Keeping the Holidays Green

Focus Yoga student Karen Smith has a special interest in reducing waste and practicing smart recycling whenever possible. We were chatting with her last week about Focus Yoga's efforts to be green. Holidays can create a lot of waste, and Karen graciously offered to put together a list of ideas to make the green even greener in this season.

Buy battery free gifts.  According to the EPA, about 40% of all battery sales occur during the holiday season. Discarded batteries are an environmental hazard.  When battery use is unavoidable use only rechargeable batteries, as they eventually find their way into the waste stream but at least they have been recharged various times.  Click here to visit a site that offers a few examples of gifts that have less of an impact on the environment.

Cut down on the waste of wrapping paper.  Use materials like paper grocery bags flipped inside out and decorated, or the comic page of a newspaper for kids. Other great wrapping materials include old maps, sheet music and magazine ads. Shiny, metallic and plastic-coated wrapping paper can't be reused or recycled, but there are lots of wrapping papers and ribbons that are made of 100 percent recycled waste, and gift bags are a great reusable option.

If you're mailing gifts, think green. Re-use your saved cardboard boxes, and use packing materials like newspaper and cardboard (please, no Styrofoam packing peanuts!).  

Turn down your thermostat before your party. As guests arrive, the room’s temperature will rise to a comfortable level and you will save on heating.

Use real dishes. While disposable plates and silverware are easier if you're hosting crowds, the environment will thank you if you buck up and do the dishes.  If there are leftovers after Christmas dinner, send guests home with extras in pre-saved glass jars instead of plastic wrap.

Use LED (and solar), holiday lights.  They are available in many colors and styles. They consume 10% the amount of energy as the traditional lightings.  Use a timer on them to limit the time they are on.  If you have “old-school” lights, enjoy them until they need to be replaced.  HolidayLED.com sells LED lights, and also has a recycling program that accepts old holiday lights.

Recycle everything possible after the parties are over.

Reconsider your old gift giving habits and make a change.  Talking with friends and family about changing old gift-giving habits before the rush sets in, can ease the financial and environmental pain of the holidays. This year, try buying green gifts (many are under $50), making charitable donations to environmental groups, or buying antiques, vintage items or locally made gifts instead of new stuff.  Re-gifting makes perfect sense too. If you received something you really don't need, look for ways you can reuse this gift by passing it on to someone who can use it!

Emphasize togetherness and people over things.   Music, games & cooking together create memories and teach our children  (& ourselves) that love & friendship are zero-waste.   

Honey in Ayurveda

Honey has a special place in the Ayurvedic lifestyle. It's magic is related to two important concepts: Ojas and Sattva.

Ojas translates to  "vital sap" or "vigor".  Deepak Chopra explains that "Ojas is the pure and subtle substance that’s extracted from food that has been completely digested. Ojas circulates throughout the bodily tissues and heart, sustaining the physical self, bringing clarity to the mind and balancing the emotions."

This is directly related to the energetic quality of sattva, which is pure, balanced energy. Enhancing the ojas in our system helps create sattva, and as Mr. Chopra so eloquently states, "when the body produces ojas, the vital nectar of life, we feel blissful. The cells sing with happiness because both the mind and the body are receiving the nourishment they need."

So, what does honey have to do with these two important ingredients to good health and happiness?  According to Chopra, the most sattvic foods include organic milk, almonds, sesame, rice, fruits and honey.

John Immel, a certified Ayurvedic practitioner and the creator of the Joyful Belly website concurs.  "Consuming honey daily as a food is advocated in Ayurveda to promote good health and strength.

Bees actually pre-digest honey, giving it qualities of heat, astringency, and a little dryness, qualities you won't find in any other sweetener. Yet, these qualities are essential to balancing the normally cold, damp weight gaining properties of other simple sugars."

These heating and drying qualities help to balance the Kapha dosha, which manifests as heaviness and lethargy. The warmth of honey stimulates your tongue, raises your heart rate and metabolism, and warms your entire body. These qualities make it a perfect sweetener for the cold, damp winter and spring seasons.

Dr. Immel notes that the metabolic stimulating effects of honey helps the body burn fat. Honey also has a cleansing effect. Because of these two qualities, he suggests combining honey and lemon juice with lukewarm water and sipping in the morning as a detoxifier.


The heating and metobolic-enhancing qualities of honey make it a key ingredient in many rejuvenating and re-energizing formulas, and it's often used medicinally to enhance the healing properties of other herbs. Try a spoonful of honey as a pick-me-up when energy is low.

Now, all of the above come from the Ayurvedic lineage, and may not yet be supported by western medicine and science. However, honey's benefits as a cough suppressant and a tonic for sore throats is recognized more broadly, and it doesn't carry the side-effects of narcotics. In addition, honey's drying qualities help it function as an expectorant, breaking up mucus in the upper respiratory system. It's one sweetener that won't lead to clogging mucus.

Two notes about honey: it's a known fact that children younger than 1 year should never be fed honey, as their systems cannot tolerate natural bacterias that may be present. Also, honey should not be subjected to high heat or be cooked, as this changes the structure. Ayurveda suggests that this change makes the honey actually toxic to the system.

To learn about honey produced in our own local area and ecosystem, and to experience some helpful recipes using this honey, join us at the studio Saturday, 11/23 from 9:00 - 11:00am. Frank Saballus will be there to discuss his bees and hives, and Judi will be sharing uses of honey. This is free.

Yogi Warrior Weapons for Cold Season

Before every class, I ask students how they feel. Clearly, from their responses, cold season is upon us. Feel that familiar swelling in the back of the throat that tells you a cold is coming on? Seems like everyone in your family is snorting and sniffling except you....yet? Lost time due to illness is something we all want to avoid. I thought I'd share a few products Focus offers in our boutique that can help.

