foods and drinks, and heavy foods such as fried foods.

Get Proper Rest

Sleep is very valuable to your well-being. The first step to feeling well-rested is to have a regular bedtime. When you are tired, it is difficult to cope with stressful situations. When the body struggles, it becomes vulnerable to disease.

Ayurveda recognizes cycles in nature that apply to sleep patterns as well. Maintaining consistency will help keep your circadian rhythms – the biological changes that happen every 24 hours – steady.  The science of Ayurveda states that it is important to retire around 10 pm, since that is at the end of the kapha time, the time that you are the most grounded. Sleep gained after sunrise will not be as refreshing as the time in deep sleep gained before midnight.

Medical research has shown that keeping unnatural routines, like staying up through most of the night, will weaken the body’s natural immune strength and general effectiveness. Some evidence suggests that night shift workers have more medical disorders, especially digestive complaints. The same study found improvement of overall health of workers when they returned to the day shift.

Exercise Regularly

Cold temperatures are no excuse to slow down your exercise routine. Different body types need different amounts or styles of exercise; generally, the key is to engage in moderate, regular exercise (at least 30 minutes per day) and not to overdo it. Overexertion weakens the immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to illness. Daily walks and yoga postures are good for balancing all the doshas and especially suit vata types, while more vigorous daily exercise is required by kapha types to stay healthy.

When you exercise, you are moving the lymphatic fluid, which detoxifies the body by increasing the return of fluid and debris from the tissues to the general circulation as well as speeding up the circulation of white blood cells, helping to maintain the body’s defensive systems.  When there is poor waste removal, the body speaks to us with symptoms that are associated with lymphatic congestion such as swelling or fluid buildup, lack of color or vitality in the skin.

By following these suggestions, you will help create and maintain overall health and vitality and increase your chances of staying healthy through the seasons of colds and flu.

Ala Sudol is a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist who has been practicing Ayurveda in Los Angeles since 2000 and offers health consultations, various Ayurvedic therapies, workshops and lectures. She has studied with Dr. Vasant Lad, Dr. David Frawley, and Dr. Marc Halpern, among others: ala-ayurveda.abmp.com.

Staff Writer Lakshmi

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Dr. Sarita Shresta

Q: I am pregnant and am having trouble figuring out which herbs are safe to take during pregnancy, as there is a great deal of conflicting information. Do you have any advice?

A: Ayurveda classically recommend, as much as possible, no herbs during the first three months, as this is a time of organ growth and development in the baby. If herbs must be used, some possible choices include licorice, asparagus, ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and different species of lotus.

Women may not even know they are pregnant during the first three months. But the baby is there and very committed to survive. Often the body is adapting, even without the mother’s knowledge. Right after symptoms of pregnancy are noted, if a woman is taking any herbs, then as a precaution, she can stop them.

It is important to remember the Ayurvedic principle of using the right amount of a substance, at the right time. Too much of a substance, too little or misuse of a substance can all be possible causes of disease. Even a good thing can be misused or overused; just because something is good, that doesn’t mean that it is always good or a lot of it is even better. Taking as much of something as you can is a wrong concept. We can apply this concept to the use of herbal teas while pregnant. Often, herbal teas can be made so they are not so strong. A weak, mild or very mild herbal tea may be okay, while a strong one may be too much or inappropriate in a stronger concentration; dosage of an herb is important, even when we’re talking about tea. The question is how much, make it very light. Using one teaspoon of herb in one cup of water becomes a very concentrated tea.

After the three months, for example, chamomile is generally okay, as it helps a person sleep well. How much of the herb is being used? Chamomile has a relaxing effect on the body and too much may relax the uterus, so have no more than two cups of chamomile tea a day. Chamomile stimulates melatonin, and like a dark moon, it has some heavy kapha (water and earth elements) energy. Too much can create depression. Gingko biloba also has a relaxing effect and can be used, but with caution.

Teas to Favor in Pregnancy Include:

• Lemongrass
• Cinnamon
• Echinacea
• Ginger
• Lemon and ginger water
• Passionflower in mild doses
• Cardamom (Use only small amounts, as large quantities of the small green pods can have an abortifacient effect.)
• Peppermint (Light, not strong; if it is very strong, the sharpness of peppermint can provoke vata.)
• Licorice tea is considered to be protective of pregnancy and one to two cups can even be used in the first three months of pregnancy. Licorice contains a progesterone precursor.

Cautionary Herbs

• Tulsi, while a lovely medicinal plant, is considered to be an anti-fertility herb, especially in men.
• Neem also has been used to reduce sex drive and fertility, especially for men but for women also. Using neem oil externally
  has the same effect, but less so.
• Hibiscus is astringent and is often used for its contraceptive qualities, especially by women. The mode of action is not known, so use lightly if at all during pregnancy. If possible, avoid.
• Hing is strongly related to vata (air/ether elements) which governs the nervous system. The diminishment of vata when taking hing can interfere with the development of nerve tissue. Avoid this during the first three months, but later in pregnancy, very small amounts can be used in food.
• Limit these herbs and foods during pregnancy: ajwain (Trachyspermum copticum), aloe vera, chitrak (Plumbago zeylanica) and hing (asafoetida or Ferula asafoetida), radish, papaya and pineapple.

This is not a comprehensive list of foods or herbs to favor or avoid during pregnancy. Please consult with your healthcare provider regarding your specific situation.

Q: Recently I had the opportunity to have a private Ayurvedic consultation. The assessment was vata (air and space elements) mind and pitta (fire element) body. She told me that ghee would be good for me. At the time, I did not ask “Why is it good for me?” After purchasing it and adding it to my diet, I do like it. Why is ghee good? What instructions would you provide to make it at home?

A: Ghee is pitta-pacifying. Ghee is very rich in fat. The brain is a mass of fat and needs oil to be nourished. Ghee is easily absorbed and with the theory of like things promoting other like things, ghee is good for the mind and brain and pacifies both vata and pitta.

To make ghee, start with unsalted, organic butter and simmer or cook it until it becomes orange-yellow, starts smelling like popcorn and making crackling sounds. When all of the different components of the ghee have separated, the water, the foam and the milk solids, then you can strain it into a dry glass jar.

When kept in an airtight container, safe from light and damp, without any molecules of water added to the ghee, it can remain good for months. Old ghee, even one hundred year old ghee is considered to be very good medicine in Ayurveda, as the ghee loses some of its heaviness over time. But oils can become rancid, if not stored properly.

One tablespoon of ghee can be taken each day in addition to food. Generally, the maximum amount I recommend, if someone has a lot of the vata dosha or their vata dosha is out of balance, is two tablespoons a day. For more detailed instructions on ghee making and information about ghee and ghee alternatives, check out this month’s Yogi Food.

Q: When I was monitored recently for high blood pressure, blood tests showed that I have hepatitis C, even though I don’t currently have any symptoms. Is there anything I can do?

