HUMP DAY STRESS BUSTER YOGA POSE- SUPPORTED SPINAL TWIST

Supported Spinal Twist (Jathara Parivartanasana)

 

Why You Need to Do It:

Have you ever had one of those days when you just need to be held up and supported so you can drift off into your happy place? Well, my friend, this pose is for that sort of day.

Supported Spinal Twist frees the tension and stress from the day from your spine, shoulders and hips. This pose helps to calm the mind and open up the lungs. Supported Spinal Twist is detoxifying and gently energizing as it encourages blood to flow to the organs.

Your thoughts will dissipate into the ether....

 “When there is no mind, you are in yoga; when there is mind you are not in yoga. So you may do all the postures, but if the mind goes on functioning, if you go on thinking, you are not in yoga. Yoga is the state of no-mind. If you can be without the mind without doing any posture, you have become a perfect yogi. It has happened to many without doing any postures, and it has not happened to many who have been doing postures for many lives."-Osho 

 

How to get in to it:

For ultimate benefits, you’ll want to pull some props aside. If you don’t have yoga bolsters, large pillows will do. Bolsters are best though. A bolster, two blocks and two blankets.

I’ll walk you through set-up.

1)       Two blocks on high and medium setting

2)         Lay your bolster over the blocks creating an incline

3)         Fold a blanket or pillow at top of bolster

4)         Bring your hips to the base of the bolster and place a blanket between your legs to soften the space between bony ankles and knees

6)         Set an eye pillow on your shoulders or cover your eyes

How Long to Hold?

5-7 minutes per side will do. Set your phone alarm to something soothing.

This is a great pose for try after a long and stressful day at work.

So...what do you think?

4 Ayurvedic Practices to Enliven your Morning Routine

Sometimes, the secret to balance lies with consistency and routines.

Generally speaking, you either like routines or your don't (we can count on Ayurveda to help explain these personal proclivities). 

Whether you find mornings to be rough, or enjoy rising before the sun, whether you love a good routine tweak or have a hard time following them, here are 4 Ayurvedic practices to enliven your morning routine and set you up for a balanced day. 

1)         Sip herbal tea, warm water with lemon, or apple cider vinegar upon waking

Sipping a warm beverage blend first thing in the morning stimulates digestion and encourages elimanation. Herbal tea, lemon water and apples cider vinegar are alkaline and detoxifying. The brew flushes the body and provides much needed hydration after a night’s sleep and or before a morning coffee.

2)         Try Oil Pulling (Gandusha)

Tell your mouth wash to move over! Oil pulling is all you need for oral detoxification. Here's how it works, measure a tablespoon of oil and swish it around the mouth for 10-20 minutes. You can  use coconut oil or sesame for best results. Oil puling removes harmful bacterial in the mouth reducing gingivitis, plaque, inflammation and bad breath. Add a drop of tea tree essential oil if you want that minty fresh tingle. 

3)         Use a Tongue Scraper (Jihwa Prakshalana)

According to Ayurveda, the body detoxifies at night while we sleep. Some of these toxins are released onto the surface of the tongue. Using the scraper first thing in the morning helps to remove the toxins so they don’t get reabsorbed into the body.

4)         Perform an Oil Massage Before Bathing (Abhyanga)

About 30 minutes before your shower, rub yourself down with sesame oil, slip into your bathrobe, enjoy a cup of tea and breakfast, then shower. A little bit goes a long way. The sesame oil massage helps to relieve stress, improves mcirculation, detoxifies the body, reduces wrinkles and blemishes of the skin, and reduces the signs of aging.

There you have it! A few tips to jumpstart an Ayurvedic routine. These are general recommendations that typically work well for all. Keep in mind that the science of Ayurveda is extremely specific and tailored to each individual person. 

Interested in learning more about Ayurveda, leave a comment below or contact me through this site!

Amethyst: The Incredible Healing and Calming Gem

If I had to choose one and only one crystal to have and to hold and be my companion, I would, without a moment of hesitation go with AMETHYST... the Incredible Healing and Calming Gem!

