Water - 10 Delicious Ayurvedic Variations to try this summer

It's a great summer finally here, isn't it?

 With summer, come blue skies, warm breezes, and long walks. With all these activities, we have to make sure to pay attention to our water intake. 

According to Ayurveda, water represents Soma, the cooling energy associated with lunar cycles. It helps with regulating digestion; balances Pitta dosha; removes the dryness of Vata, and maintains the balance of Kapha energy. 

Sometimes, it becomes challenging to maintain a regular intake of water. We forget; it's boring; we switch to carbonated drinks.

 But, we can energize the intake of water with several ideas. Do try these in summer and develop a liking for water :)

- Add a tsp. of Pink Himalayan salt.

- Add a slice of fresh lemon & orange 

- Add freshly grated ginger & freshly grated turmeric root (1/2 tsp each)

- Soak 1 tsp. Chia seeds for 2 hrs and add them to the water

- Add 2 pods of crushed Cardamom / Elaichi seeds to the water.

- Steep 2 cloves / 1 tsp Fennel seeds. Then, add this to the water and sip through the day.

- Boil 1 tsp Ajwain seeds/ Bishop's weed with 2 cups of water. Cool; sip through the day.

- Drink Simple salt Lassi to replenish electrolyte imbalances. To a cup of yogurt, add 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 tsp of salt, 1/2 tsp of cumin powder, a little hing. Blend well and sip after a long walk or workout. 

- Drink Fresh Coconut water; it replenishes electrolytes in the body and enhances hydration.

- Boil 1 inch of Indian Cinnamon / Dalchinni in 2 cups of water. Cool; sip through the day.

Let me know if you liked any of these delicious water concoctions!

Namaste.

Buddha's Blessings - A Great Day, Warm Sunshine, Deep Stretches, Tasty Lunch & Laughter

Sunday, May 5th was one of the best days for me!
Our community event, "Buddha's Blessings" unfolded beautifully this past Sunday in Creekside Park. It was a balmy, warm sunshiny day with white clouds moving across an azure sky.
I had gone earlier in the morning to hold the wide expanse of grassy area for our Surya Namaskara practice. I spread all the mats across the grass, sat in silence and allowed the energy of the practice to become conscious in the park.
All the students arrived on time, dressed comfortably, carrying Yoga mats and lots of delicious food :)
Thanks and big hugs to Sharadha, Bharathi, Nithya Prakash, Nithya Nagarajan and Priyanka for being my committed volunteers for this event. We met a few times through the last 2 months to plan out timings, ideas etc.
We started with a round of Surya Namaskara sequence, breathing in the warmth and sunshine. Then, we practiced the Beeja Mantras with the Surya Namaskara sequence. 

Did you know that each pose in the sequence has a Beeja Mantra?
Chanting as we practice is a deeper, conscious way to connect with the Prana; connect the mind-energy to the present; seamlessly integrate Body, Mind and Breath into every movement.

  Surya Namaskara Practice

Beautiful Smiles!!

Lunch Time !!

Playing Yoga Bingo

I loved every minute of it!
Hope everyone who came felt recharged and energized!!
We will do it again in the near future.
Hope you shine your light everywhere!!
Namaste.

Journey though Silence and Laryngitis - Exploring Choices, Thoughts on Health

This week's Blogpost is about my ongoing experience with throat pain, laryngitis and having no voice :)
As many of you know, I am having a severe bout of laryngitis since the past few days. My voice has become very feeble, I literally have no voice :) It's a strange experience for me since I rely so much on having a voice. I rely on it to teach classes everyday, but I have cancelled all classes till Wednesday.
It's like being on a Retreat with Noble Silence, except my mind is churning at an alarmingly fast rate. In a Retreat, I would have chosen to sit in silence, chosen not to talk or interact with any fellow beings. But, right now, I am forced to do the same thing, but I really haven't enjoyed it. I miss not teaching, I miss the daily connections, the humor in the class etc.