A: Hepatitis C is transmitted in a variety of ways; it is carried in the blood and affects the liver. Bitter herbs, which are pitta-pacifying, and blood cleansing herbs, are important in addressing hepatitis. Some valuable bitter herbs include manjistha (Rubia cordifolia), bark of rhododendron, neem (Azadirachta indica), bhumyamalaki (Phyllanthus niruri), Malabar nut or Adhatoda vasica, which is a blood cleanser, and chirayata (Swertia chirata), also called tikta, a word that means bitter.

The information provided here is for educational purposes only and should not be a substitute for medical care. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Before using any Ayurvedic remedies, consult with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner or healthcare provider. It is important to rule out serious conditions when appropriate. This article represents the opinion and recommendation of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of LA YOGA Ayurveda and Health magazine.

Dr. Sarita Shresta BAMS, MD (Ayurveda) has taught and consulted for twenty years in government institutes, hospitals, and international clinics and has presented at many international conferences. Dr. Shresta has received awards and special recognition as the first woman Ayurvedic physician and obstetrics-gynecology specialist in Nepal. She is the founder-director of Devi Ma Kunja Hospital in Sidapole, Nepal. Proceeds from her programs support this hospital which provides traditional Ayurvedic care to all according to their means: saritashrestha.org.

Dr. Shresta will be teaching throughout the U.S. (including at Mount Madonna Center in Northern California and at the Rocky Mountain Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda in Boulder, Colorado) this summer. View her entire schedule online at: saritashrestha.org.

Ayurveda Resources

Nourishing Oils

Banyan Botanicals: banyanbotanicals.com. For a 15% discount off of Banyan Botanicals orders through June 30, use the following coupon code: LAYD41

TriHealth: trihealthayurveda.com.

Sarada Ayurvedic Remedies: saradausa.com.

Floracopeia: floracopeia.com.

Chandika Products for healthy skin – real rose, brahmi and sandalwood soaps: chandika.com.

Nutrition

High potency liquid nourishing multi-vitamin and multimineral supplements which include kelp, Himalayan crystals and micronutrients that are specifically designed to support health and achieve homeostasis. Formulas for pets, people, plants and soil: ambayagold.com

Detoxification supplements, superfoods and Klamath algae by HealthForce Nutritionals: healthforce.com.

Yoga for Fertility

Brenda Strong – Strong Yoga 4 FertilityTM classes, workshops, DVD series as well as Yoga for Partners and Yoga for Pregnancy:
yoga4fertility.com.

By Dr. Sarita Shresta

Staff Writer Lakshmi

The post Ayurveda Q & A appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Dr. Parla Jayagopal

Q: I have suffered the past couple years with acid reflux. I have been in and out of doctors’ offices and have tried many natural and prescription remedies. Currently, my doctor has prescribed me Nexium, but since I am in my twenties, I would rather not be on prescription medicine and instead incorporate alternative Ayurvedic practices and holistic medicine to remedy my acid reflux. What would you recommend I do or use to alleviate my situation?

A: Ayurveda considers acid reflux as an outcome of abnormal function of pitta dosha (the fire element) in conjunction with vata dosha (the air and ether/space elements). The pitta and vata doshas get provoked or thrown out of balance by the following circumstances:

• Diet with tastes that are predominantly sour, salty and pungent (hot and spicy).
• Fried, oily and roasted foods.
• Excessive consumption of hot, irritating foods and substances including tomato ketchup/sauce, mustrad, vinegar, coffee and other similar substances.
• Irregular eating habits, especially missing lunch and overeating.
• Stimulants such as tobacco and alcohol.
• Spicy greens such as mustard greens
• Excess consumption of dry foods like chips, crackers and aslo seeds and nuts that are raw and oily
• Raw tomatoes, raw onions or raw garlic.
• Sour cream, yogurt and smoothies with milk and fruits.

In addition, our state of mind plays an important role in our health and well-being, particularly the health of our digestion. The pitta and vata doshas also become aggravated when we are:

• Angry and agitated.
• Constantly thinking and worried.
• Feeling jealousy and hatred.
• Overly busy and experiencing unrelenting stress.

With these most common causative factors being identified, the first and the foremost thing Ayurveda recommends is to avoid the causative factors. This is known in Sanskrit as nidaana parivarjana.

In addition, drinking two cups of room temperature or hot water on an empty stomach

in the morning helps to regularize the function of vata dosha and normalize the peristaltic movements or muscular contractions
of the digestive track.

In order to cool fiery pitta dosha, one of the following liquids can be rotated on a daily basis:

• Aloe Vera juice, 1/4 cup plus 1/2 tsp of cardamom powder any time after noon.
• One tablespoon coriander powder soaked in 14 ounces of water for an hour or more before straining. Take this any time in the morning.
• Coconut water, 1 cup plus 1/2 teaspoon of cardamom powder taken at noon time.
• Herbal Tea. An herbal tea that can be sipped with food (lunch and dinner) that is greatly beneficial is the following.

One teaspoon each of:

• shatapushpa (Anethum sowa)
• yavani (Carum copticum)
• coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
• fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
• and 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric (Curcuma longa) with 14 ounces
  hot water.

Pranayama
Sheetali pranayama that calms the mind and helps to reduce agitation will be very beneficial if done for six minutes morning and evening before food. Breathing involves abdomen rather than chest. To practice sheetali pranayama, fold the tongue into a tube between the lips and breathe in through the tongue slowly and extend the breath to abdomen. Gently pause for five seconds while the tongue is relaxed in the mouth and touching the upper palate. Then breathe out slowly through the nose. If you are not able to fold your tongue then suck the air through the teeth with the mouth slightly open; you can also purse your lips and breathe in trough pursed lips.

Asana
Begin with five to eight rounds of moon salutations. A sequence of moon salutations involves: pranamasana, hasta uttanasana (also known as tadasana), padahastanasana, ashwa sanchalanasana, hanumanasana, shashankasana, ashwa sanchalanasana, hanumanasana, bhujangasana, shashankasana, vajrasana, utkatasana and pranamasana.

Then hold poses like: pavan muktasana (wind release pose), vajrasana (thunderbolt pose), bidalasana (cat pose), adho mukha shwanasana (downward-facing dog), and shavasana (corpse, or relaxation pose) and simhasana (lion pose).

Compound Herbal Combinations

• Triphala capsules three at night with hot water just before bed.
• Avipattikar powder one teaspoon with warm water just before bed.

Please continue with the prescription medication and when the symptoms become mild, talk to your primary healthcare provider and gradually taper the dose as recommended.

Q: I am a woman in my thirties who practices Yoga often. I am very flexible and I recently broke a bone in my wrist in side plank. I’m trying to go easy in my practice so that it will have time to heal. Are there any Ayurvedic suggestions to help support the healing process in my wrist?

A: Please keep your wrist immobilized for at least four weeks do not strain or bear any weight on it. Rest is essential for healing. Take additional calming precautions to prevent aggravation of vata dosha (air/ether elements).

Food
Whole wheat, spelt, millet and barley can help promote bone healing.

Broth from chicken and turkey will be beneficial if you eat animal products.

