Relaxation

Summer Solstice Speculations

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Another Summer Solstice came and went. Among other things, this is the longest day of the year. When presented with such opportunity, what are our first thoughts about what we should do, how we should take advantage of the time?

I was thinking about this when I woke up and started getting ready for the day. I mentally went through my to do list for the day and the week and thought to myself well, I have more daylight today so why not try to get more things done? I had a yoga class to teach, then I thought about what things around the house needed doing or what was on my Bay Area bucket list that I haven’t crossed off yet.

I’m sure I wasn’t alone in these thoughts. Many of us may have thought, why not make the most of the day? That can mean many different things for many people. It can mean adding to their to do list to feel more accomplished, it can mean finding new experiences to cross off their bucket lists, it can even mean a little bit of both. Essentially, my first thought was how can I jam pack this day so I feel I got the most out of the extra daylight hours?

But what does it really mean to be productive? What does it really mean to “seize the day”? What if “making the most of the day” meant prioritizing what is best for me in the moment? Rather than focusing on what society deems as productive or seizing the day, why not look inwards and listen to what your body, mind, and spirit are feeling called to do. Sure, this could mean adding chores to your list, it can mean going on a fun, new adventure, or it could mean resting, reading a book, or taking a nap. Each of these things are valid, useful, and productive whether society deems them so or not.

So reflect on how you spent the day…what did you prioritize and how did you feel afterwards? Maybe next year we can rethink what it means to seize the day and use those extra hours to uplift our wellbeing.

And so ends your bonus summer solstice speculations….

How to Celebrate the International Day of Yoga

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The International Day of Yoga is fast approaching. When I did a quick search online to see what was going on for the weekend, it seems there are so many events to choose from:

  • Silent Disco Yoga
  • Puppy Yoga
  • Beach Yoga
  • Rooftop Yoga
  • Yoga in the Park
  • Father’s Day Yoga
  • Beer Yoga
  • Hot Yoga

And so much more!

My first thought was, wow there is an overwhelming amount of activities around this “holiday”. Then I wondered how these events are actually talking about yoga, sharing about the spiritual practice and how it can be not only a physically supportive practice, but a lifestyle.

It seems like every year, as we approach this day, I find myself circling back to how people learn about and practice yoga. I know there are a lot of thoughts about this “holiday” and how it was established, and I won’t really get into those political points here. But one thing I will say is that I believe this is an opportunity to broaden our collective understanding of yoga. Rather than go to an event that focuses on the physical aspect of yoga, try to find a group that is bringing awareness to other parts of yoga, maybe focusing on pranayama or meditation. Maybe pick up a book about the history of yoga and learn about its roots in South Asian culture and spirituality.

Saying “there is so much more to yoga than asana” is just me being a broken record. Maybe asana is your entry into the space, your gateway to the practice. Eventually, though, I believe people should become aware of the depth of the practice and the true disconnection is has with the stereotypes and misconceptions most people have. I think the best thing folks can do if they are interested in yoga is to really look for communities that promote the full scope of what yoga is. They are out there and not hard to find.

My hope is that eventually, there will be a collective shift in Western Yoga, where there are more spaces where conversation, connection, and liberation are the focus over asana. Because to me, that is what yoga is all about.

New Year’s Thoughts

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As we begin a new year, I see a lot of reflection on the past year, successes and short falls as well as commitment to new year’s resolutions and new goals. It has always been a mainstream belief that failures or short falls are bad and reaching or exceeding one’s goal is good.

What is we see “failures” as opportunities to understand challenges in a new way and plan for more realistic goals in the next year?

Here are some ways I have failed this year:

  • Did not pay off my student loans.
  • Did not sell all my books in my online bookstore.
  • Did not do yoga asana or meditate every day.
  • Did not meet my daily steps goal every day.
  • Did not cook at home the majority of the year.
  • Did not exceed my reading goal for the year.
  • Did not post on my blog each month.

But are these all really “failures”? I see them more as opportunities to understand what prevented me from reaching those goals and pivot, change my mindset to set myself up for success.

So in 2025, I hope to reach the following goals which I feel are more attainable:

  • Pay off 3 more of my student loans.
  • Sell half of the books in my online bookstore.
  • Do yoga asana and meditation 4 days out of the week.
  • Walk 1 mile each day.
  • Cook at home 4 days out of the week.
  • Meet 75% of my reading goal for the year.
  • Publish six posts in 2025.

Set yourself up for success in 2025. Understand what’s realistic. It’s okay to push yourself, but push yourself within the realm of possibility!

Happy New Year!