And, underneath these thoughts lurk a deeper vein of thinking.
How can I fall sick? I tell each student to practice Yoga Asanas and Pranayama for better health, better immunity, and less pain.
 I have been asked too: "How can you fall sick, Asha?"

The list in my monkey mind goes on. Maybe, I talk too much, maybe I teach too much.
 I realize I have to change the perception of the situation.
I also understand that it's very easy to extend compassion to others, but very challenging to show oneself the same friendliness and concern.

So, now, what does one do?
This is where we apply our learning, our knowledge, our spiritual faith.
In Mindfulness Meditation, I have learnt a technique called RAIN (acronym for the 4 steps of the process)
R - Recognize what is happening
A - Acknowledge the issue
I - Investigate the inner experience of it
N- Non-identification with difficult thoughts

- Recognize that Life, by its very nature , is going to be a little always out of our fierce grip. We connect inward to all the sensations, feelings associated with the present experience. We recognize that this is our inner experience of the outward event. I can recognize that I might fall sick, inspite of my best efforts, best nutrition, because that is the nature of Life. I forgive myself for being Human, again & again.

- Acknowledge or Allow the present experience to unfold as is. It does not mean that I will love the moment, but I can drop my inner monologue of judgment and criticism against it.

- Investigate the current situation. I might need to understand how to take better care of my health, how to draw boundaries, how not to criticize myself harshly. But, the difference here is to understand the underlying causes and offer support to oneself without criticism. That's always a formidable task :) But, its doable and possible.

- Non-identification with the inner monologue. Here, We turn our attention to the simple realization that we are not just the mind, emotions; We are all the luminous awareness that is beneath every thought, emotion, and sense perception. This possibility unfolds to us in regular Meditation; we sit when we are happy; we sit when we are sad, angry, mad. As we do this again & again, we develop freedom from the emotional states which control us. We sit in Meditation in any state of the mind- that's Freedom from identification with the emotional and mental states.

No matter how intense the emotional storm one is facing, we connect to the silent, still and untouched part of oneself.

This has been part of my journey the last few days, through silence; through spicy pepper rasam ; through encouraging words from so many of my students/friends; this too shall pass.
I will be teaching this Mindfulness technique RAIN this Sunday, April 28th at 5pm.
Do try to make time for Yourself; it's worth it!!
Namaste.

Invisible Mom - A Heart-warming Post about a Mother's Work..

This post was sent to me by a good friend. I loved reading it, had tears in my eyes by the time I finished it and wanted to share it with everyone I know.

This is for "YOU" - all the amazing Moms who are building cathedrals every day, with their actions, their thoughts and with their love.

"Invisible Mother......

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store.

Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

Obviously, not.

No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, Or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at All.

I'm invisible. The invisible Mom.

 Some days I am only a pair of hands, Nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. 

I'm a Clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What Number is the Disney Channel?' 

I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, Please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the Eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated sum a cum laude - But now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen Again. She's going; she's going; she is gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a Friend from England.

Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in.

I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself.

I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe.

I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:

'To My Dear Friend, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. 

And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.

These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.

They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.

The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the Cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny Bird on the inside of a beam.

He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' 

And the workman replied, 'Because God sees'.

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place.

It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. 

I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. 

No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. 

You are building a Great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life.

It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. 

As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.

The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes 

turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' 

That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. 

I just want him to want to come home. 

And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'you're going to love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right.

And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM!