Make a drink with 1/2 cup almonds soaked in water then peeled with 1/4 cup black sesame seeds blended with 3/4 cup cow milk or almond milk or water (if you are vegan or lactose intolerant), spiced with ginger powder and a little maple syrup. This is a good beverage to support healing and can be used once a day.

Compress
Mix 3/4 cup each of sesame oil and castor oil and heat to 100 C. When it cools, store the oil combination in a glass container. Soak a piece of cotton or wool gauze or a cotton pad in the oil and keep on the fracture area, do not massage or press. Just allow the area to soak in the compress for thirty minutes.

Herbs
Herbs like punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa), guggulu (Commiphora mucul) and ashtinsaghar (Cissus quadrangularis) can be beneficial if taken under a supervision of an Ayurvedic practitioner.

Dr. Parla Jayagopal has an M.D. degree in Ayurveda from India and works as an Associate Professor at American University of Complementary Medicine; he teaches clinical doctorate courses and schedules consultations at the university clinic in Beverly Hills. Dr. Jay also serves on the Board of Directors of the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine (CAAM). Reach him at (310) 550 – 7445. Visit: aucm.org or ayurveda-caam.org for more information.

The information provided here is for educational purposes only and should not be a substitute for medical care. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Before using any Ayurvedic remedies, consult with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner or healthcare provider. It is important to rule out serious conditions when appropriate. This article represents the opinion and recommendation of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of LA YOGA Ayurveda and Health magazine.

Dr. Parla Jayagopal’s teacher, Dr. U.K. Krishna will be teaching a one-day seminar cosponsored by the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine and the American University of Complementary Medicine on Sunday, April 11 on Metabolic Disorders and Ayurvedic Nutrition and Supplements. For more information call: (310) 550 – 7445 x 201.

By Dr. Parla Jayagopal

Vaidya Parla Jayagopal

Vaidya. Jayagopal Parla BAMS, Masters in Ayurveda, C-IAYT, CMT, FAIHM

Vaidya Jay is a passionate teacher and practitioner of Ayurveda. He is classically trained in Ayurvedic medicine from India. He has a bachelors degree in Ayurvedic medicine from Bangalore University and a Masters degree in Ayurvedic Herbology from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. He is a certified yoga therapist and has a certificate wholistic massage therapy. Vaidya Jay completed fellowship in integrative medicine from AIHM.   He has over 25 years and is the founder/director of Athreya Ayurvedic Integrative Health Center Long Beach. He is  the vice president of Athreya herbs. He is faculty and clinician at Southern California University of Health Sciences, Whittier and visiting professor at Japan Ayurveda School, Tokyo.

www.athreyaayurveda.com

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The 240-minute DVD is broken up into three types of practice sequences: those for home, office, and travel. Each section is divided into both a step-by-step instruction of the sequence and a guided practice set to music for a fluid experience.

Waltzer’s offers a practical and therapeutic approach. The postures selected encourage lengthening and stretching to relieve muscle tension and pain that may result from poor posture, or everyday work and activity. Her cues gracefully highlight the anatomical effects of each pose and the practical benefits that will last off of the mat and into the routine of daily life.

Included in the DVD is a bonus selection called “Learn Yoga Breathing” in which techniques such as ujaii and diaphragmatic breathing are taught in a simple and easy to understand manner. Walzer clearly explains how to connect breath with movement, and how proper breath benefits the entire body, especially in maintaining health in the lower back.

Walzer’s offering can be summed up in her own words when she tells the viewer that “Slow intentional breathing is probably the most important thing I can share.”

Easy Yoga Stretches guides real-life students in a way that helps them to understand and experience the powerful impact Yoga can have on everyday life.

Reviewed by Beth Dian Prandini, an LA-based Yoga teacher
www.bethprandiniyoga.com

Beth Dian Prandini

www.bethprandiniyoga.com

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The program consists of five easy movements, each supported as needed with chairs, a wall, or a bolster. Every stretch is safe and accessible for any group, including those who are wheelchair-bound.

The DVD is broken into three menu selections. The first 25-minute section contains an introduction and detailed instruction of each pose. Between each pose is a drop in text titled, “Why should you do this and how will it help you,” which highlights the energetic and anatomical benefits of each pose.

The second menu item – “Good to Know”- contains interviews with Dr. Beth S. Marcus MD and Jeffrey M. Ring PhD explaining how these stretches can benefit the central nervous system, improve balance and alleviate depression.

The final selection is the full routine of the five poses for an effective and time-maximizing practice.

Briggs’s spirit and ease as a teacher radiate. Her voice sings out mottos such as “It’s never too late, you’re never too old” as she guides her students step-by step through taking care of their muscles and joints. This inspirational program is a wonderful reintroduction to caring for our bodies, reminding us that, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”

Reviewed by Beth Prandini

Beth Dian Prandini

www.bethprandiniyoga.com

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The DVD is divided into two half-hour segments, “Hatha” and “Flow,” making this video ideal for anyone looking to fit Yoga into their home life. The box set contains a strap to facilitate many of the movements in the sequences.

Tamal Dodge is both calming and helpful as a narrator as well graceful while demonstrating the practice. His directives are clear and his explanations of each pose are thoughtful and expressive. The setting is beautiful too; it is filmed on the Pacific Ocean in the sunlight. The combination found in Hatha and Flow Yoga for Beginners provides viewers with a way to take some time for oneself, to breathe, to see the ocean, and to heal.

The two programs are varied but equally beneficial. The Hatha section aims to relieve stress, increase flexibility, and boost circulation through stretching and static poses. The Flow portion moves swiftly through poses to build stamina, increase core strength, improve balance, and boost mental clarity and focus.

This DVD puts forward Tamal’s philosophy as a Yoga teacher, musician, and one of the founders of the Yoga Collective: Fostering a connection between body, mind, and spirit will create a healthier, happier and more fulfilled world.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Ripps

Elizabeth Ripps

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Dr. Anupama KizhakkeVeettil

Dr. Anupama KizhakkeVeettil is an Ayurvedic practitioner and licensed acupuncturist. She completed her degree in Ayurvedic Medicine from the University of Mangalore, India. She is teaching and practicing Ayurveda over decade. She earned a Masters Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Southern California University of Health Science and is currently pursuing PhD in public health. She has presented papers in national and international conference. Currently she is working as an Assistant Professor and the lead instructor for the Ayurvedic program at SCUHS: scuhs.edu. For appointments please call (562) 943 – 7125.

scuhs.edu

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Beth Lapides: My Other Car Is A Yoga Mat

They say follow your bliss but I say follow your pain. Because I’m starting to notice that when I follow my pain, then my bliss follows me.

This happened recently with my arm pain. The pain had become so bad that at the end of class, sitting in final cross-legged position, instead of joining my om with those of my neighboring mat-mates, I was busy scanning my arms and shoulders, trying to pinpoint exactly where it hurt most. Or should I say where it didn’t hurt.

By the time we namasted, my inner whining was so loud I could barely hear the post-class chat I love so well. I left my mat where it was and cornered my teacher, my tense voice the very definition of the squeaky wheel.