Thieves  This was a favorite last year. The legend surrounding this essential oil blend focuses on an unruly band of medieval
thieves that would rob plague victims. They wore a special blend of herbs for protection. This essential oil blend contains cinnamon, rosemary, lemon and eucalyptus. A drop on the tongue taken orally at the first sign of illness can be effective.  Drops can be added to hand soap and cleaners for anti-bacterial properties. Gargling with Thieves mixed with water can sooth a sore throat. Put a little in sesame oil and lubricate the insides of the nostrils before boarding a plane. Click here for a list of 101 uses for Thieves compiled by fans. If you are looking for a natural way to fight illness-causing bacterias, consider this oil. A little pricey, but since it's used by the drop, a bottle goes far.

Defense Elixir  This little bottle packs a punch.  Taken at the first sign of a cold, this powerful blend will wake you up and warm you up at the same time. Orange, ginger, cayenne and echinacae, taking small shots throughout the day can help knock out or reduce cold symptoms before they take root. Keep a bottle in your freezer in case an itchy sore throat catches you too far from the studio to stop in.

Now, what about if that cold has already taken hold, and you are struggling with congestion? Here are a couple of remedies to ease the pain.

RC essential oil blend/Eucalyptus essential oils  Mixed with a little sesame oil, these oils can be inserted into the nostrils to lubricate and help open congested airways. When students come into class with congestion, I offer this. Combined with the movement and deep breathing of yoga, they generally leave feeling much more open. Also, a few drops in a pot of hot water makes a steamy inhalant.

Respiratory Tea  In addition to the Defense Elixir, Earth's Healing is supplying Focus with bags of
this tea blend. Our students are enjoying cups of this blend after class, and buying bags to take home. It contains mullein, horehound, Irish moss, and eucalyptus. We've gotten rave reviews from our students.

Focus Yoga Monthly Membership

Recently we put out a survey and got a great response, with ideas of what types of classes and class times would be good additions to our schedule. We added many of them, and hope that you will back up your good requests with your attendance.

However, one or two of the supportive comments really had me thinking. One stated how a couple of other local studios have offered several Groupon and Living Social-type discounts in the past year. I think the suggestion was that we should be following suit.

Let me explain something about these internet promotions: when a business offers a deep, deep discount to customers through one of those promotional companies, the business receives 50% of the total receipts. That means, on our last promotion, we received exactly $2.50 for each class sold on that promotion. Focus pays our instructors more than that to teach our students.

I understand that there is a cost to advertising. And, students that use the coupon to try a business may become loyal customers. But, with abundance of deep discounted classes available, I suspect instead of instilling loyal customers, businesses trying these discount deals as a way of promoting their studio have inadvertently set a new price point for yoga. With a local studio offering a promotion at any given moment, many students simply follow the promotions to determine where they practice.

If studios are expected to continuously offer deep discount promotions to keep students who become used to this new price point, exactly how long will they stay in business?

Now, I understand how tough the economy has been for many people. And, at Focus, it’s never been about the money. We need to stay financially healthy. But, we want students who need yoga to be able to learn and practice, regardless of finances. We’ve worked to find ways for many of our students to continue practicing when facing financial limitations. That’s called community.

So, that brings me to the point. Community. What we really want, more than anything, is for each person who wants to practice with us to become part of our community.

We will continue to create a studio that supports our community, local food producers and grassroots vendors sharing their passion. We will support our students with instructors who really care about each individual that walks through our doors. Our studio will continue to offer creative special classes and workshops each month, for as many age and ability levels as we possibly can, supporting healthy lifestyles for all. And, we will do our best to offer that in a way our students can afford. We do that in the hopes that each student will become an interactive, supportive member of our yoga community.

So, we are raising the curtain on new pricing option, our Focus Yoga Monthly Membership. It won’t be for everyone. If you take class less than 5 times a month, it may not be your cup of herbal tea. That’s okay...we will continue to offer our individual, 5 and 10 class options.

But, if you want a cost-effective way to increase your practice, consider our membership. The base plan is unlimited regular classes for $79/month. That’s our way of helping you manage your yoga budget. It’s that simple. If you practice an average of 1.5 times a week, the monthly membership becomes more cost-effective than a 10 class pass.

And, we plan to have fun with this! Several times a week there will be fun perks announced through our newsletter or Facebook page.  Freebies and special discounts on products and workshops. Ways for you to further benefit from your support to Focus, and for us to show our appreciation to you!

There is one thing this membership asks of you: 3 months commitment at the onset, and an auto-renewal set up. However, after the first three months, you can cancel with one week’s notice. That’s it. But we have high expectations that you won’t want to cancel!!

To join this membership now, click here!

Evan Bartlett Travels to Tanzania!

Evan Bartlett

We were tidying up after a Wednesday evening Open Yoga class recently when one of the regular
students, Jennifer Bartlett, and I were chatting. She mentioned that her daughter, Evan, was hoping to travel to Tanzania in East Africa soon to do some outreach work. Evan graduated college in December and is working hard to earn money to support herself during the 12-month trip. Even though she'd be working, it would be no free ride. I was intrigued, and thought there might be a way our Focus Yoga community could help Evan. So, today I had a conversation with Evan about this project.

Me: Where exactly are you traveling, and when are you leaving?
Evan: I'm leaving August 19 and traveling to a village in Tanzania called Bombo Majimoto.