World Mental Health Day

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This month, among other health awareness days, we honored World Mental Health Awareness Day. The purpose is to raise awareness of mental health needs and to hopefully garner support, financial and societal, for mental health treatments.

Throughout my years as a yoga practitioner and instructor, I have heard many say yoga is good for mental health. While there are many ways in which yoga can support with mental health needs, there is also room for different kinds of supportive therapies and treatments for mental health needs.

Every aspect of yoga, from asana to pranayama, can support with mental health. And it’s not always going to be a one size fits all. Some folks may benefit the most from asana, others from pranayama. This doesn’t mean one should practice a single part of yoga, but possibly emphasize that part a bit more in their regular practice. Most will likely benefit from a combination, the full incorporation of all yogic practices. Similarly, some folks may need talk therapy or other forms of western medicine. Supporting mental health doesn’t have to be a choice between one treatment or another, it can and should be an overlapping of different types of supportive therapies and may evolve just as humans evolve.

Yoga can support with a great deal of things:

  • Calming the mind and body
  • Increase mental clarity
  • Increase physical awareness
  • Developing empathy
  • Practicing acceptance

In my experience, yoga has been a great mental health suppot and sometimes I do need therapies or treatments that are more westernized. That’s okay. We shouldn’t judge ourselves or others for doing what we need to in order to get better.

As 2024 comes closer to an end, I hope we can all move away from judgements of others and support one another in embracing what is needed to get through the day (or month or year).

National Yoga Awareness Month

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September has been dubbed “National Yoga Awareness Month”. The intention is to raise awareness of the practice of yoga and it’s numerous health benefits. While I tend to agree, yoga is a practice many may find useful and the benefits are immeasurable in my own personal life, I’m wary to join into the monthly “celebrations” honoring yoga as I find the western tendency to segment yoga into “parts” is antithetical to what yoga really is.

Yoga is a practice with multiple pieces. Many follow the eight limbs of yoga:

  1. Yama – duties directed towards others
  2. Niyama – duties directed towards the self
  3. Asana – physical postures
  4. Pranayama – breath practices
  5. Pratyahara – withdrawal of one’s senses
  6. Dharana – focus
  7. Dhyana – meditation
  8. Samadhi – enlightenment

All these limbs have further practices within them. Individually, they may have numerous benefits for the mind, body, or spirit. Together, they have immeasurable benefits to the mind, body, AND spirit. See the difference?

When we take one piece of the puzzle, it may be interesting, but we aren’t really understanding the bigger picture or how that one piece fits into the puzzle. However, when we take all the pieces together, with patience and time, we see the beauty of it all, we see the full picture. The practice of yoga, incorporating all aspects of the practice, allows us to live our full selves, grow into our fullest beings. These practices give us the tools to be the best versions of ourselves, live with empathy, love, and grace, embrace all that humanity has to offer while understanding the bigger, spiritual picture.

So this month, as we raise awareness of the practice of yoga and it’s numerous benefits, I challenge you (and myself) to focus on those aspects of yoga where you may not have as much practice, where you may see minimal emphasis, and try to dig deeper into that practice. See what it opens up for you.

Pranayama for Mental Health

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Many of you know May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In many ways, Yoga is the perfect topic to discuss this month. There have been many studies showing the health benefits of yoga, from the physical benefits of asana to the mental health benefits of meditation. One thing that may not get as much attention is Pranayama and the mental and physical benefits of the various Pranayama practices.

Pranayama, as B.K.S. Iyengar calls it, is the yogic art of breathing. In his book, Light on Pranayama, Iyengar says “Pranayama is a conscious prolongation of inhalation, retention, and exhalation. The practice of Pranayama develops a steady mind, strong will-power, and sound judgement.” Pranayama is one of the eight stages of yoga, an integral part of any practice.

There are many different types of Pranayama practices. Some are great for increasing energy, some are great for bring about a sense of calm, and others are great for creating balance. Generally when it comes to breath practices, if the focus is on longer inhales and shorter exhales, these types of Pranayama increase energy and bring a little heat to the body. If the exhale is longer than the inhale, these Pranayama practices bring a sense of calm to the body, triggering our parasympathetic nervous system, our body’s natural calming system. A more even breath, inhale to exhale, bring energetic balance to our systems.

As we wrap up Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to offer a few Pranayama practices that have helped me in my own mental health journey as I’ve grown my yoga practice.

  • Nadi Sodhana – this has been the most helpful to maintain calm and still my mind. Whenever I’m feeling stressed or anxious, this pranayama practice helps bring me back to the present.
  • Kapalabhati – great for when I’m feeling low in energy, helps me start the start with a little bit of exhilaration.
  • Diaphramatic Breathing – this was very useful to me during panic attacks and when I was in triggering situations. It helped me feel grounded and connected to the present moment.