I elaborated on the arm and shoulder pain he’s all too familiar with. Besides being my teacher, I am also lucky enough to occasionally work with him as a massage therapist.

So I didn’t really need to say my fingers and forearms hurt while I type and my shoulders hurt while I sleep. But I did it anyway.

“Would you like some cheese with that whine?” he asked.

I told him I’ve been doing fewer chatarungas, fewer handstands and no between-class weights. But instead of feeling like my arms are healing, it feels like they’re just getting weaker. And fatter. So now I’m not just whiney and pain-averse, but also a vain diva. He patiently ran down some arm, shoulder and neck exercises we often do in class and reminded me of one in particular.

“Put your arm straight out to your side at shoulder height. Hand on the wall, like a stop sign,” he said. I did, imagining I was saying ‘stop’ to my arm pain. It felt like fireworks running up and down my arm. I’ve started to think of this feeling as taking the should out of my shoulders. I should write a new end for my show. I should find out what the pineal gland really does. I should post my podcast to the My Other Car Is A Yoga Mat Facebook page. I should Google remedies for arm pain. I should Twitter taking the should out of shoulders.

“I’ll do it every morning and night,” I said, like a convert. And I do. I’m diligent. In a way diligence is exactly what has gotten me into this mess. My diligence has turned me into an armed robber. I rob my arms of their ease by using them too diligently: Diligently connecting with friends online, diligently connecting the dot-coms between everything from cobra pose to coconuts to orbs.

The word arm comes from the PIE (proto-Indo Eurpoean) base *ar- which actually means “to join.” I started to think about how much arms are about joining. Joining in with others online. Or hugging.

I felt some nerves coming back to life and some tenseness loosening. So I started showing the exercise to my comedy students and even at a party one night to my friends. I had to laugh because years ago another teacher used the term party pose for show-offy asana. Now here I was between glasses of wine, watching my friends whine and confess that they too were having all kinds of arm and shoulder troubles.

The next night I dreamt my arms were being treated with electrically charged acupuncture needles. It felt amazingly great. And in the left inner forearm, where the needle had been, an outline of a flower appeared. Subsequently I learned this is the PU4 acupressure spot, which has to do with increasing qi, or prana or life-force. It is also related to issues of the heart, as do all things with the arms, which are on the heart meridian. And how did I learn all this? By researching online, of course. Two steps forward, one step back. Or now, since I measure things as being click-worthy, two clicks forward, one arm spasm back.

But the dream didn’t end with the flower. After some electricity flowed in, I sprouted an extra set of arms. And not just more arms. Transparent, magical, mystical arms. Doubled arms like all those the deities have.

I started clicking around for clues to the meaning of this dream. But nothing was clicking with the clicking. Then I stumbled upon Kali, whose name means black. And I remembered a second part of the dream. My dream healer had been wearing a black T-shirt. The exact opposite of classical healers, whom we actually call white coats. And I remembered that after the dream treatment my healer had lain down with me and hugged me so well that when I arose I was highly aroused.

Okay, maybe I’ve been eating too much maca. Or maybe the idea of having an extra set of arms is just that exciting to me. Or maybe something more profound had happened.

I’ve always shied away from Kali, preferring, like most people, the also-quadruple-armed but much more cuddly elephant deity Ganesh. There’s nothing cuddly about Kali aka the Black Goddess. Or in my case the black T-shirted Goddess.

So in the dream I was Kali, and I was also hugging Kali. And here’s the thing about Kali and her four arms. Two are for creating and two are for destroying.

Do we need to embrace the primal truth that we are all joined together as Kali now? That we created, or helped to create, a world in which every system is dissolving: the banking and ecological and Hollywood systems? The whole Cartesian system of thought?

That’s what I’m spending so much time online trying to understand – the dissolution and how to be part of the recreation.

So I have resolved that I am going to start hugging more. Not in an Amma way. But just as I go.

I once read that the key to a happy relationship is six hugs a day. Greg and I notice that we often don’t meet our quota. Not for lack of love, but for lack of focus. And sometimes from shying away from the fierceness of hugging, which does have a Kali-like quality, an ability to destroy a mood or a wall, and create something else. A Yoga, a union.

Sometimes it’s easier to click click click than it is to wrap our four arms together and stick with it. But I’ve started to feel that these turbulent changing times (some say it’s the Kali Yuga in fact) demand this kind of loving fierceness. And besides, hugging is one of the only things I can do with my arms that doesn’t hurt.

Beth Lapides is currently touring her show 100% Happy 88% of the Time and teaching The Comedian’s Way workshops. Subscribe to the new My Other Car Is A Yoga Mat podcast on iTunes or listen to it on bethlapides.com. Email her at beth@bethlapides.com.

By Beth Lapides

Beth Lapides

Beth Lapides is the creatrix and host of UnCabaret. You may know her from her LA Yoga My Other Car is A Yoga Mat column, as the author of “Did I Wake You, Haiku For Modern Living”, from her appearances on Sex & The City, NPR and Comedy Central or from her writing in O Magazine, Elle Decor and Los Angeles Magazine. She teaches her workshop The Comedian’s Way privately in LA and annually at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. UnCabaret is her long running comedy show in which she asks the very best comedians working what is going on with you now. The show is known for being uniquely about the present and every Sunday a completely unique experience unfolds. In the past two years Beth has collaborated with Mitch Kaplan, both on the music for her New Agey comedy show “100% Happy 88% of the Time” and at UnCabaret where Mitch is Musical Director. Adding music to the comedy is like adding an out breath to the in, a vowel to the consonant. UnCabaret is intimate, conversation, idiosyncratic and fun intentional.

bethlapides.com

The post Arm and Arm appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

“Opening a Yoga studio is one of the most revolutionary acts you can engage in today,” says film producer Leila Connors. “The practice of Yoga,” she continues, “helps you develop independent thinking, even though you don’t realize the shift in thinking is happening.”

Yoga isn’t the only revolutionary act taking place in the country these days. Leila Connors, film director Mark MacInnis, and co-producer Mathew Schmid have been documenting another revolution: a band of independent thinkers involved in a literal grassroots movement in Detroit. These communities are revitalizing the art of self-empowerment by creating urban farms and cultivating organically-grown food. This story is being shared in the documentary film Urban Roots.

“This movie is all about self-reliance, about coming home to and taking responsibility for self and then taking action in the world from that place,” Connors says.

It begins with cultivating a garden.

  Connors states that Urban Roots addresses more than merely growing vegetables; this renegade revolution represents not only a major cultural shift, but a possible solution to today’s ecological crises and a dismantling of the past centuries’ centralization of power and money. We’ve all bought into a certain societal centralized mindset, Connors muses. Yet both the practice of Yoga and the act of planting a seed bring the power back to the hands of the people.

  LA YOGA: What is compelling about the story of urban farming in Detroit?

  Leila Connors: Urban farming is a solution here…it is one part of the deeper story, which is the collapse of the post-industrial society and the collapse of the city. Mark MacInnis, who is from Detroit, had shot footage of all these urban farmers. He came to us [via LA-based Tree Media, who produced The 11th Hour], looking for a team to help make the movie.