Me: And what sort of work are you doing there?
Evan: I'll be working with the villagers on agricultural development. The villagers tend to live season to season, subsisting only on what they grow on their land. We will be helping them develop projects to increase their economic security, such as selling their crops to bigger markets. This will help them develop security in case of a bad growing year, and help them expand their communications so they can benefit from the exchange of products and ideas.

Me: From where did you graduate?
Evan: I graduated from Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. I have a degree in Political Science and History, and a minor in Business Administration.

Me: Why did you decide to offer a year of your time and energy, unpaid, to this project instead of hitting the pavement for a full time job?
Evan: For years I've had a strong desire to give back, and this gap between graduating college and starting a professional job seemed perfect to offer a full year of my time to do so.

Me: What is the organization you are working with on this project?
Evan: It's called "2Seeds Network". It's a non-profit. I really like this organization, as it offers more of a partnership with people, rather than a hand-out. It's a young organization, and doesn't have the resources to pay all the expenses to send people to Tanzania. But, we feel that the fundraising efforts we do helps to involve others in our mission.

Me: What are you raising funds for, exactly?
Evan: My flight and transportation while there, food, housing, health insurance, seeds, and equipment. A full year's worth of living expenses and items I'd need for my work.

Me: How much do you need to raise?
Evan: The organization suggests we raise $8000. This would cover my expenses for the year. However, I do not need all of that immediately; right now I have enough for my plane ticket and the first 6 months of living expenses.

Me: How did you decide on this project?
Evan: Well, I really decided on the organization. I really like 2Seeds Network, and I feel that even though I'll be working hard, the benefits I'll receive will far outweigh the investment. 2Seeds Network gave me personality tests and had me take surveys to help find the project they thought would be the best fit for me. I'm really excited about being able to do this.

Me: Focus also is always looking for ways we can give back, and helping you with your project seems perfect! On Wednesday, August 14, right before you leave,  Focus will donate the income from our evening Open Yoga class toward your project. We'll even put out a donation jar, in case this speaks on a deeper level to a student, and they'd like to offer a little extra to your cause. This is the class your mom usually comes to. Can you take class with us that night so we can meet you?
Evan: Yep! That's sounds wonderful, and I really appreciate the help!

Come support Evan and the farmers of Bombo Majimoto on Wednesday, August 14 at 7:15pm. Here is a link to 2Seeds Network, so you can learn more about them. Click here
We hope to see you in class!

To Om Or Not To Om: Yoga, Public Schools, Spirituality

by Sandie Pilipiszyn, Focus Yoga Teacher Training graduate

More and more schools are offering yoga as part of their physical education program.  But if you’re teaching yoga in a public school, is it ok to say the Sanskrit words such as “Om” and “Namaste”, to hold your hands in the prayer position and to chant?  The spiritual aspects of yoga could potentially cause concerns in public school settings.  Many people are confused.  There is no Church of Yoga.  How can teaching yoga in school violate the Constitution?

Is yoga secular or religious?  That’s the big question at the heart of a new legal battle in Encinitas, California, over the teaching of yoga in public schools.  In a lawsuit filed in February of 2013, a couple with two children in the Encinitas schools charge that the district is unconstitutionally promoting religion by giving yoga classes twice a week to students during the day.  School officials insist that the yoga classes are for physical fitness, and have nothing to do with religion or religious indoctrination. The case is set for trial May 20, 2013.

The outcome of the case could impact hundreds of other public schools nationwide that incorporate yoga postures and breathing exercises into their wellness and fitness programs.  Because “yoga” is used to describe a bewildering variety of classes and programs in the United States, it’s easy to forget that yoga originated in ancient India as a school of Hindu philosophy.

Many yoga practitioners embrace the religious roots and spiritual meaning of yoga while many others view yoga as a healthy exercise and stress reduction regimen.  Public schools, of course, adopt the “healthy exercise” definition in order to comply with the First Amendment’s prohibition of school promotion or endorsement of religion.

Not surprisingly, attempts to completely secularize yoga have met with resistance, and not just from Christian parents.  Many Hindus argue that authentic yoga is inseparable from its philosophical roots in Hinduism.  The Hindu American Foundation launched a “take back yoga” campaign in 2010 to remind people of yoga’s Hindu origins.  Many yoga practitioners view yoga postures and breathing exercises as inherently spiritual, giving spiritual benefits even to those who practice yoga solely for health reasons without and interest in the religious meaning of their practice.

To what extent, if any, yoga practices can be fully separated from religious roots can’t be resolved in a court of law.  What courts can do, is determine if a school’s yoga program explicitly conveys religious teachings or messages.  This means that the more a yoga program avoids religious language, the more likely it is to be upheld as constitutional.

The White House has embraced Yoga as a worthy physical activity at a time some schools in America are railing against the ancient Indian practice, saying it promotes Hinduism.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama included a “yoga garden” for children and their parents at the annual Easter Egg Roll Festivities telling participants
“Be Healthy, Be Active, Be You!”

The Obama’s have hosted a yoga garden before, but this year is was significant because of the ongoing lawsuit in California challenging the teaching of yoga in schools.  The presiding judge in the case is a yoga practitioner.  “Does anybody have a problem with that?”  San Diego Superior Court Judge Meyer was reported asking at the start of the case. 

“Yoga has become a universal language of spiritual exercise in the United States, crossing many lines of religion and cultures,” the White House said without reference to the ongoing controversies and lawsuit. “Everyday, millions of people practice yoga to improve their health and overall well-being.   