A rough, deep purple amethyst to be specific.

Ever since childhood when I mistakenly identified my birthstone as amethyst, (alas, June is actually Alexandrite…) I’ve been attracted to the radiant purple gem.

It’s not a natural choice since purple is not a color I usually vibrate towards. Some people are unabashedly attracted to the color purple,  I’m not one of those people. Green and turquoise have always been my spirit colors. Color preference aside, amethyst is still my soul gem.

Maybe it was my natural attraction to healing work, my connection with the moon, the pitta portion of my Ayurvedic constitution in constant need being tamed, but whatever the case, amethyst, it turns out is the perfect gem for yoga instructor, reiki healer, writer, and lover of quiet, me.

Amethyst: The Incredible Healing and Calming Gem

·             Amethyst calms, protects and cleanses the spirit

·             Amethyst is grounding and balancing

·             Amethyst aids in meditation as it correlates directly with and stimulates the crown chakra and is known to heighten spiritual and psychic awareness

·             Amethyst eases anxiety, emotional imbalance and agitation

·             Amethyst helps to bring about clarity of thought

·             Amethyst is known to emit energy to help strengthen the adrenal glands, the reproductive organs and the respiratory system

·             Amethyst boosts the immune system

·             Amethyst helps with grief and loss

·             Amethyst is known to energize and foster creativity

·             Amethyst has been used to attract abundance and prosperity

·             Amethyst is a heart opener

·             Amethyst helps to free anger and repressed emotions

I use amethyst jewelry when I’m engaged in healing work, I sleep with an amethyst next to my bed, there’s an amethyst at my yoga altar, I place amethyst around my plants and there’s an amethyst stone at my writing desk.

I adore my soul stone and choose amethyst, when it comes down to it, above all others.

What's your favorite stone and why?

Cooling Spring/Summer Green Clay Mask

DIY Cooling Spring/Summer Green Clay Mask

It's spring! The days are getting longer, the weather is warming and the sun is shinning. This is all great news, but the change in season can wreak havoc  on your skin.

In the spring when the sun shines a bit longer and a bit brighter, the skin can get warm, very warm, it can even feel uncomfortably hot. If you have an understanding of Ayurveda, and you're Pitta in constitution, you're probably saying amen right about now. 

No matter what the proclivities of your skin or your Ayurvedic constitution, you're most likely in need of something cooling and calming.

This cooling spring/summer green clay mask, with it's power to refresh and rejuvenate may just the answer. This is an excellent mask to apply mid-day to cool and clean a hot and sweaty face. Gentle and deeply moisturizing, even the most sensitive skin responds well.  

Cooling Spring/Summer Green Clay Mask Ingredients:

1 tablespoon French Green Clay Powder

1 tablespoon Rosewater

1 tablespoon coconut oil (softened to room temperature) 

1 tablespoon Greek Yogurt (full fat, plain) 

5 drops Rose Essential Oil

1 teaspoon Vegetable Glycerin  

Here's What to Do:

In a small bowl or dish, measure out your green clay powder and yogurt. Mix with a spoon until smooth then add the softened coconut oil. Mix until smooth then add the rose water, vegetable glycerin and essential oil.

Mix until a uniform paste like consistency is achieved. 

Cool and store in the refrigerator. 

Benefits: 

cools skin

reduces inflammation  

detoxifies skin and removes impurities  

moisturizing

softening

calms sun burn

tightens pores

reduces and calms Pitta

Directions for use:

Keep cool in refrigerator and apply cold to skin. Smooth over your face in gentle circles using your fingertips. Avoid direct contact with your eyes, nostrils, and mouth.

It's ideal to leave the mask on for ten minutes before rinsing and wiping away with a warm washcloth.  

Even your little ones can enjoy this natural, non-toxic, cooling mask after coming inside after a long day of play. 

Enjoy the sunshine. Enjoy the glorious warmth and light!

How does your skin regimen change in the warmer months?

For more DIY natural skin care ideas, check out my latest book Natural Beauty from the Outside In, where you’ll find 70 Ayurveda inspired hair and skin care recipes.