We were shocked to see how destroyed the city looks; it boggles the imagination. We are supposed to be the most powerful country in the world, and Detroit was the city that represented the American Dream, the upwardly mobile middle class, readily available jobs, and cultural and racial diversity.

Cut to 2011, and the American Dream looks pretty bad this time around.

  The city’s population is 700,000, as compared to its peak of two million. It begs the question, “What would your block look like if more than half the houses were empty? That is the situation in Detroit, where stores and businesses can’t survive in neighborhoods filled with boarded-up empty houses. There’s a vicious downward cycle of collapse, of destruction by neglect. The city and the employers haven’t figured out what to do.

But the people are creating the real American dream, working together rather than relying on large institutions to take care of them. They’re farming the land, giving themselves jobs, and building a slow food economy based on organic food.

The implications of this are powerful.

This is not just a farming movie. It’s a movie about solutions: How do we move forward in the current environmental and economic crises and how do we do it with community? Community is key.

LA YOGA: What surprised you the most in making this film?

  LC: The gentleness of the human spirit. When you spend a lot of time in the cynical mediascape we’re in now, the human spirit seems mean and cruel. There is certainly an element of that today with gangs, drugs, murders, and other tragedies, but there is another side.

People who are worn down, who have everything taken away, can find a way to work together. This empowerment reveals where the human spirit thrives and the conditions under which it can be cultivated rather than destroyed.

  LA YOGA: You sound hopeful.

  LC: This is a feel-good movie. Detroit is a place that everyone loves to put down, but it is really a bright shining star at the moment. This type of activity is happening all over the country, the extent to which it has taken off in Detroit is related to the abundance of vacant land.

At the end of the movie, we show urban farms throughout the world. Food security is an increasingly important issue; as oil prices go up, the costs of producing food conventionally based on fossil fuel consumption will increase. So the more we grow locally, the better.

When people think about Detroit, two things often come to mind: cars and music. For this reason, music is an important part of Urban Roots. The soundtrack was created by LA-based composer, filmmaker, social entrepreneur, and Earthtones founder Frank Fitzpatrick, a native of Detroit who saw his participation in the project as a way to give back to his hometown.

LA YOGA: What influenced your choice of music in the film?

Frank Fitzpatrick: You can’t actually make something about Detroit without the throughline of music being an essential component. Its music has had an influence on our own country and globally. Detroit was a hard city when the music came out of it in the ‘60s. It was going through a rough time, but music was available everywhere.

Music engages the viewer emotionally in the character studies of the people who are at the heart of the film. They are loveable, and have a kind of charm. When they’re talking about the vegetables in their hand, they have a sense of purpose. The emotional impact of their self-empowerment is the inspiration for the film itself, and that is what I wanted to express musically.

The farming creates shifts in their lives, allows them to have some control over their own destiny, and the music helps to raise that to an emotional level. One of things I find interesting about farming is that there are no walls on farms. Isolation happens because people are separated by walls. When they are in an outdoor space together, doing fundamental stuff with the Earth, a different process takes place. Community—and music—provide an emotional lifeline between people. People can survive the hardest of times if they have something to hold on to.

LA YOGA: Being so close to this story, how have you felt about Detroit?

FF: The story of Detroit is the country’s greatest national disaster. There is a lot more devastation throughout the city than there was in New Orleans after Katrina, but people don’t know about it since the decline took thirty years as opposed to one day. As the industrial era is shifting so fast right now, Detroit is an example of what could happen to many cities at some point.

Personally, I feel a sense of loss; Detroit was once a thriving city, the fourth largest city in America, the highest-paid middle class city in the world. All of that shifted dramatically from 1975 – 1980. It is sad to have people not be aware of the contributions and value of Detroit to the world. Before the realization of the contamination of industrialization, it was the road to the American Dream.

Farming now provides a sense of empowerment to people. It’s hard to know where it will go because it is all rogue but in such a positive way, that if there is enough attention brought to it and if it happens en masse, hopefully that will keep it from being shut down. The belt around the Great Lakes, the largest freshwater supply in the world, contains some of the most fertile agricultural soil in the nation. After cleaning up the lead contamination, there’s no reason it can’t be flourishing farmland again.

People who were only used to eating at McDonald’s are now eating organically grown vegetables from down the block. Their changing relationship to food has helped to change their ability to be self-sustaining.

Although Detroit is never going to repeat its history — it is never going to become the thriving industrial city it once was — there is the potential to come back to people’s core values of depending on community.

LA YOGA: Did the film make you feel hopeful?

FF: Whether urban farms will save Detroit, I don’t know. The sense of hope and pride, though, can shift the consciousness of people. In the past twenty-five years, there hasn’t been much hope and pride. The solutions for cities are often more of the same, such as more buildings, rather than something like this that involves people being engaged in their communities.

A portion of all proceeds of Urban Roots will be dedicated to putting farms in schools in five inner city high schools in LA. For more information, visit: urbanrootsamerica.com.

Earthtones is a nonprofit arts organization founded by Frank Fitzpatrick committed to raising social consciousness and connecting people across the globe through the power of music and media: earthtones.org.

By Felicia Marie Tomasko, RN

Felicia M. Tomasko

Felicia Tomasko has spent more of her life practicing Yoga and Ayurveda than not. She first became introduced to the teachings through the writings of the Transcendentalists, through meditation, and using asana to cross-train for her practice of cross-country running. Between beginning her commitment to Yoga and Ayurveda and today, she earned degrees in environmental biology and anthropology and nursing, and certifications in the practice and teaching of yoga, yoga therapy, and Ayurveda while working in fields including cognitive neuroscience and plant biochemistry. Her commitment to writing is at least as long as her commitment to yoga. Working on everything related to the written word from newspapers to magazines to websites to books, Felicia has been writing and editing professionally since college. In order to feel like a teenager again, Felicia has pulled out her running shoes for regular interval sessions throughout Southern California. Since the very first issue of LA YOGA, Felicia has been part of the team and the growth and development of the Bliss Network.

www.blissnetwork.com

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“Yoga constantly invites us to become our better selves.”

“In this world we are challenged every day, and I find it is yoga that guides me in the skill of choosing how to act and checking my motivation. I can be motivated by the more self-centered part of my nature, or I can choose to act in a way that is more beneficial for the world in which I live.”

A childhood in New Zealand marked by experiences of suffering reached a teenage turning point when she understood the impact of her own choices in either creating more pain or relief from suffering. “From then on,” Saraswati says, “I knew Yoga would always be a guiding light in my life.”

The strong foundation provided in the practice came not only from principles of physical alignment, but as Saraswati describes, “ways to live your life in alignment that create more harmony in the world.” She saw this alignment in action when after college, she began teaching Yoga and meditation to women with cancer. Saraswati witnessed women developing resilience and joy despite the pain and challenges of the disease. Their sharing of the importance of Yoga and meditation in their lives fueled Saraswati’s desire to continue studying Yoga.