Back in 2004, Fox News did a story on tensions that were developing over the incorporation of yoga into the Aspen Elementary School curriculum in Colorado.  Parents of the children in the school complained to the school board, claiming it was a clear violation of the separation of church and state.  Fox News reported that the American Yoga Association and the school disagreed.  It quoted from the American Yoga Association Web site which states:

“Yoga is not a religion.  It has no creed or fixed set of beliefs, nor is there a prescribed godlike figure to be worshipped in a particular manner.  Religions for the most part seem to be based upon the belief in and worship of things (God or godlike figures) that exist outside oneself.  The core of Yoga’s philosophy is that everything is supplied from within the individual. Thus, there is no dependence on an external figure, either in the sense of a person or god figure, or a religious organization.  The common belief that Yoga derives from Hinduism is a misconception.  Yoga actually predates Hinduism by many centuries. 

The Wellness Initiative back in 2010 worked with the Center for Policy Research to conduct research on the effects of yoga instruction in the schools.  The findings are based on a survey of 47 high school students from four schools who participated in 6 to 42 yoga sessions.  Their average age was 15, and 70 percent had no previous exposure to yoga.  The curriculum eliminated chanting and any Sanskrit.
Among the findings:

More than three-fourths of the students agreed strongly or somewhat with the statement “I feel stressed out a lot of the time.”

About two-thirds agreed strongly or somewhat with the statement “I put a lot of pressure on myself”

Following participation in yoga classes, at least half the students noted improvements in physical flexibility; feeling positive and optimistic; feeling physically strong; standing up for oneself; self-confidence; being nice to other students and family.

When asked their reaction to yoga, 63 percent said they “love it “ or “like it”, while 24 percent said they “like it somewhat,” and 13 percent said they did not like it at all.

More than a third of the students reported improvement in how they felt about their body; ability to concentrate; feeling good about themselves; feeling less stress; less frustration; eating less junk food; and putting less pressure on themselves.

When asked how often they used various yoga practices outside the class, more than half reported using the breathing exercises; more than 70  percent reported using visualization; about 45 percent practiced  positive statements about themselves; and 44 percent practiced yoga poses.

Schools participating in The Wellness Initiative yoga classes in Colorado:

Adams County:  Welby New Technology High School, High Point Academy
Arapahoe County:  East Elementary School, Pathways Program
Boulder County:  Columbine Elementary, Crest View Elementary, Fairview High School, Louisville Middle School, Mesa Elementary, Southern Hills Middle School, Whittier Elementary
Denver:  Colfax Elementary, Denver CAMP, Florence Crittenton School, KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy, Knapp Elementary, Munroe Elementary, North High School

On a website blog “Is it just stretching or is it religion?”  One person from Columbus, Ohio wrote, “Yoga is about as religious as track and field, which has its history “firmly rooted” in Ancient Greek polytheistic religious ceremonies.  Music is used in religious to elicit a spiritual experience, but that does not make music itself religious.  Likewise, with Yoga, while it may be used in religious practice, it can just as easily be utilized in a secular manner”

The question of whether yoga practices are inherently spiritual will remain unanswered, and hotly debated.  Is yoga still yoga when stripped of all religious trappings?  That’s a religious issue the First Amendment can’t resolve.

It seems like the simple solution to all this controversy and debate is to invite the parents to a workshop to discuss and educate them in the yoga practice that their school will be offering their children and answer any questions or concerns they may have.  Once the parents are informed, everyone may be able to come to a conclusion that allows yoga and all its benefits to be taught in public schools to their children without stepping on or imposing any religious beliefs.

Thesis on Ghee

Angela Bursua, Focus Yoga Teacher Trainee

Ghee also known as clarified butter, is butter that has had the solid fats and salts removed by slow
simmering. Ayurveda places ghee at the top of the oily foods list, and believes it to have the healing benefits of butter without the impurities. Although notoriously high in fat, ghee is thought to improve overall health including improved memory, digestion and boost the immune system.


History
Ghee, historically revered in the Indian culture for its medicinal properties, has recently gained in popularity in the U.S. and was listed as one of the top superfoods to try in 2012 according to a Huffington Post article. 
Archeological evidence of ghee has been found on pottery dating back to as early as the 6th century.  Additionally, Ghee is mentioned in many ancient texts, and the qualities and health benefits were particularly praised amongst the Ayurvedic Shastras; ancient texts that give guidelines and remedies for Ayurvedic healers and doctors.
The Charaka Samhita, one of the leading Ayurvedic texts, states in sutra 27; verse 232;
“...out of all the oils fit for human consumption, ghee is the best to eat.”

How It's Made
Ghee is made by simmering unsalted butter in a pot until all the water has boiled. It’s basically pure butterfat, rendered down and stricken of all lactose and dairy proteins. It’s ultra-clarified butter in that it reaches a temperature high enough to cook off the water and brown the milk solids, which imparts a nutty flavor to the finished product. Properly made, ghee can stay on the counter for about a year without going bad.

Whether purchasing pre-made ghee or buying your own, nutritionally speaking, using butter from organic grass-fed cows is optimal because it contains much higher levels of both Vitamin A and Vitamin K than butter made from grain-fed cows.

Recipe (From:  Eat-Taste-Heal)

Ingredients: 1 pound or more organic grass fed unsalted butter. 

1.  Cut the butter into cubes and put in a large, heavy bottomed saucepan over medium heat.  When all butter has melted, reduce heat to a simmer and cook stirring occasionally, with a slotted spoon.  After about 5 minutes, the butter will begin to form a white froth on its surface and will also create popping sounds as moisture evaporates from the butter.  During this stage, it is important to keep stirring at regular intervals.

2.  After about 10 minutes, the froth will begin to sink to the bottom of the pan where it will collect and form a golden-brown crust.  Turn off the heat and skim off residual foam with a teaspoon.  When the butter becomes clear, turn off the heat and let it sit for 15 minutes.

