Your Daily Yoga: Walk Your Yoga

Wow. I have not been writing much these past few months, but I have been getting on my mat, so there is some good juice that is coming through. My yoga has been not only the sacred time on the mat, but in my daily life. There are some alignment principles which I find key in maintaining a healthy and positive outlook, as well as core empowerment. I like to think of being in line as standing up dignified and tall, as if the best is yet to come.

When walking around, do you notice how your feet touch the ground? The relationship your legs have to your torso? Where your head is on top of your spine?

Here are some things to help keep yourself in line:
One step at a time, emphasize heel, then stretch the foot all the way to the ball
Visualize the outer shins hugging in towards the midline as you walk
Rotate your inner thighs back
Absorb your outer hips in
Grow long through the sides of the waist
Soften the front ribs in
Broaden across the collarbones
Melt shoulderblades down, away from the ears
Soften your gaze, not too close, yet not far in front of you

Whoa, that's a lot to think about! And, if you do think about it, this is an active meditation. While walking, you can be deeply entrenched in how you are walking, feeling the subtle shifts in your body, as well as inviting your body to optimize it's energy, shape and vitality through how you hold yourself in relationship to the earth and sky.

Happy Walking!

Shanti Love,
Waller

Yoga for Mother Anger

Yes, unbelievable. The yoga obsessed, meditating, Buddhist nun, your writer herself is plain pissed off. Sinning aside, I hate my mother. I cannot stand how she is fashionista of the year. She always looks perfect and claims to be spending every bit of her money so I don't get any of it. This is fin,e but it is the fact she rubs dirt in my face every time I am with her and petrol on my belly when I leave her alone, makes me think I need a super intense yoga practice every day for the rest of my life. She sucks the life out of me really. She tells me my belly is too large and I am never going to be married because I am too fat, yet then if I lose weight she will buy me whatever I want. I hate her, really.

And this hate is driving me to my mat today. There is really no reason to hate her, but only reason to cultivate a loving inner mother to drive my ship, one that deeply appreciates me, approves of me and is not always pulling my hair to make me look better when I have lessons to learn and looking perfect just doesn't seem like it is my life path anymore. I deeply value my health and understand that appearance is important, but until I get through this internal rage, I ain't gonna be who my momma wants me to be. No matter what. Enough said!

I am finding that yoga works wonders for anger, mother rage, and I would imagine that would also go for spouse rage. Not sure about that, but think it can. We'll see. I'll let ya know how I'm going...

Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a system of healing that offers both preventative and curative measures toward optimal health. Literally translated, Ayurveda means "knowledge of life" in Sanskrit, the ancient language of India. Ayurveda principles are designed to align you with the ability to balance your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual energy.

The goal of Ayurveda is to create a state of holistic health, beyond the physical body, and teaches us that health is a psychosomatic response to belief, energy and the sensation of prana coursing through our own body in order to create a healthy society and environment. In order to create this harmony inside and out, Ayurveda recommends one to discover within the natural rhythm of one's body to live in accordance with the laws of nature.

Ayurveda treatments are non-invasive and involve cleansing, building and balancing using natural remedies, including yoga, herbs, food, meditation, breathing techniques and mantras. Individuals are diagnosed based on their unique constitution, which involves one of three basic Ayurvedic doshas (constitutions), or a combination of the three.

Vata is made up of the wind and air qualities, that which is subtle, dry, light cold, rough, mobile, clear and changeable. A vata person may tend toward dry skin, a light frame, brittle nails, erratic speech, quick movements, and an inability to focus for long periods. Vata constitution thrives in a warm, moist, tropical climate, and is thrown out of balance by cold, dry mesa.

Foods to balance vata include sweet, oily, warm and heavy, such as root vegetable soups or vegetables braised in a bit of butter, rather than dry foods such as crackers or plain grains. It is important for vata's to lubricate the inner world, and food can help to balance the vata constitution by calming the nerves, soothing the brain, and activating the prana.

Pitta dosha is made up of fire and water. While heat predominates the pitta constitution, pitta is also sharp, light, spreading and oily, and tends towards a strong appetite, sharp mind, light eyes, and oily skin and hair. PItta governs metabolic and transformative functions of the body, to maintain appetite, thirst, coloration, assimilation, digestion, intelligence and comprehension.

Astringent and bitter foods are balancing for the pitta dosha. Oily, fried foods will throw pitta out of balance and will result in digestive disturbances. Pitta doshas tend towards anger, agression, impatience and irritability.