  Saraswati moved from New Zealand to Manhattan to study, eventually setting up a studio in Greenwich Village where the events after 9/11 demonstrated the benefit of the practice in healing trauma or tragedy. Her studio offered free class yoga on film in the weeks following the tragedy. “Yoga teachers all over NYC supported each other by sharing techniques that would help with the trauma and insomnia.”

These days, Saraswati is based in the Bay Area, where her passion for the practice is channeled into YogaKula, which operates a Yoga studio in San Francisco and one in Berkeley and also produces documentary films, DVDs and CDs on Yoga-related topics by leading spiritual teachers and philosophers.

Her foray into the media was driven by people’s stories: “Almost every day at the studio, people would share how Yoga was transforming a life. I thought, ’More people should be hearing these stories’.” After interviewing and recording the teachers and students, Saraswati realized she had the beginnings of a film, one with the potential to inspire people to find solutions to the stress in their lives.

This film became the documentary based on Sarasvati’s experience of Anusara Yoga: The Heart of Transformation. Since its release in August, 2010, the film is on a global tour of festivals and Yoga venues, including Thailand, Switzerland, Canada, and Israel.

The Heart of Transformation lives up to its title, revealing tales of personal upheaval and the path found in the practice. One woman speaks about her struggle to overcome anorexia; another chronicles the process of healing after the murder of her teenage son.
Actor and Yoga practitioner Minnie Driver narrates and is featured in the film.

Driver says, “Like any practice, the more consistently you do something, the more engrained it is in your life and the more of a tool it becomes. As opposed to an emergency tool, it becomes a well-worn beautiful tool that you know how to use and it’s always in the right place when you need it.”

For two years, Saraswati and her film crew have traveled from India to Italy to Africa and across the US to interview teachers and practitioners.

Saraswati and Director of Photogarphy, Michael McIntyre

They are currently completing another film that focuses on the powerful effect women Yoga teachers are having on the Yoga movement worldwide. Look for this documentary in Summer, 2011: yogawoman.tv.

 CAROLYN QUAN is an internationally collected fine art photo collage artist of spiritual art who also enjoys writing. She lives in Sausalito and is owner of The Quan Gallery Showroom in San Francisco: carolunquan.com

  Join Saravati for an asana class with Noah Mazé, kirtan with Dave Stringer, and a screening of the film in Santa Monica at The Yoga Collective, Tuesday, May 10, 6:00 – 9:00 P.Myogacollective.com

For more information about the film, visit: www.AnusaraYogaTheHeartOfTransformation.com

By Carolyn Quan

Staff Writer Lakshmi

The post The Heart of Transformation appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Celery, Beet and Carrot Spring Detox Juice

This brightly colored drink offers the sweetness of beets and carrots, the saltiness of celery, and the peppery overtones of radishes, garlic, and black pepper. Parsley adds a refreshing touch of green.

Spring is nature’s detoxification and cleanse season. The sweet cheesecake, buttery pecan pie, and rich food we ate from early winter through New Year’s reflect a natural need to insulate against the cold. These foods might still be lingering in your fat tissue, just as gooey, thick, and heavy in the body as they were on your plate. Now that the sun is returning, our body prepares for springtime by releasing the excess fats and sugars, making spring a perfect time to shed those holiday pounds.

As holiday excesses melt away the toxins trapped in our fat tissue enter the bloodstream. The appetite wanes for cheesecake,
pecan pie, and holiday roasts, which might seem off-putting or even nauseating by mid-January. While our appetite could easily accommodate two to three slices of cheesecake mid-December, a sliver of cheesecake mid-February leaves behind an awful aftertaste on the tongue, post-nasal drip, and a buildup of mucus masqueraing as the flu.

Detox juice is designed to assist the body in this process of releasing these fats, sugars, and toxins. Each of the components of this recipe work together to neutralize the symptoms of detoxification that you may be experiencing now and also set a good foundation for springtime.

Beets, radish, and garlic cleanse the liver and gall bladder, organs and tissues that are working hard to breakdown stored fats, oils, and sugars. The pigment that gives beets their bright color helps to neutralize the toxins from alcoholand spicy appetizers, balancing blood chemistry. The beta carotene in carrots cools the blood, noticeable as a cooling effect in the eyes which can feel inflamed, itchy, and irritated when the body releases fats. Beta carotene is also an important nutrient to counteract seasonal depression as it helps the skin to absorb the most from the limited sunlight during winter.

One of the quickest ways to deliver nutrients to these important organs in one simple recipe is through freshly prepared vegetable juices. Vegetable juices are easy to digest because grinding and straining removes all fiber content.

JOHN JOSEPH IMMEL has a clinical practice focused on healthy digestion and digestive tract pathology and is available by phone for appointments. He is the director of:joyfulbelly.com

Ingredients

1 Carrot
1/4 Cup celery stalk
1/4 Teaspoon black pepper
1 Cup beets
2 Tablespoons radishes (raw)
1/4 Cup fresh parsley
1 Glove garlic (Raw)

Preparation

If you don’t have a vegetable juicer, chop the ingredients and puree them in a blender with four cups of water. Strain.

Otherwise, follow these instructions to receive the greatest benefits (and most juice) from this recipe. Organic ingredients are especially important in juicing recipes because the juice is potent and highly concentrated.

• Scrub and wash the carrots, radishes and beets well, discard their leafy tops and do not peel them.
• Start with the parsley (since parsley is the driest ingredient on the list, beginning with it and then following with celery with a high water content will extract the most juice). Roll the parsley tightly in a ball to place in the juicer.
• Follow with watery celery to facilitate the extraction of juice.
• Then add the peeled garlic, carrot, radish, and beet.
• Once the juice is poured, finish with fresh ground black pepper.
• Freshly squeezed juices lose their potency after about 20 minutes. Prepare individual portions and drink immediately, preferably on an empty stomach.
• This detoxification juice can generally be taken once a day for a week or as directed.

Pay attention to any sensations in the abdomen and heart rate after drinking. Then adjust the amount as appropriate for your body.

  Green Immune Soup

Through the use of foods that are rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants, we can support a healthy immune system. This system relies on good nutrition to keep the cells and organs in a state of balance. Ayurveda recommends a diet full of variety along with a positive life-style, herbal therapies, Yoga, and meditation to maintain a strong immune system.

  Ingredients (serves 8-10)

10 – 15 cups water
1/2 head broccoli, chopped well
1/2 head cauliflower, chopped
5 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 celery root (celeriac), chopped
1/2 cup green onions (green tops only), chopped
6 large leaves and stems of curly kale, chopped
1 cup cilantro, chopped
2 sheets kombu, cut in small pieces
1/2 bulb fennel, chopped (do not use the stalks for this soup, only the bulb)
1 thumb-size piece of turmeric root, chopped
1 thumb-size piece of ginger root, chopped
6 pieces of astragalus root (resembles tongue depressors)8 medium size (about three inches)
sulfur-free ashwangandha root
Four-inch piece of burdock root, chopped
1 tablespoon ajwan seeds (if you cannot find ajwan, celery seeds can be substituted in a pinch but they are a different seed)
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
2 tablespoons coriander seeds
2 tablespoons ghee (for a vegan soup, use one tablespoon coconut oil and one tablespoon sesame oil)
1 tablespoon miso (add this just at the end before serving so as not to destroy the enzymes in miso by cooking)
Add Bragg’s liquid aminos at the end to taste.