3.  Finally, carefully pour the contents through a fine sieve into a bowl or jar, leaving the residue at the bottom of the cooking pan.

4.  Transfer the ghee to a clean glass container.  Ghee is best stored at room temperature and is said to get better with age.  The key, however, is to always use a clean spoon when taking ghee from the jar, in order to avoid spoilage resulting from contamination with other foods.



To see a video of the ghee-making process, click here.

Uses
Kulreet Chaudhary, MD, Neurologist and Maharishi Ayurveda Expert says ghee can be prescribed as cooking oil as part of an ayurvedic diet, applied topically to skin as a cream for rashes or as an anti-aging regimen, and as part of an herbal mixture to remedy a multitude of conditions from digestive disorders to neurological conditions.

Ghee is also known for its ability to remove toxins and is used to remove impurities in the organs as a preparation for the ayurvedic detox program, Panchakarma.

Finally, ghee is an excellent cooking medium because it does not break down in high heat like many cooking oils do. From safflower to canola oil, most oils we use in the kitchen can break down in high heat and produce free radicals. These free radicals can lead to disease. In fact, experts tell us to eat more antioxidant rich foods like berries to help fight free radicals, which harm us by damaging our cells and DNA.

Possible Health Benefits
Generally, ghee is thought to serve the body by being a source of nourishment and lubrication. As the body gets older, it dries out and becomes less sturdy (decreasing of bone density, etc.). Ghee is said to help the body to regain this sturdiness, and also moisturize the inside of the body so as to prevent constipation and dryness. Ghee can also be used topically and in orifices to strengthen the eyes, the ears, the nose, the skin, and other aspects of the body.

Animal studies have shown that ghee, when used in moderation, can have a beneficial impact on cholesterol, unlike traditional butter.

In another study which studied ghee versus butter researchers found that ghee had an increased amount of medium- and short-chain fatty acids. Butter contains about 12-15% of these medium-chain and short-chain fats, whereas ghee contains about 25%. Our bodies metabolize medium-chain and short-chain fats differently than long-chain ones, and medium- and short-chain ones are not associated with cardiovascular problems in the same way as the long-chain ones are.

Ghee is most notably said to stimulate the secretion of stomach acids to help with digestion, while other fats, such as butter and oils, slow down the digestive process and can sit heavy in the stomach. Ghee is rich with antioxidants and acts as an aid in the absorption of vitamins and minerals from other foods, serving to strengthen the immune system. A high concentration of butyric acid, a fatty acid that contains anti-viral properties, is believed to inhibit the growth of cancerous tumors.

Charaka, an Ayurvedic master physician in ancient India, touts ghees benefits as:

“...ghee promotes memory, intellect, power of digestion, semen, ojas, kapha and fat. It alleviates vata, pitta, toxic conditions, insanity, consumption and fever. It is the best of all the unctuous substances”

Ghee and the Doshas
Considering the importance of wholesome food in general, ghee’s role in increasing the capacity to digest food (agni) is very important in Ayurvedic preventative health.  Without proper functioning of agni no benefit can be gained from food, and toxins (ama) resulting from poor digestion are involved in many diseases. One or two teaspoonfuls of ghee in food not only provides nourishment to the body in itself, but also increases this capacity to nourish the body with food. What is truly special about the effect of ghee increasing agni is that it does so without aggravating Pitta dosha (the fire element) in the body. Instead ghee balances the different types of Agnis found in the body, the main type of which can be correlated with the digestive enzymes.

For maximum benefit one should alter one’s intake of ghee throughout one’s life and the seasons in accordance with the Ayurvedic concept of Rtucarya (seasonal modifications of daily routine).  In Summertime, heat can lead to a feeling of weakness.  Both ghee and milk are ideal at this time, as sweet, cold liquids and an oily diet help maintain balance. Intake of both ghee and substances with the bitter taste is advised in Autumn when Pitta dosha can potentially get aggravated due to being exposed to heat all Summer. Taking ghee in Autumn also helps prevent Vata getting aggravated with the increase in cold dry weather. Similarly, excess intake of ghee in Spring is not advised, due to potential for kapha to become imbalanced aggravating conditions such as colds and hay fever. Beyond seasonal variations, Ayurveda is a science of individualization and even a food as wholesome of ghee is not always considered healthy. For example, ghee is not advised when kapha is imbalanced and should be used very sparingly in overweight individuals. 

Final Thoughts
Ghee, in moderation, can be part of a nourishing and healthy lifestyle.  For optimal vitamin content choose a high-quality organic version made from pasture-fed cows. 

Upon research several *recommended brands of ghee include:

    Ancient Organics

    Pure Indian Foods


Highly rated butter oils (similar to ghee but cooked at a lower temperature to maintain“Activator X” discovered more than fifty years ago by Weston A. Price, D.D.S. Dr. Price’s identified Activator X as a potent fat-soluble catalyst found in butter oil from cows fed rapidly growing grass. This powerful catalyst helps the body absorb and utilize minerals, and plays an important role in brain and nervous system development, rebuilding of body tissue, repair of teeth and bones, and sex hormone production.  Dr. Price considered high-vitamin butter oil to have extraordinary healing properties.

    NutraPro International

    Green Pasture


*All recommended brands are produced in the US from 100% grass fed cows.


Sources available upon request

Can I do yoga even if I have....?

Judi Harvin
Do you have a chronic physical condition that impedes your movement? You've heard so much about yoga being a huge benefit for certain conditions...are you wondering if it may be right for you?

The answer is, maybe.

