Our bodies tell the stories of our life.  Layers and layers of tension build up from all of our life experiences, physical injuries, emotional traumas, and simply from the way the modern world asks us to use our bodies.  When any part of the body is misaligned or restricted due to injury, posture, or emotional distress, the nervous system is agitated and communication within the entire body is disrupted. Though health and vitality is our inherent nature and the body will always seek well-being the best it can, many times the compensation is not optimal and will cause stress on your entire system.

Sure an alignment based yoga such as Anusara® can help us to create healthy habits in our body.  A regular yoga practice will shed much of the surface tension our body holds while creating more awareness. However, if there is a biomechanical misalignment, even the way you do your yoga practice can continue to create disfunction.

In my opinion, bodywork is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.   I am a firm believer in getting a little help from a team of highly trained, skillful, and intuitive body workers.  I am not talking about a spa massage, which can be nice sometimes, I am talking about work that will help you to unwind unhelpful patterns, increase your range of motion, and guide your body to find it’s own natural rhythm of ease and freedom.  As yogis that is precisely what we are seeking to do, so why not treat yourself to something that will enhance your efforts and give you more access to your practice?

An experienced bodyworker will be able to see and feel into your body and tailor the session to your specific needs helping to make permanent shifts in your body mind.  Each time you are on their table the session will be a bit different based on what presents itself.

Here are some of my favorite bodyworkers in San Francisco!

Mike and Jennifer Lane mobilize the joints and soft tissue optimizing range of motion, function, and balance through the Hendrickson Method. They both have a deep appreciation for the yoga practice and understand the body as a dynamic interconnected system.
www.mobilizethebody.com
mobilizethebody@gmail.com

Leni Mostaghim brings the insight gained from a devoted practice of Anusara yoga, as well as from over 10 years work as a certified Pilates instructor, to every session.  By interweaving Cranial Sacral work with the basic concepts and techniques of Ortho-Bionomy and honoring the body’s inherent wisdom, Leni’s work resolves injury and trauma and facilitates greater ease and connectivity, and is profoundly restorative for the central nervous system.  You can email Leni to inquire and book a session: integrative.healing@yahoo.com

Mark Haviland takes you on an adventure to unearth the kinks that limit the flow of chi in your body. His eclectic style is attuned to your needs and is a co-creative dance that can catapult ones healing journey exponentially and expeditiously.
Beyond Bodywork
http://www.yelp.com/biz/beyond-bodywork-san-francisco
https://www.facebook.com/BeyondBodywork

Katie Sutherland has trained in a wide range of modalities including neuromuscular therapy, craniosacral therapy, deep tissue & shiatsu which allows her to custom-tailor each session based on your needs. Her work brings awareness and openness to areas of tightness which can help you experience new places in your asanas that you may not have reached as quickly on your own. www.katiesutherland.com

In addition, if you have a specific injury it is also helpful to do a private yoga session with a qualified teacher trained in therapeutics.  This will help you to shed the light on your habits and patterns and teach ways to take care of yourself. Any Certified Anusara® yoga teacher will be able to see your habits and guide you to create balance. Check my website for more information on private yoga sessions. 

Supine poses or yoga postures done lying on your back are a great way to release stress and increase flexibility in your hips and hamstrings.  Opening the pelvic region of the body promotes the release of the downward flowing energy.  When this energy is stuck it can contribute to anxiety, insomnia, digestive issues, and even fertility challenges for women. Use this short sequence to restore and ground yourself anytime of the day.

Supta Padangustasana – (Reclining Big Toe Pose)  photo –  3 variations
1. leg up, 2.leg to the side, 3. leg across the body as a twist. The main action is to press your thigh bone toward the back of your leg and maintain the natural curve in your lower back. It does not matter how close your leg is to your chest!  Use your hands on the back of your thigh or use a belt around your foot. Hold from 10 breaths or up to 1-2 minutes per variation.

Suchirandrasana – (Eye of the Needle) – see photo below – Flex the feet and spread the 4th and 5th toes to engage the muscles on the outer shins and protect the knees.  As in the pose above, the main action is to press the thigh bone toward the back of your leg and maintain the natural curve of your lower back.