Directions

• In a large soup pot, bring the pure water and hardy vegetables and herb roots (including astragalus, burdock, ashwagandha, ginger, and turmeric) to a boil and then turn to a simmer. Let these simmer together until they soften.
• Add lighter vegetables in seaweed.
• Saute the spice seeds in ghee or oil briefly and then add to the pot while cooking.
• Cook until all the vegetables are soft and flavors are merged. Puree as desired.
• Serve warm.

DR. LIGHT MILLER travels throughout the world teaching aromatherapy, Ayurveda, herbology, tantra, and related workshops. Together with her husband, Dr. Bryan Miller, she has written Ayurveda & Aromatherapy, Ayurvedic Remedies for the Whole Family, and Ayurvedic Curative Cuisine for Everyone. ayurvedichealers.com

This recipe is adapted from Ayurvedic Curative Cuisine for Everyone with permission from the author.

By John Joseph Immel, & Dr. Light Miller

Brian Chance

The post Recipes appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

There is a feeling we all know — a mixture of surprise and delight, caused by perceiving something marvelous, and we want to stay there, drink it in, and know more. It’s called wonder, and the body responds — we say Ah and Oooh and Mmmm, or our hair stands on end, tears come, or we laugh.

In the Yoga of emotion, wonder is one of the essential ways of tasting life. The Sanskrit word for wonder is adbhuta (“extraordinary, super-natural, wonderful, marvelous, surprise”). Adbhuta is a great gift to meditation practice because when we are in it, time stops and we are touched by the intrinsic magic of life. All our senses open up to welcome contact with essence. We dissolve in wonder. The mind goes silent in awe. Then questions come.

The vijnana bhairava tantra is sometimes called The Yoga of Delight, Wonder and Astonishment. It begins with Devi, the Goddess, wondering about the path to union with her Beloved, Shiva.

One day the Goddess sang to her lover, Bhairava:
Beloved and radiant Lord of the space before birth,
Revealer of essence,
Slayer of the ignorance that binds us,
You, who in play have created this universe
And permeated all forms in it with
never-ending truth.
I have been wondering. . .
I have been listening to the hymns of creation,
Enchanted by the verses,
Yet still I am curious.
What is this delight-filled universe
Into which we find ourselves born?
What is this mysterious awareness shimmering
Everywhere within it?
I have been listening to the love songs of
Form longing for formless.
What are these energies undulating through
our bodies,
Pulsing us into action?
And this “matter” out of which our forms are made–
What are these dancing particles of condensed radiance?

?r? devy uv?ca
?ruta? deva may? sarva? rudray?malasambhavam
trikabhedam a?e?e?a s?r?t s?ravibh?ga?a?

ady?pi na niv?tto me sa??aya? parame?vara
ki? r?pa? tattvato deva ?abdar??ikal?mayam

An approximate glossary, we see:
shri ~ “to be aflame, luminous” excellent, blessed, venerable, glorious, auspicious
devi ~ shining one, goddess
uvacha ~ Literally, “said” in past tense, yet this conversation is always underway within the heart, so we can read it as in the present, ongoing.
shrutam ~ heard, I have heard, listened. Also resonant with the Shrutis, the songs of creation resonating in the ethers. I am listening.
deva ~ o shining One
maya (mayaa) ~ by me
sarvam ~ all
rudra ~ a name of Shiva
yamala ~ twin, paired
sambhavam ~ born of, the place of generation, produced
trika ~ three.bhedam ~ divisions, section
asheshena ~ in detail, complete
sarat sara ~ the essence
vibhagashah ~ in all sections
adyapi ~ even today
na nivritto me ~ not dispelled, the doubts of me
na ~ not
nivritta ~ ceased, to cause the cessation
me ~ my
samsayah ~ lying down to rest, uncertainty, doubt
parama ~ supreme
Ishvara ~ Lord
kim ~ what
rupam ~ form
tattvatah ~ in reality, in its real essence.
deva ~ O shining One
kim r?pam tattvato deva ~ what is the form, the essence (of the path we must walk?) What is the path through all these states of consciousness?
shabda ~ sound vibrations
sabda-rasikalamayam ~ the group of basic sounds through which the divine creative energy expresses.
mayam – this energy, external potency
kalamayam – divine creative energy

Devi, the Goddess who is the energy of life, the energy of creation, is placing herself in the position of a student, a yogi, and asking Shiva to teach her. She opens herself up in wonder, and then the teachings flow. In so doing, Devi is giving us the first teaching: begin with wonder. Inhabit your questions.

There is also a pun – the word Devi uses is sa??aya? or samshaya, and its first meaning is “lying down to rest or sleep,” and it also means “doubt about the point to be discussed.” The implication is that Devi is saying, “When I think about all the divisions of consciousness and all the mantras, I just want to lie down and go to sleep.”

If you are still awake, here is a practice. Take a piece of paper and write a few notes on what on Earth or in the Heavens invokes a feeling of wonder in you. What are you astonished by? What is surprising? Then every day for a week, look at your list before you begin your practice. Perhaps breathe with your list. Notice how inhabiting the rasa** of wonder blesses your practice, opens your senses and your heart.

Perhaps Devi using samshaya, a word that means lying down, suggests entering Shavasana with your questions.

If we do not entertain wonder, we are just imposing other people’s answers on ourselves, without having asked our own questions. Yoga has so many amazing answers, but my feeling is, we have to come meet them halfway. When we entertain our sense of wonder, then we become open to revelation.

If the Goddess can interrupt Shiva’s dance to bug Him with her questions, why can’t you? Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese monk we all consider a living treasure, suggests walking meditations – walk in peace; walk like a tiger; walk as every footstep is kissing the earth. Walk as if with every touch of your feet on the ground, you are absorbing healing energy

Walk in wonder.

  LORIN ROCHE, a meditation teacher for more than forty years, is the author of The Radiance Sutras and Meditation Made Easy: lorinroche.com

By Dr. Lorin Roche

Lorin Roche

Dr. Lorin Roche began practicing with the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra in 1968 as part of scientific research on the physiology of meditation. He has a PhD from the University of California at Irvine, where his research focused on the language meditators generate to describe their inner experiences. He is the author of The Radiance Sutras and Meditation Made Easy. With his wife, Camille Maurine, he wrote Meditation Secrets for Women. A teacher of meditation for 46 years, Lorin’s approach centers on how to customize the practices to suit one’s individual nature. Lorin leads the Radiance Sutras Meditation Teacher Training, a 200 hour certification program registered with Yoga Alliance. Lorin teaches regularly at the Esalen Institute and around the world.

www.meditationtt.com

The post Walk in Wonder appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Felicia Marie Tomasko: In your life, you were able to transform your experience of pain to release trauma and find a sense of healthy balance. What are some of the lessons pain can teach and how can people find their own path to transformation?