Meditation Class update - Trataka Practice, Information

Our first Meditation class was done yesterday evening and I was really happy with the students' reactions, questions, and connections.
It was a good community of my students, who made time on a Sunday evening to understand and practice Meditation.
I loved hearing all the questions; "What is Meditation? "; "What's the purpose of Meditation?"; "Am I doing it properly?".
All these questions are completely normal and expected. Every single one of us is asking these questions since we began the path of understanding ourselves better.
Meditation is a process of understanding and accepting our inner selves; our quirks, our joys, our sorrows, our fears, our insecurities, our pain & suffering - all of it. That said, it's not an easy process or a fun one;
It takes a Warrior's heart to sit with oneself, to listen to the chaotic thoughts; to not run away at the next tantrum of the mind; to hear our own monologue about our pain or the unfairness of our life; so, why do it?
We do it because we want to understand this strange and interesting journey we are on; to understand where we come from; where we are going; does all this have a meaning and purpose; or is all of it pointless.
In one's evolution as a Conscious Human, this is an essential turning point. Without this inner search for meaning, we do not grow, we are stuck with the next treat which gives us momentary joy, to dissolve into dissonance again.

This is the description of the Trataka Practice we did. Do practice at home; you are welcome to send me any questions / doubts you have.


Trataka Practice :

Concentration on a Point or Candle Flame:

Sit in meditation pose in front of a candle. Place the candle about an arm’s length away from you. The flame should be still and not moving in a draft.
Look at the flame. The flame has three zones of colour. At the base of the wick is a reddish colour, in the middle it is bright white and at the tip it is slightly smoky. Concentrate on the upper part of the flame where it is brightest.
Observe for 1 minute.
Close the eyes for 1 minute.. If the image of the flame appears within, gently concentrate on that image without creating any tension. Try not to pursue or hold onto the image, otherwise it will fade and disappear.
Repeat the practice 3 times.
The practice time should gradually build. In the initial stages, look at the flame only for about 10-15 seconds. Slowly increase this time, so that after about one year you can look at the flame for 1 minute and then concentrate on the inner image with closed eyes for about 4 minutes. Under no circumstances should this recommended length of time be exceeded.
One may also practice Trataka while looking at a white point on black paper, or at a black point on white paper. When one concentrates on a white point, one sees this as a black image when the eyes are closed and vice versa with a black point.

Benefits:
Purifies the eyes, strengthens the eye muscles and improves vision and memory. Helps with sleeping difficulties.
Strengthens the ability to concentrate and is therefore recommended for school children. Develops intuition, the ability to visualize and willpower.

I do hope to see all of you in class again next month.
Till then, enjoy sitting in silence :)
Namaste.

Insight Meditation Class , February 24th , 5pm - Updates, Information

Namaste,
It's a gorgeous day outside!! Hope you are enjoying the fall of the warm rays on your face :)
Thanks to everyone who has signed up to attend the Meditation class on February 24th, Sunday at 5pm.

You are in for a great adventure!!

I guess there will be a few questions in your mind about the class. I wanted to explain the structure of the class, techniques we are going to use and other relevant information.

Please come to the studio a few minutes before 5pm.
Please bring a thick cushion to sit on and a warm throw to cover yourself as we sit.

Parking : Since there are going to be around 20 students, I request that you

•  Park on the outer edge of the loop, or 
•  in Creekside Park , on Wedgewood Road and walk a few steps into Cedarwood Loop
•  or park in Bark & Ride on Stoneleaf road and walk into Cedarwood Loop.
• Car pool with a few friends

Structure of the Class: 
In the 1-hour class, I am going to begin by explaining Insight Meditation, Mindfulness concepts, benefits and Basic Instructions.
We will start with OM-kara Meditation, a Pranayama technique followed with a Meditation technique. I will give time for questions / doubts, since this process might be challenging to begin with :)

If you have done Meditation before, this will be a good refresher course to explore.
If you haven't done Meditation before, it will be a great start to a Journey to Understand Yourself.

Looking forward to sitting in silence with all of you :)
Asha

Insight Meditation Class - New Weekend Class, Sign up and work this year towards Peace

I have been wanting to start a Regular Insight Meditation Class for a long time.

So as this New Year starts, I would like to start an Insight Meditation Class, which will meet formally once a month, followed by informal practice through the next month in daily Life. 

We will learn a few basic tenets of Insight Meditation; we will sit together and practice for an hour; then, we apply these principles of Mindfulness in our day-to-day lives. 