I practice these Prayanama techniques fairly regularly and have seen a significant improvement in my mental health. I hope they help you too!

Women’s History Month

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As the world recently celebrated International Women’s Day and as we continue to celebrate and honor Women’s History Month, a question that has often come up in my yoga sadhana, where are all the women in yoga history?

This question has come up before and continues to come up. Most of my mentors and teachers in my yoga studies have identified as women or non-binary. So when we look at the history of yoga, where are all the women?

It’s an interesting and important question. When I first started learning about yoga, I often read a version of yogic history where only men were allowed to practice for a long time and it wasn’t until white women became interested that women were then “allowed” to practice yoga. I find this really hard to believe, especially given the cultural importance of women in the history of India and other South Asian nations. If they were so important in the culture of a nation, why wouldn’t they be integral in the development of these practices which have been so intertwined with culture.

As I continue to study this topic, a part of me turns to the history of Tantric and Bhakti yoga which often call in the feminine divine as well as feminine devotion. I wonder if this erasure of women in mainstream yoga history is part of the impact of brahminism and colonialism in India and other South Asian countries.

Ultimately, at this point in my sadhana, I don’t have a clear understanding, sorry to disappoint you all. However, I have committed to learning more about the precense of women in the history of yoga and I will share my findings with you all.

Stay tuned!

New Year, Same me

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New year, new me…right?

Wrong!

Much like the beginning of 2022, this year is all about going back to the beginning. Returning to the start of my yoga practice has been tough. Unlearning a lot of asana focused aspects of western yoga while still trying to get some movement into my body has been a real struggle in 2022. The movement focused health mentality has really become deeply ingrained in my mind. Luckily, with so many programs focusing on rest, I’m reminded that rest is also a self-care, healthy habit.

So here I am, starting 2023 relearning ancient yogic practices not related exclusively to movement. I’m also trying to start each day by doing something for myself. Lately it’s been doing some mild stretches and making sure I make breakfast before starting work. During the days, I walk as much as I can, slowly building up to a daily mileage goal that is realistic and achievable.

Small steps…it’s all about small steps back to wellness.

Mental Health Awareness Month

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Over the last few months, I’ve really gotten deeper into my own personal yoga practice. Perhaps this is why I’ve neglected my writing. I’ve become engrossed in my morning meditation, asana, and pranayama as well as the evening journaling and recapitulation. While my stress and anxiety has not gone away completely, I do feel much more capable of handling triggers as they arise.

Hence I want to talk about Mental Health Awareness Month. Throughout the month of May, social media, healthcare centers, and many other entities will be sharing information on how we can better improve our mental health. There are some really great resources out there.

What does yoga have to do with mental health? Yoga, in its full form, can be a great asset when managing mental health triggers. While yoga itself is not a complete solution, it can be an asset when finding oneself in situations where stress, anxiety, or other needs surface.

Yoga asana, pranayama, and especially meditation can be tools we use on a regular basis to help us make it through tough situations. This, paired with regular therapy or visits with medical professionals, can truly turn the tide and improve mental health.

Resources:

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Mental Health Resources for Children

Connection in the Time of Coronavirus

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As the world slowly closes its doors and we all hunker down in our homes, I find myself seeking more and more external connection. I haven’t posted for a while, taking time to ponder what my next post would  be about. I thought about writing about love in February and women in March, yet I find myself drawn to this idea of connection.With mandatory lockdowns in place and travel only allowed for “essential” reasons, whatever that means, it seems like the idea of connection is more and more unclear and inaccessible. In these times, the natural, default tendency seems to be isolation or alienation. We stock up on essential items, apparently toilet paper, and bring up our Netflix queue to watch. We find activities to do to kill the time we now have, maybe working from home, maybe finding a new yoga practice. Whatever it is, it seems like we’re drawn more and more to solitude and less to connection.

Social distancing does not mean we have to isolate ourselves and alienate others. We have so much technology at our fingertips, technology created to foster connection between people across vast distances. So why aren’t we using it in that way? I see posts about what people are reading, what food we’re making, and what movies we’re watching, but why am I not seeing more posts reaching out to others to have online dance parties, online game nights, maybe even online movie streaming?

My natural tendency is to be introverted. I like my time to myself and I’d rather be by myself most of the time. Given the amount of time I’m locked in, though, I find myself seeking connection. So I’m reaching out. I’m finding ways to stay connected to people through online mediums like Facebook, Instagram, and even Zoom.

If you want to connect, please reach out. Stranger or friend, we’re in this together. The only way we’ll get through this, is together.

Be well.