Kapha dosha is made up of water and earth, with the qualities of of heavy, slow, dull, grounded, cold, oily, dense, soft, static, sticky and clouy. A kapha person may tend towards heaviness, laziness, and have cool, soft skin, along with fluid retention and an aversion to change. Kapha also represents the principle of cohesion, and so a person with a Kapha dosha may tend to hold on to weight, relationships, possessions or money. Kapha governs lubrication, structure, support, strength, stamina, nourishment, growth, immunity, fat regulation water electrolyte balance and the sense of smell.

Kapha dosha should watch the intake of dairy or sweet foods, if trying to reduce weight. Because of the tendency to retain fluid, kapha people should exercise often and not overdo water intake.

If you would like to know more about your unique constitution, and receive lifestyle recommendations to balance your energy, email: consultations@createradiance.com

Namaste,
Waller

Juicy Savasana

What is the purpose of yoga but to create that sensation of flow? Even if you are going into a gentle practice, doesn't it restore that juicy feeling within yourself? Why is this? What is it about yoga that you can't quite get enough of? Why is yoga so healing? It is not just a trend. You may be into it today, and not next year, but your body will thank you for staying into yoga.

Flexibility is key for maintaining radiant health and youthfulness. A flexible body encourages a flexible mind which offers a refreshment of perspective. When you walk into yoga class in one mood, thinking perhaps about the day, what goes on from when you are on the mat until you leave once again? Magic. Intentional juiciness. Flow with spirit. Even if you do not take the time to cultivate gratitude, your yoga practice is still an act of devotion that impacts people in your life. Especially when you set an intention. Yoga teachers often times remind us to set an intention, even as simple as bringing your hands together at your heart center is an aknowledgement of self-love. Even if you don't hear it from your teacher throughout class, you are receiving the subtle benefits of mindfully cultivating a sense of compassion for yourself when you practice yoga. The intention can feed the benefits, and isn't awakening and feeling better a natural by-product of practicing yoga? From there, what is this juicy sensation that yoga creates within and all around us?

Could it be the prana, the natural life force coursing through the veins that feels so unbelievable after a yoga practice? Or is it just the feeling that you are free from the bondage of self that creates the juicy sensation? Perhaps it is both. Perhaps it is the energy that you put into your yoga is giving you vitality, as well as feeding others in your life. The more you yoga, the more others in your path will naturally be drawn to your light. Allow the juiciness to resonate with you in your life. Step on your mat and pray. And when you are complete with your practice, roll up your mat, mindfully carrying the juicy feeling into your life as you flow with grace and ease. Keep coming back to open to greater love each day through your yoga.

Relax more here

A Lesson in Sanskrit

Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. You hear your yoga teacher at the end of class say it, after the om-ing, before the namaste, what exactly does all of this sanskrit mean?

Om, the reverberation of sound. The vibration produced by chanting Om in the physical universe corresponds to the original vibration that first arose at the time of creation. The sound of Om is sustains life and runs through Prana or breath, which is also referred to as Pranava. Om also represents the four states of the Supreme Being. The three sounds in Om (Ah, oh, mmm) represent the waking, dream and deep sleep states and the silence which surrounds Om represents the state of spaciousness and all knowingness that exists within each of us.

Meditation on Om:
Sit quietly. Allow the body to be as it is, which is always different and unique to each new moment. Every day the body is different, the thoughts are creating new stories, just allow what is there to be, as you take this next segment of time to drop inside.
Come into the here and now. Connect with the area in between the eye brows, the center of consciousness and intuition, and quiet the conscious mind. Allow Begin to connect with the sensation of "Om", allowin "om" to vibrate within as you mentally cultivate the sound and listen deep within yourself. "Om, om, om", feel it, silently listen to the feeling that the om is creating, while associating the ideas of infinity, eternity, and spaciousness. Feel the reverberation from the base of the spine all the way up, clearing away energy in the low back, middle back, upper back, shoulders and out through the crown of the head. As every part of your body is vibrating with the sensation of being all-knowingness, space, limitless consciousness, rest here until you feel called to move forward into life, carrying with you the energy of "om" and the power of being at one with the Universe.

Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.
Peace, Peace, peace. Shanti simply means "peace" in Sanskrit. To end your yoga practice with peace means to begin your life with a state of peacefulness within, that will reverberate to all whom you think about, feel and come in contact with. This is highly recommended, as you roll up your mat, that you remind yourself of the benefits of the practice, set an intention to use the energy that you reclaimed from your yoga to move forward from that peaceful place of beingness. As you do so, you will be reminded that the space you hold is vital to not only your personal serenity, but impacts the world in which you live.

