I just wrapped up the last day of my Deepen Your Yoga Practice workshop at the health club where I work. Kind of a big deal. This was the first yoga workshop there ever. And it was successful, for the students (I hope) but especially for myself. I never thought I’d be able to develop a meditation and pranayama practice while being consistent about it… you know, actually trying to do everyday?! But like my yoga practice, it’s evolving and I’m enjoying the ride thus far. And what about you who read this blog? Have you been trying all the techniques I’ve been listing here? Let me know if you have any questions about anything you read especially because I tend to talk in Sanskrit terms a lot and if you’re not exactly sure what I mean, ask me!
This afternoon I took my small group out onto the lawn beside the club where we could meditate away from the loud music, pounding of equipment and people accidentally drifting in to see what we were doing. We’ve worked on three meditation techniques so far; focusing just on the breath (it’s length, sound, depth) meditation using a mantra or phrase and visualization (creating your own inner sanctuary) so today I thought I’d introduce Body Scan. This is by far my favorite way to meditate. Not only am I able to loose track of time but I’m so focused on relaxing my body that I forget I’m actually relaxing my mind too!
For this meditation, choose a comfortable seated position or lie down if necessary and close your eyes. Pick a starting point on your body, either from the bottom (like the tip of the toes) or at the top (like the hair). Once you’ve picked your starting point, concentrate on the sensations you feel in it. Tell that body part to relax and let go, releasing any tension or tightness. Stay as long as you need to at each part and then move on to the next one. You can choose internal organs too. Remember there is no wrong or right way to meditate. Just the fact that you’re trying is simply enough!
Once you have completed scanning the entire body, focus on your body as a whole and notice in general where you feel relaxed and maybe where you don’t. Revisit any body parts until you are satisfied with your practice. I find that 10 minutes is not long enough. Today I had just gotten to the tip of my toe when my timer went off. So I simply turned it off and continued on. I felt so relaxed that I rolled rght into a short pranyama (breathing exercise) and I’m feeling more energized and more at peace than when I first woke up. Have you tried the pranayama techniques I’ve talked about the last three weeks? If not, freshen up here! I’m going to list some of the benefits of a pranayama practice if you haven’t already started. My cycle buddy Panna, from India, swears by her daily practice. It has lowered her blood pressure and helped her husband too! So what are you waiting for? Get on board!
1. It helps to relieve the symptoms of asthma.
2. It helps to relieve stress.
3. Regular practice can extend life and enhance ones perception of life.
4. It can change the cardio respiratory system including lowering blood pressure.
5. It’s great for weight loss.
6. It lightens the heart.
7. It helps with purpose, intention and direction.
8. It helps clear your mind and allows you think with clarity.
Lizard Pose is my favorite way to stretch out after sitting for long periods of time.
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You know what else helps me clear my mind? Cooking! I’m a huge multi-tasker so while my stuff is baking, I’m usually reading a chapter from my book! I made this fresh, fast and green side dish last night for dinner and because I made it in these foils, there was no mess to clean later on! These take about an hour to cook and can be prepared ahead of time too! I’m growing carrots so I wanted to use some of what I’ve got. My Ma used to tell me all the time to eat my carrots and I’d have better eyesight but the whole thing was a trick since I ended up with glasses in the second grade! My eyesight today? -3.75. Yes. That’s a negative sign. I am neither near-sighted or far-sighted; I am both. I need my contacts when I’m driving and when I read a book. And I eat a TON of carrots!
I read in the Vegetarian Times magazine that my Ma actually meant to say carotenoids, which are antioxidants that protect your cells from damage. Basically lutein, a carotenoid found in the retina, may help slow the progression of a leading cause of vision loss like people with age-related macular degeneration. So keep eating those carrots is what I’m trying to say!
Honey Glazed Carrots- serves two
Ingredients:
-5 celery sticks
-4 large carrots
-1 white onion
-6 cloves garlic
-3 T honey
-juice and zest from one orange
-handful of cilantro
-salt and pepper
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 425.
2. Chop up all the veggies and place in a large bowl. Zest the orange and squirt the juice and put them and the honey in there too. Salt and pepper.
3. Lay out 2 sheets of aluminum foil. Fold in all four sides about a half of an inch.
4. Place the veggie mixture inside. Then fold in the sides as much as possible.
5. Wrap another sheet of aluminum foil on top and fold around the edges. Do not flip over!
6. Bake in the oven for 50-60 minutes or until the carrots are to your liking. I enjoy mine a bit crunchy so I cooked them for 50 minutes. Open and enjoy!
Served with a corn on the cob and you’ve got the prefect BBQ side dish!
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Halloween is just around the corner and Andy and I are planning our costumes for an MTV themed party we’re heading to on Saturday night! Until then, enjoy these pics I took yesterday… check out that moon!