Recently I received an email from a student named, coincidently, Judy, that included these lines:

I recently had  2-level spinal fusion surgery. I have congenital stenosis in my entire spine and was told that certain activities...will be useful to me going forward (for example, in the cat-cow tilt, the “cat” part) and certain activities that scrunch up the spine will make my condition worse (in yoga, the “cow” part or sun salutations, etc.)  I am thinking there is no such class as one that has only the poses that are good for my condition and am wondering how beneficial even a “gentle yoga” class is if I can’t do all the poses...

...It is a great discipline for me to have to be absolutely obedient to my doctors, and to get used to my new reality.  I lost 102 lbs and had made physical activity an important part of my life – strength training, running, etc. Now the strength training that will help the osteoporosis is forbidden due to the sad state of my spine… on the other hand, I can’t imagine going through this surgery 100 lbs heavier.
 
How much can that class be geared to an individual? Do students just sit during the poses they are not supposed to do?

I suggested a couple private sessions so we could determine her abilities, and how to modify if she does decide to join a group class. However, I also was reminded of a student in one of my classes, Maria, who I thought might have some insights. I emailed Maria, asking if she could contact Judy and offer some thoughts. Here was her response:


Judy,
Sorry to hear about your challenges.  It can certainly be difficult adjusting to our changing bodies, and finding physical activity that is satisfying both physically and emotionally.  -- I am happy to share with you what my current physical condition is and what has helped me.

In my youth, it was discovered that I have scoliosis. Condensing a lengthy story, I decided to have surgery in my late twenties to minimize the 72 degree and 68 degree lateral curves of my spine, so that I now am fused T4 to L4.  In addition to the inflexibility that Judi noted, I also have severe degeneration in my lower vertebra (L4 L5 S1) with stenosis and also in my cervical spine (C3, 4 and 5).  So I am quite limited in terms of doing many of the poses in yoga. 

However, yoga has been wonderfully beneficial to me, and I find that all of the teachers that I have encountered at Focus Yoga are knowledgeable and certainly supportive of individual students doing what they need to do for their own bodies.  I feel that I have a  pretty good sense of what works for me (that is, what is challenging but OK) and what I need to stay clear of.  Much of that came with trial and error. In my own personal experience and stories I have heard from others with bone/spine issues, you can start with the information that surgeons tell you, but a knowledgeable physical therapist will often have much more information on what is good for you to do and what isn't, once they understand what the surgeon has done and gets to know how you can move and what causes you pain/discomfort.  (My surgeon actually cringes when I tell him that I ski, take yoga, etc.  He is an excellent surgeon, who knows medicine, but understanding exercise is not his forte.)

I had been away from yoga for a few years (as well as a few years older and stiffer) when I came to Focus Yoga.   I certainly feel like there are a number of poses that I simply cannot do (either because I physically cannot get into that position or because even attempting them is not good for me).  However, I either assume a modified version of the pose (and Judi and the other teachers typically have many to recommend) or I do something entirely different, but something I know is good for me. After class, I may be a little sore, but I can stand much straighter, taller, and feel healthier and more energetic than at any other time since my last yoga class. 

At Focus Yoga, Judi has created a very supportive environment in which you always feel challenged from whatever level you are at in your practice.  And, as Judi mentioned, there is also the spiritual part of yoga that has nothing to do with the physical poses, and that is also addressed in the classes.   This I also find wonderfully beneficial.

Without a doubt, I know that my body is definitely stronger and more flexible when I practice yoga.  Being away from exercise in general (and yoga, in particular) is really bad for my body.  I definitely hurt more when I am away from it.   I think that taking a few private classes with Judi would be a great way for you to be able to understand what is best for your body.  And creating that "space" in your spine is something that I believe that you can probably learn to incorporate into just about all of your poses and any yoga class that you take.

So, I would highly recommend yoga to you -- although you may be limited, there are many, many benefits.  And most of all, I recommend that you keep moving.  Being inactive is probably the worst thing that you can do for your body and your spine.

Feel free to write back. 

Take Care.  Be well.
--Maria

If you or someone you know has a physical condition that you feel may benefit from a yoga practice, but you aren't certain, please feel free to contact us at (708) 387-2006. We can discuss and hopefully help! If you feel these words may be of help to a friend you know, please be a good pal and pass this on!

Creating Balance with Ayurveda

"Balance" is a big word today. We talk about creating balance in our lives. Balance means the perfect proportion; whether it's work and play, energy, or our checkbook. 

In Ayurveda, good balance means a good life. It means optimal health. It means perking along efficiently, being productive, and enjoying quality leisure time. It means good health, managing stress, and feeling harmony with your environment. Creating this utopian life means constantly monitoring "balance." What constitutes balance is different for each of us. In Ayurveda, just what are we trying to balance?

Everything we know is made up a varying amounts of five basic ingredients: air, ether, water, fire and earth. This includes you and me. We have each of those elements in us, but the proportions differ from person to person. Instead of looking at proportions of each of the five elements individually, Ayurveda has simplified this by organizing the elements into three main groups, the doshas. In optimal balance, we each have a predominant dosha, or a unique blend of the doshas. Once we know what our dosha or blend is, we can use that information to maintain balance. 

Here is a simplified snapshot of the doshas; do you see yourself below?

If you have a lot of fire and water, this means you have a lot of a quality we call pitta. In balance, you are motivated, a leader. You are strong and focused. You are organized and have high standards. Out of balance, you are prone to irritability and anger, ulcers, rashes and becoming overheated.

If you have a lot of earth and water, we'd call that kapha. In balance, you are patient, loving and kind. You are a nurturer. You have thick hair, oily, luminous skin and a full figure. Out of balance, you can be lethargic, unmotivated, prone to gain weight. You may suffer from congestive issues. 