Ananda Balasana – (Blissful Child) – photo – start with one leg at a time.  You can straighten the bottom leg or  bend the knee with the foot on the floor.  Engage the muscles of the legs and pull down on your foot like you are trying to bring your knee to the floor.  Keeping that, from the core of your pelvis push back up though your foot.  Once you do each side on it’s own then try both legs at the same time as pictured.

Supta Baddhakonasana – (Reclining Bound Angle Pose) - photo – There are many different ways to prop yourself in this pose.  Be sure to put a prop your under your shins to support your knees and hips.  For more open hips you can lay without support.  You may also want to support your spine with a bolster or a blanket. Stay 5-20 minutes.

Suchirandrasana - Courtesy of Yoga Journal

Kitchari is a one pot Indian stew.  It is often used in Ayurveda for cleansing and bringing the body back into balance. It is warm, grounding and good for digestion. There are numerous recipes for Kitchari, you can add or delete ingredients as you prefer.  Enjoy!

3/4 cup basmati rice, washed
3/4 cup split mung beans or red lentils or yellow mung dal –  washed
8 cups water or vegetable broth or a combination
1 Tbsp ghee*
1 tsp cumin seeds
____________

2 Tbsp ghee*
1 tsp each – ground turmeric, cumin, coriander,  mustard seeds, and sea salt
1/2 tsp each hing (asafoetida), cayenne pepper, (cardamom, cinnamon, pepper and cloves can all be added too!)
2 Tbsp fresh grated ginger
1/2 onion, chopped small
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh chopped vegetables (carrots, zucchini, celery, green beans, tomatoes …)
2 cups fresh chopped greens (spinach, kale, chard…)

Optional garnishes – chopped fresh cilantro, yogurt, fruit chutney…

In a soup pot, heat 1 Tbsp ghee and add cumin seeds. Brown lightly, then add the rice and mung beans, stirring to coat. Add water or veg broth and  bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes.

In a small skillet, heat 2 Tbsp ghee and add all dry spices. Saute a few minutes, then stir in onion, garlic and ginger.

Add the spice mixture, veggies and greens to the rice and mung.

Cover and cook 20 minutes longer.. watch that there is enough liquid, add as needed. This should not be brothy, it will be hearty like a stew.

Serve with garnished of your choice.

*For vegan diets, replace ghee with olive , coconut or sunflower oil.

There are so many recipes for Kitchari out there, uou can add or delete vegetables and spices as you desire. It’s delicious with just the lentils and rice.
Sometimes I even add a can of coconut milk, yum!

Photo by Ayurvedic Cooking

Oil Pulling is an Ayurvedic process that pulls toxins from the body and has numerous health benefits.

• First thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything, including water, put about a teaspoon of oil in your mouth.  Coconut, sesame, sunflower or olive oil are all great options.
• Swish the oil around in your mouth and through your teeth for 5 minutes.  You do not have to swish vigorously, relax your jaw and let the movement be natural.  Do not swallow the oil!
• It might take some time to get used to doing this for so long. You can also start with less oil in the beginning and/or less time – work your way up.  It’s normal to want to gag, you have a mouth full of toxins!  Remember to breathe through your nose it helps.
• Brush your teeth immediately.  Some Ayurvedic practitioners suggest rinsing with warm salt water first.  If you have a tongue scraper you can use that too.

After about a week see if you notice any differences.  I’d love to hear about them! Please share on my Facebook Page.

‘Tis the season to celebrate by sharing feasts, sweets, and drinks.  We all have experienced the remorse of too much!  Over indulgence leaves us depleted, sluggish, and hazy and our bodies need days to truly recover.  The method of Anusara yoga emphasizes balanced action and the middle path.  We are householders, yogis who are living in the world therefore we are not looking to renounce anything or refuse the delights of embodiment.  By all means, enjoy yourself; eat, drink and be merry but use yogic discernment to know when enough is enough.  Practice moderation, you will be glad you did.  One of my first yoga teachers continually reminded us that too much of a good thing never proves to be good, it’s all about balance. Let the holiday parties begin!