Marisa Russo: Most of my life involved chronic pain and stress. In an attempt to find relief, I spent years visiting every type of health practitioner. It was a long drawn-out process to find the most effective methods for healing and the real cause behind my pain and suffering. I learned that pain begins with negative energetic imprints in the aura, the energy field of our body. The imprints appear and expand with connections to negative emotions such as guilt, anger, sorrow, or low self-worth. Holding onto negative connections with others deepens the impact. It spreads like a cancer into other aspects of our lives – finances, heath, relationships. The impact is first apparent in the most vulnerable area of a person’s life or body. Cleansing the aura through healing and making positive life choices starts to reverse these effects.

FMT: What is your own daily practice that helps you maintain your connection to health and well-being?

MR: My daily practice begins with physically taking care of my body. I may begin the day with a walk or some form of exercise and a fresh vegetable juice. I read an uplifting quote and meditate for at least ten minutes a day. I make choices from a position of feeling empowered, being led by positive feelings.

I believe that I create my day so I set the intention for the day to experience joy. I pay attention to those things that are positive and send intentional blessings to people around me. The vibrations I emanate come back to me, so my intention is to keep my daily interactions positive. I have learned that when I look after myself first, I am better prepared to help others.

FMT: With all the healing modalities and types of healers that can be found today, what are some suggestions you can make to help people find the path that works the best for them?

MR: There are many wonderful practitioners in the world of health and healing. Just as I am very clear about the type of client I want to draw to my clinics, you can do the same in your search for a practitioner. Make a list of what you want to change about your life, and then compose a second list with desired outcomes including how you want to feel in your new life. Bridging the past and moving beyond a negative condition will attract people that will help you make that new life a reality.

Ask your friends, research on the internet, read, and view images and practitioner videos to create a short list. Choose one or more that resonate with you most. Speak with them about your concerns. The practitioner that will be most suited will fill you with hope and a feeling of excitement. Start your new journey.

FMT: Sometimes we can’t see, or we ignore the patters we’re trapped within. These patterns can interfere with our ability to enjoy good health. How do you suggest people find a means to expose these and shift them?

MR: Knowing your negative life patterns can be liberating and can serve as a catalyst to break through and create change. First, decide that you really want to know your negative life patterns. A simple way to get started with identifying your key negative life pattern is to think of a person whom you dislike most. This can be anyone past or present, near or far. Since like attracts like, you can often see your patterns reflected back to you through these icons and in the people closest to you, like your family.

Then ask three people you believe are happy and stable in their lives, what they think your block or negative patterns might be. Write them down and take time to analyze them.

Look back on your past negative experiences and see if you can find those patterns. There will be a common thread for you to target in making a shift.

Now that you can see clarity around your pattern, decide that you are responsible for your life and your outcomes. You can then change your thinking and your behavior when similar situations occur. Changing how you react in those circumstances changes your future.

FMT: In addressing our connection between our inner and outer environments, what are some essential practices people can do on a daily basis to create harmony with themselves and the world around them?

MR: Finding peace and harmony within yourself will create an energy vortex that vibrates outside of you and brings change along your life path.

Your environment is an extension of yourself. It shows you signs and messages as it responds to your vibrations. When you respect yourself, others,and the environment, you show gratitude and appreciation. This positive energy comes back to you and you will feel more connected to others and the earth. Choose to be a blessing to others and the environment.

Anywhere you go, leave the area or the person with a positive vibe. Pick up a piece of litter, smile at the store attendant, send blessings to the beggar, welcome the new neighbor, send a thank-you note to someone who helped you, and make choices that do not harm the planet or animals. Help an injured animal or give away items that others need more than you. When you do this, you draw the energy of butterflies, birds, rainbows and other miracles into your life.

FMT: There is an increasing concern with how we can “save” the environment and how we can encourage sustainability. What are some ways that our own individual energy systems interact with our environment? How can our personal practice have an impact on the Earth?

MR: We are one as people. We are one with every living and inanimate object around us. It is all a creation of which we are a creative participant. Rather than disconnect, embrace the oneness. Everything we think, feel and do reflects back into the world around us. The recent threats of disaster in California magnified the fear of the masses.

We can choose to be empowered while being part of the whole. Go to the times of peace and joy you have experienced. Spend time envisioning, feeling, and living the times of peace and joy you have experienced. Wake up each morning as if your creation already existed. When you live this way, your creations are your life and it is contagious.

Marisa Russo is an award-winning Australian Master Healer. As the founder of the Forensic Healing System, Marisa is known for her ability to scientifically and intuitively read the body to investigate the cause and circumstances around physical, emotional and spiritual issues.

Marisa will be embarking upon a US Tour in May with free presentations and workshops in Los Angeles, San Diego, Portland, Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area:marisarusso.com

By Felicia Marie Tomasko, RN

Felicia M. Tomasko

Felicia Tomasko has spent more of her life practicing Yoga and Ayurveda than not. She first became introduced to the teachings through the writings of the Transcendentalists, through meditation, and using asana to cross-train for her practice of cross-country running. Between beginning her commitment to Yoga and Ayurveda and today, she earned degrees in environmental biology and anthropology and nursing, and certifications in the practice and teaching of yoga, yoga therapy, and Ayurveda while working in fields including cognitive neuroscience and plant biochemistry. Her commitment to writing is at least as long as her commitment to yoga. Working on everything related to the written word from newspapers to magazines to websites to books, Felicia has been writing and editing professionally since college. In order to feel like a teenager again, Felicia has pulled out her running shoes for regular interval sessions throughout Southern California. Since the very first issue of LA YOGA, Felicia has been part of the team and the growth and development of the Bliss Network.

www.blissnetwork.com

The post Sitting Down With Forensic Healer Marisa Russo appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Some come like thunder
crashes of passion rumbling across
this fragile life
helping us remember the power and
potency inside each moment

Some come like rain
showering our lives with a happiness
we didn’t know we thirsted for,
drenching our souls in joy
quenching our hearts with love
each time we see them smiling

Some linger like rainbows
streaking their memory across eternity,
painting the sky with a beauty so brilliant,
a life so boldly lived,
one can only tip their heads up
and believe…

There is a passageway to Infinity
for souls like this
who blast our tender hearts wide open,
who fill our days with magic and laughter
who teach us the beautiful and
difficult lessons
of loving and letting go
For the ones who come and go too quickly…

We shall find you again and again
in the lightning, in the thunder,
in every blade of grass
And again in every flower, moon and wild streak of sun
Go now back to the Infinite
We shall find you in the One.

Jacqui Lalita

Jacqui Lalita is a dancer, poet, healer and muse here to inspire and elevate all creatures she meets. She is the author of Romancing the Divine: Poetry by the Mystic River. www.danceofthedivine.org.

The post Poet’s Corner: Flashes Of Love appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.