Slow and Steady

After a few very hectic weeks of ‘silly season’, and a very sporadic routine, I jumped at the chance to participate in the Yoga International ‘30 for 30 Challenge‘. 30 free 30-minutes videos straight to my inbox – the perfect reminder to get my asana on the mat!

Constitution and Dosha’s

This week I focused on Module 9, and, specifically, looked at Ayurvedic medicine and doshas. I completed a quiz that asked questions about my physical and emotional attributes, and I got a score that ‘ranked’ my doshas. First was Pitta, then a close second was Vata, and then Kapha. From the scores, I don’t have one dominant dosha, but Pitta and Vata were very, very close, so perhaps this equates to a mixed dosha?

A quick look forward into the next module shows me that

Ayurvedic Recipes

The focus of the modules this week was Ayurvedic medicine, and that includes eating in order to balance, or keep in balance, your dosha. We were asked to share some recipes that we enjoy that include a range of tastes (based on the six tastes: pungent, sweet, salty, bitter, astringent, and sour). I have two recipes here, both are Indian recipes, and are delicious!

Oh Transitions, Where Art Thou?!

So, I’m not known for graceful transitions. Not only in asana practice, but just life in general. I usually jump from one thing to another, and often it is in a restless “what’s next” kind of fashion. I’ve never really noticed, although I’ve never really looked. I’ve just kept jumping frantically.

And then I started seeing the signs that I need to slow down. Seriously, life has been screaming at me: just stop. Slow down, you move too fast! You’ve got to make this moment last…

My first ‘sign’ was a few days ago

Back From My Unexpected Hiatus

Fight or flight. It’s something I struggle with, constantly. When things get intense, and I face a stressful situation or decision, I take flight. I hightail it out of there. I have a fear of failure, so I never take the risks. Ironic really, since fleeing from the situation and never taking a chance has a guaranteed 100% failure rate…

I’ve heard it’s not uncommon to become overwhelmed in Yoga Teacher Training; there are so many elements to yoga. For me, I think it has been the new knowledge and heightened understandings of the theory of yoga.

Relaxation and Meditation

Many people think that relaxation and meditation are the same thing. I’ve seen a lot of websites where the terms are used interchangeably, or even used in combination, a ‘relaxation meditation’, but it seems that, in fact, they are quite different!

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Relaxation Exercise Reflections

Using a script as my guide, I relaxed into savasana by making myself aware of the position and heaviness of my body. This was our task for this module on Relaxation, to explore and reflect on a relaxation exercise, and I’m certainly not complaining!

I mindfully let each part of my body relax, and then I stayed in the position for a little over 10 minutes. This type of relaxation is not new to me –