11 Ways to End 2011 and Create Healthy Habits for the New Year!

1. Slow down. Give yourself plenty of time to get where you are going.
2. Make gifts or buy them from local designers and artisans.
3. Join a CSA and get local, organic produce delivered to your door. There are so many, to choose from.  (Yelp! can help you find the right one for you in your area.)
4. Be sure to find a little time each day to enjoy silence and the company of your Self.
5. Spread good cheer by saying hello to your neighbors.
6. Start a gratitude journal and a daily practice of recognizing the blessings in your life.
7. Go for a walk each day even if it is just around the block. Breathe in the fresh air.
8. Surround yourself with people who are positive and uplifting.
9. Eat warm grounding foods such as soups, stews, and seasonal root vegetables.
10. Pause before you eat and each meal and give thanks silently.  Eat slowly and sit for a few minutes once you have finished.
11. And of course, get to your yoga mat each day!  If you can’t make it to a class watch for short home sequences I will post be posting here on my blog and Facebook page.

All month I will be posting health tips, recipes, gift ideas, and home asana sequences.  I’d love to hear from you so please share your experiences and ask questions on my  Facebook page.

Often when people begin to practice Anusara Yoga and they first hear about the philosophy, the life view, and the approach, they find themselves thinking, “Wow, this is exactly what I believe and how I try to live. I can’t believe there is a system out there, a group of people who have the same beliefs.” This is precisely how it happened for me when the Anusara method found me in 2002.  It was as if some part inside of me already knew these ideas to be true but I did not yet have the words to articulate it.  My heart felt blissfully at home in a community of like-minded and like-hearted people. Over the years, many of my students have shared these same feelings that the Anusara philosophy truly resonates deep within their hearts.

Recently this same theme was illuminated while I was teaching a 50-hour Anusara Immersion in Shanghai, China. In this particular Immersion, nine countries of origin were represented and all but one of the students currently lived in China. Leading an Immersion is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job.  Normally, over the span of several months I get the privilege of watching as hearts gradually expand and open and the participants are empowered to create life changes both large and small. Yet in just seven days in China great transformation occurred. It was truly a powerful experience, and an honor to witness.

In the first few days of the Immersion the students were very reserved and they did not want to speak or share their thoughts.  However, over seven days these 20 people shifted; friendships were born, stories began to unfold and express themselves, and hearts were blown wide open.   By the end of the Immersion a beautiful community had formed and everyone wanted to speak! On the last day we sat in our closing circle and these faces that had started out as shy and hesitant, had now softened and were expressing tears and laughter. Each of them had touched the light of their own hearts and were experiencing true joy. What was even more exceptional was the realization that this happened only after seven days of immersing in Anusara Yoga.  Everyone in the group felt that this perspective on life and method of practice resonated deeply in their hearts, and even though they hadn’t known it, this was exactly what they had been looking for.

The significance of this transformation was beautifully expressed by a French woman in our group, who commented that one of the best parts of the experience for her was witnessing the Chinese students open up and share their stories. This woman had been living and working in Shanghai for five years, and despite having worked there for all of that time, she had never really been able to get to know her Chinese colleagues. After only seven days in an Anusara Immersion she was so happy to be learning about her Chinese peers and neighbors. While the society and culture around them would remain unchanged, for these 20 participants, true transformation had occurred. Their hearts were wide open, emanating their inner light.  It makes me smile to think that they will share this radiance with others around them.

It is basic human nature that our hearts long to reconnect with their source. The method of Anusara provides a gateway to our natural selves. It gives us an opportunity to self-reflect, to listen deeply, and to hear the inner desires of our hearts. With this knowledge we can better set our intentions and align with our higher vision, bringing it into manifestation. When we are living in alignment with our deepest beliefs, life becomes more joyful. My experience teaching in China has shown me that when the heart feels at home, the boundaries that prevent us from experiencing our natural self dissolve and what is left is the pure joy of the heart to delight in this gift of life.

Anusara Yoga Immersion, Shangai, China, June 2011

Sigh… I have arrived in Bali. Though I love to travel and explore new places there is something very special about this island and I am delighted to be back. I could feel it right away.

What struck me the most when I was here for the first time three years ago was the extraordinary beauty in everything. In addition to the magnificent natural environment the Balinese people revere art and creativity which seems to be woven into every aspect of their culture. Even the most basic everyday items are presented in an exquisite way.

The word we use for this kind of beauty in yoga is shri. Like most Sanskrit words shri cannot be defined with one English word. Shri is the goddess Lakshmi; she is divine beauty both elegant and graceful. Shri is splendor; the magnificent light that shines from the rays of the sun, gleams off the water and twinkles from one’s eyes. Shri is abundant and reminds us that there is always more; the universe is expanding. Shri is sacred and affirms life.