If you have a high proportion of air and ether, we say you have a lot of vatta in your constitution. In balance, you are creative, expressive, and highly active. You have a thin figure, hair and features. Out of balance, you are anxious, have trouble focusing, and are prone to dry skin and constipation.

Of course, I've only listed only a few of the characteristics of each dosha. But, they may be enough for you to say "Ah-hah! That's me!!" Or, you may have varying amounts of each. For example, I am a blend of vatta and pitta; I often feel cold, I have dry skin, and I'm creative, but I can also be very ambitious and motivated. And guess what? In the spring, I'm lethargic, a sign that yes, I even have a little kapha.

While we each have an optimal balance, outside forces constantly work to disrupt that balance. These forces include the time of day, of year (such as my spring example above), and of life. Do you notice that you feel energetically out of balance at certain times of the day? How about the time of year? How does a hot summer day affect you? A cool, dry fall day? 

In Ayurveda we recognize the rhythms of nature and forces of life, and how they affect our unique balance. Armed with a little information, we can anticipate these forces. Once we learn the formula, we can look at things such as activities and diet that will help us maintain our balance when life is giving us a little shove. 

If this looks interesting, please join me for a workshop "What's My Dosha? Your unique balance applied to yoga, diet and life" Wednesday, March 20, 5:30 - 7:00pm. You will get a better understanding of your unique doshic blend, what yoga practice will best serve you, what foods will best nourish you, and what routines will help keep you in balance as you walk the tightrope of life.

Last blog from India...sniff, sniff.

Because of lack of internet issues, I'm posting this last blog after returning home. Arrived home mid afternoon yesterday after a 14 hour bus ride, an overnight in Agra, a 4 hour bus ride to Delhi, and two 8 hour plane rides. We seem to be doing pretty well with the time change. I was totally asleep at 7:30pm yesterday, wide awake from 1:00 - 3:30am, but slept nicely till 6:00am. This might be easier than I think...



It's going to be a long haul home. We are sitting in the airport in Delhi. Because HI is coordinating 150 travelers going in many places, we are here a good 7 hours before take off. We can't even get into the terminal for a while longer. (Note after blog...Delhi airport rocks!! I would have gladly hung out here longer. Eva and I each had a great Thai massage....)

Our last few days in Khajuraho had highlights. We cabbed into town and our driver found someone, a relative, to show us around the old part of the city. We went into a house which was pretty cool. The houses are open-air. There is not much wood available for building, but material for bricks is abundant, so most houses are brick covered in cement, for a soft adobe look. Roofs are thatch or corrugated metal, or tile. There are no windows, but generally wood doors. Animals come "inside" at night, in their own space, and the house we saw had about three other small rooms for beds, living space, and such.

We also toured a school. It was a private school that offers a free education to all castes. (while the caste system has been abolished by the government, this area of town still observed it). We received a tour from the principal. Tiny rooms, dirt floors, chalkboards with no real books. Most public schools are K-8. After that students need to choose a track, pretty much determining their future education at that point.

A boy about 13 was following us as we walked around town, striking up conversations with the girls, pretty much focused on Sylvia. At one point he asked me if Sylvia had an email or Facebook, and asked permission to ask her for her address. They exchanged addresses. Sylvia now has a pen pal.

Local boys like to make connections with tourists, for several reasons. One is to learn other languages, and probably specifically English. They practice with tourists. They also hope to make connections and stay in touch via internet/Facebook with hopes that the person might assist them to come to the US someday. A fellow traveller that chatted with a young man on staff in our ashram became such a connection, and was taken home to meet  his family and had a tour of his home. I only saw one young girl in the villages that spoke any English of consequence, but the boys are much, much more aggressive about making connections and practicing.

Shopping here is exhausting. Vendors are relentless, loud, and overwhelming. Shopping is overwhelming to me to begin with, and their sales techniques probably cost them more sales than anything. They talk to you from the moment you exit a car, follow you along the street, shove items in your face, try to make conversation, and in general challenge your sense of good manners as you try to stay polite while wishing they'd go away.

I have not seen much begging, but that must be more prolific in the cities. Most of our traveling has been in smaller villages and countryside.

We did some hiking in the hills, climbing to an abandoned palace, temples, and graves. It was hot and we saw monkeys in the trees.

Yesterday we had a 14 hour bus ride from Khajuraho to Agra. Making it particularly challenging was the fact that the roads were not entirely paved. Most of the country roads are dirt. The dirt compresses, and since the soil here had so much clay, that generally works for the lessor used roads. However, they are filled with ruts. The road we had to take had periodic paving. Apparently the government would contract with companies to pave. They'd lowball the bid, then pave until they ran out of money and abandon the project. The government would hire another group, to the same end. So, you would have a stretch of road that would simply end, leaving our huge tour bus to navigate a road either dirt or so full of potholes we couldn't move faster than about 15 miles per hour. Anyone who wasn't coughing up a storm in our group from the respiratory thing going around was battling nausea. I discovered that the front of the bus is the place to be if you get motion sick. Unfortunately, the girls thought sitting in the back was the cool place to be, until one of my daughters threw up all over with two miles left to go to the hotel. So, the first hour we had back in civilization (hot showers and real beds) was spent negotiating vomit covered clothes and bags.

I realize as I'm writing that my blogs are less about the spiritual aspects of this trip and more about the experience of this type of travel with my family, and our interactions with the people. As a yogi, traveling with HI, spirituality was certainly a part. But, sharing this experience with my family, especially the girls, was the most important thing. Meeting people living an entirely different lifestyle, of a very different culture, and sharing that with the girls was the very best thing. To me, that has a spiritual aspect all it's own.