Guidelines for incorporating shanti into your practice:
1. Practice yoga or meditation.
2. At the end of your session, take a moment, or a few, with your hand together at your heart center, thumbs resting on your sternum in a mudra to symbolize self love. Call on the forces to ground this sensation of love within yourself.
3. Chant, Om, shanti, shanti, shanti, om..
4. Rest in the feeling of peacefulness within, as you set the intention to spread peace to the world today.

Namaste.
namah + te = namaste, in Sanskrit, means “I bow to you”, in other words, "I honor the light in you". The root of namaste is word ‘namaha’ and can also be interpreted as "na ma" (not mine). Namaha It has a spiritual significance of reducing one's ego in the presence of another.

Practice Namaste today!
1. Keep the palms together at the center of the chest, elbows bent.
2. Bow your head by lowering the chin slightly towards the chest.
3. Feel the heart center soft and open as you acknowledge the teacher within, as well as the teachers in your life (all around you).

Shantilove,
Namaste,
Waller

Relax more here

Yoga for a Healthy Cycle

Yoga is a way of healing our internal world to live in greater harmony with the world around us. Yoga is not only about the postures, but about creating deep, inner stillness in order that we enhance the peaceful space that we take up in the world and come together in a more balanced way.



The menstrual cycle is a natural time in a woman's life, that can occur monthly from puberty to menopause. Many hormonal changes take place during the cycle, which can last 2-7 days, with symptoms going on for more than a week prior. Yoga is an excellent way to help the menstrual cycle be a time for greater introspiection and healthy reflection in a woman’s life, as well as by practicing yoga during other times of the month, can lead to have a healthier and pain-free cycle.

Poses to practice while menstruating, include:

Sukhasana:
Sit in a comfortable cross-legged position, while gazing into the horizon and breathe for 1-2 minutes.

Bhujangasana: (good for the lower back)
Cobra Posture
Lie on your belly. Bend your elbows beneath your shoulders, spread palms wide, and have forearms making contact with the ground. Press the palms down and gently lift the gaze (avoiding overstretching in the neck) and lift your chest. Shine your hear foreward, and rest back down. Lift 2-3 times. Inhale as you extend, and exhale as you rest back down.

Pavanamuktasana: A good relaxing pose.
Wind relieving pose.
Lie down on your back. Lift your legs, bend your knees to your chest, simultaneously bring your chin to reach the knees. Don’t try too hard, inhale as you lift knees to chest, and exhale, rest your head back down and straighten the arms, taking the knees away from the chest.

Poses to avoid are as follows:
Inversions (any pose where your head is below your heart)
Such as headstand and handstand

Yoga is an elixir for the hormones. Wherever you are man, woman, young, old, flexible or not-so, yoga can balance your inner life with the world in which you live. Learn to breathe deeply, circulate the energy in order to create greater overall life balance and optimie well-being through your yoga practice. It does not have to be powerful, just what you need. Sometimes that may be as gentle as stepping in a creek and feeling the water brush across your legs. And other times, you may feel the need to dive straight into the waves, and so a power yoga practice may enhance your inner serenity. During the menstrual cycle, be mindful of slowing down a bit, listening to your inner world, and preparing to move forward with a cleansed and rejuvenated perspective.

Shantilove,
Waller

Shanti Love Yoga

Welcome, welcome to Shanti Love Yoga! This blog was created to inspire yogis and those who are drawn to the path of yoga to go within and find your own inner guru. Wherever you are on the yoga path, Shanti Love Yoga is for you to cultivate a beginners mind and to go deep within yourself and contemplate what you are learning through your practice and translate that to become a spiritual warrior!

Yoga is not only about flexibility, but about the ability to get still with yourself and be where you are. A flexible body happens to be a by-product of an open mind. As you may nitoce, the more you yoga, the more you clear the mind, open your heart and live from that place of mind-body integration which makes you a spiritual warrior! There is nothing you have to do to become amazing, you already are that, and yoga can guide you deep within where there is a resevoir of serenity, away from the events of the day, drama of relationships, or stress from work. Yoga is love, love is yoga.

Even if you are not drawn to the physical practive of yoga, you can practice yoga in your daily life by practicing ahimsa or non-violence. Start within yourself. Notice the conversations you are having. Erase the ones that feel limiting or punitive. By bounding yourself in restriction, you withhold your light, and put off the vibration of being unavailable, temporarily interrupted. Your work is to see beyond the messages that feel limiting, and to feel within the light and shine, baby, shine!