So as I was saying, Bali is the embodiment of shri. This tropical island is lush and green speckled with vibrantly colored flowers. The light is exquisite and glistens off the greenery and sparkles in the faces of it’s people.  Everything is adorned with a touch of shri.

I hope to share with you my experiences of the ways Bali and the people here express shri. Stay tuned…

I have just returned from the Anusara Yoga Certified Teacher’s gathering.  This year we were in beautiful, lush North Carolina. Thank you to the North Carolina Kula for being such wonderful hosts!

I have attended these gatherings for the past several years and each time it always amazes me how much more cohesive the group becomes.  It is clear the practice works!  During the past year John got super clear about his vision of Anusara yoga and it’s philosophy, Shiva Shakti Tantra so he spent quite a bit of time articulating and sharing with us candidly.

When John wrote his vision in 1997, he said, “Anusara Yoga is a Merry Band of bohemian artists…”.  While this vision and the Universal Principles of Alignment remain constant, our experience of them deepens and continues to unfold inside us to become us.

At the gathering John asked us, “What is your art?” He suggested that it is our Dharma to find our art and offer it.  It does not mean that you have to paint, dance, write poetry or go to circus school.  You could garden, cook, or take care of your family. But whatever it is that we each do, it can be done within the highest vision of Anusara yoga.

The very purpose of Tantric Yoga and the highest intention for the practice of Anusara yoga is Chit Ananda.  Chit means knowing your self and your Self.  Discovering your own unique talent, beauty and gifts AND connecting to that essence of the Divine Self within you that is at the core of everyone and everything.   Ananda is delighting in your life as the ecstatic expression of your self and your Self.  In other words, you offer your self in everything you do and to everyone you meet just by being who you are.

As each of us deepens our practice, it is natural for each of us to discover our self more fully and to cultivate our “art”. As the Merry Band grows we are attracting some of the most interesting, creative and wonderful beings on the planet.  When we synch with each other it becomes clear that our unity and our diversity are one in the same.  We are on the cutting edge of culture and spreading rapidly worldwide.  John’s vision of a Merry Band of Bohemian Artists has manifested, how cool is that!

It has been amazing to see so many of the same faces year after year and witness everyone becoming more of them self.  As teachers of the method we witness it in our students and it is so gratifying.  Each kula has it’s own incredible stories.  Both individually and collectively we are all spreading light and making the world a better place.

Bill Mahoney, a scholar at Davidson University came to speak with us.  All of his offerings were amazing.  One in particular idea he shared about is a Vedic notion I’ve also heard Douglas Brooks talk about, an underlying principle that organizes the universe called “ṛta”.  This word ṛta is the root of our word art.  It is truly everyone’s creative expression that organizes the universe.   It is what makes beauty and adds richness to our lives.

I came away from the gathering feeling excited, inspired and committed to the vision of Anusara yoga and am honored to be part of such an incredible community.  It is a tremendous blessing to live this life, doing what I love and sharing light with others.  I offer infinite pranams to John Friend for paving the way on this path and so much appreciation to all the students who show up week after week for the teachings.  My genuine desire is that we continue to grow and evolve together for many years to come.

I invite you to contemplate “What is your art?”  and consider that it is your Dharma to discover, cultivate and offer it.  May your yoga practice support you to blossom in all areas of your life.

With Great Love,
Stacey

For many of us it’s not uncommon to check our Facebook page several times and day and see what our friends and community are up to.  Occasionally, while I am on reading and posting the latest and greatest nuggets of information and insight I will receive a chat from my dear friend and healer Scott Marmorstein.

A few weeks ago Scott and I were having a pretty in depth discussion through a chat when he decided I needed a healing around the matter!  What a modern world we live in, I received a long distance healing via a Facebook chat!  Truthfully I felt a shift around the matter when he was done!

Scott is in the hospital now and needs our love and support. Last night from his hospital bed he wrote, “Only Grace is everything.”

Grace is a benevolent power that is available to all of us.  It is the power of love that heals our self and the world and what Scott so willingly shares with us all.  Grace knows no boundaries in time or space. It is simply the intention to send your love anywhere in the world to anyone at anytime.

Please offer your prayers, send your love and light and join the Facebook page Prayers, Love, and Light to Scott Marmorstein!