Ultimately, we are trying to find Peace and Balance in our current life, with all its stresses, problems, joys, and sorrows!! 

Day of Class : Last Sunday of every month ; beginning on January 27th,2019

Time : 5 - 6pm

Location : Yoga Studio, 2941, Cedarwood Loop

Charges / class: 10$ ( I will be donating our proceeds to Ek Prayas)

Please share the information with your friends and family; Everybody is welcome to join :)

Introduction to Insight Meditation & Mindfulness: 

"Insight Meditation is at the heart of the teachings and practice at  Spiritrock Meditation Center.I have practiced this method for the past 13 years, with guidance from  Jack Kornfield.

My teaching is based on this ancient, but proven technique of developing Mindfulness.

 Its purpose is to strengthen mindfulness (Sati), our capacity to experience "things as they are" directly, without the filter of discursive thinking, evaluation or habitual reactivity. It consists of bringing a natural and clear attention to whatever occurs in the present moment.

As we learn to be alertly and calmly present with our meditation, a deeper intimacy with ourselves and with the world will arise. As we cultivate our ability to remain mindful without interfering, judging, avoiding or clinging to our direct experience, wellsprings of insight and wisdom have a chance to surface. At some point, we joyfully realize that our unobstructed awareness of this very moment is our freedom. Delightfully, mindfulness becomes both the means and the end of insight practice.

Benefits of Meditation

• Obtain quiet or inner peace
• Have a respite from the pace of daily life
• Collect and unify the mind
• Clear the mind of emotional turmoil
• Feel and experience the truth of “the way things are” for yourself
• Learn loving-kindness and compassion for yourself and others
• Understand and learn how to practice forgiveness

Insight Meditation Instructions

Insight Meditation is a simple technique which has been adapted from the Vipassana tradition that has been practiced in Asia for more than 2,600 years. Beginning with the focusing of attention on the breath, the practice concentrates and calms the mind. It allows us to see through the mind's conditioning and thereby to be more fully present in the moment.

To begin, select a quiet time and place. Be seated on a cushion or chair, taking an erect yet relaxed posture. Close your eyes gently and begin by bringing a full, present attention to whatever you feel within you and around you. Let your mind be spacious and your heart be kind and soft. 

As you sit, feel the sensations of your body. Then notice what sounds and feelings, thoughts and expectations are present. Allow them all to come and go, to rise and fall like the waves of the ocean. Be aware of the waves and rest seated in the midst of them.

In the center of all these waves, feel your breathing, your life-breath. Let your attention feel the in-and-out breathing wherever you notice it, as coolness or tingling in the nose or throat, as a rising and falling of your chest or abdomen. Relax and softly rest your attention on each breath, feeling the movement in a steady, easy way. Let all other sounds and sensations, thoughts and feelings continue to come and go like waves in the background. 

After a few breaths, your attention may be carried away by one of the waves of thoughts or memories, by body sensations or sounds. Whenever you notice you have been carried away for a time, acknowledge the wave that has done so by softly giving it a name such as “planning,” “remembering,” “itching,” “restlessness.” Then let it pass and gently return to the breath. Some waves will take a long time to pass, others will be short. Certain thoughts or feelings will be painful, others will be pleasurable. Whatever they are, let them be. 

At some sittings, you will be able to return to your breath easily. At times in your meditation, you will mostly be aware of body sensations or of plans or thoughts. Either way is fine. No matter what you experience, be aware of it, let it come and go, and rest at ease in the midst of it all. After you have sat for 20 or 30 minutes in this way, open your eyes and look around you before you get up. Then as you move try to allow the same spirit of awareness to go with you into the activities of your day. 
The art of meditation is simple but not always easy.

It thrives on practice and a kind and spacious heart. If you do this simple practice of sitting and awareness every day, you will gradually grow in centeredness and understanding."

(Adapted from Buddha’s Little Instruction Book by Jack Kornfield, Bantam, 1994.)
Hope to see you in class.
Namaste.