With the exception of the pouring rain and mud, this has been a really good day.

We are now on the Himalayan Institute's Khajuraho campus. I haven't been able to post as there is no internet connection. Also, I'll say it again, please forgive the poor writing and spelling errors. Conditions are not so comfortable for writing, I'm typing on an iPad on my lap in a tent, and so quality control is weak.

Campus is situated in a valley between two ridges, and it is about 8 kilometers from the town of Khajuraho. It is much quieter than Allahabad. There are no blaring loudspeakers. But, we do hear monkeys screaming at night. This is considered the "jungle" although it is still arid, and not very lush.

We have been to see the temples of Khajuraho, a major tourist attraction. These temples are made of sandstone and the exteriors are completely encrusted with carvings. The carvings are themed in three ascending horizontal layers. The bottom layer represents daily life and activities, basic human existence. These are what the temples seem to be best known for, the erotic carvings. The next two layers ascend in their spiritual emphasis, with the top layer representing spiritual attainment.

We spent time wandering and viewing the temples, and then went outside into the town. The girls had heard rumors of a cafe that served pizza, and there was no rest until we hit that spot. I really wasn't interested at first, but after seeing coffee and cake on the menu, it seemed like a better idea and I have to admit it really filled an empty space nicely.

One of the perks of being here is that we get to hear the spiritual leader of HI, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait speak frequently. His talks are entertaining, a bit rambling, full of stories, and use the new shrine that has just been built as a starting point. Panditji is a scholar of the scriptures and Sanskrit. The shrine is beautiful, and a wonderful place to meditate.

When on a walk on the road outside, Doug and I ran into Panditji and his wife one morning. He pointed to a small family walking through a field back to the road we were on. He said that he and his wife had been watching as they went up to the electric fence of the property and one of the locals working as HI staff handed some food through the fence. He said that hunger is the most painful condition, and that the hungry in India are largely ignored. He said its also challenging to come in and try to help as there are those that will find out and try to extort payment in return for "allowing" the help to go to those in need. It's best to keep your efforts quiet. In America we have soup kitchens and other ways of offering aid, and largely treat those in need with respect, something not done in India.

Sunday
Promises to be sunny, which will help dry things out. One daughter has been suffering from GI issues, and I now have a cold, which is a bit different from the cough that's pervaded camp. All fun in the dampness and rain.

We had a trip to Jata Shankar scheduled yesterday, but because of the rain, only about 35 of our group of 150 elected to go. We were in that group, and I'm so glad we went.    Is a village and shrine built into the side of a mountain. It was about a 2 hour bus ride away, and you know you've reached some sort of rope-end when a two hour bus ride sounds appealing. But, when we arrived, the rain stopped for the most part, making things muddy but manageable. The village is beautiful, colorful and crumbly, with a layer of trash and mud covering the ground, colorful paintings and tiles on the walls, and monkeys climbing the rooftops. We climbed stairs to the top, where there was a small shrine, and where they kept a very auspicious bull. This bull was born with three eyes, and developed three horns. He is kept very well, and my girls enjoyed that.

On the way down the mountain, we turned off the main path into a small shrine built into the mountainside, like a small cave. We took off our shoes and went inside, where the swami and several other men were playing a shruti box, drums, tingshaws (spelled incorrectly, I know) and some other instruments, singing kirtan-style chants. We sat on the stone floor. There was a fire built off to one side, and it was smoky. The music was wonderful, and we sat there for the longest time. The swami offered to let us play his shruti box and when he decided he played enough, he went into the little shrine. We made our offerings, he blessed us, and we went on our way.

There were rows of little stands offering cheap plastic jewelry, bindis, etc., and while there wasn't much we were really interested in, we bought some things from several stands.

A high point is always the friendliness of people. We are like celebrities, often stopped and asked to have pictures taken. Rows of young boys line up to shake the girl's hands while a friend snaps a picture. Or, they want us to take a picture of them with our camera. They laugh and admire the results, then thank us, not caring that they'll never see the picture again, just happy it exists.

We arrived home fulfilled and in time for chai. I went to fill a bucket with hot water to wash out muddy socks, and began popping Thieves for the cold I felt coming on. Another cold night last night, but the sun is now out, and it's going to be a good day.

This may not be a great shot of Sylvia at bat during this
Game of cricket, but it's easily the high point of this
Trip for me, so I had to include.

The interest goes both ways.

Okay, today was the best day yet.

The past couple of days have been more quiet. In a way. A couple in our group got married in a Vedic ceremony in the sacred grove. Some local farmers brought camels here to the ashram, and people could have rides. There was a havan, a fire ceremony in the sacred grove to mark the auspicious bathing day. There are several of these throughout the four months of the Mela, and if it wasn't crowded and energetic before, all stops are pulled out for this.

Unfortunately, the crowds led to some unfortunate events. There was an accident at a train station, and also a bridge at the Mela collapsed. These accidents created over 30 deaths; I think some people were trampled in the crowds.

Because of this, the police are trying to reduce the crowds and get people out of the Mela, and an event we had planned for today, to go to one of the camps to hear a spiritual teacher, a swami speak was canceled. Fortunately, we do have the good fortune of having Sandy Anderson and Rolf Sovik here, and I just finished an asana with Sandy, and will do a meditation with Rolf soon.

However, the real high point, of my whole pilgrimage really, so far, was this morning. Doug, and girls and myself signed out and headed off the ashram grounds for a walk. We walked along the Ganges for a while. There were people bathing along the shore. Some women were very friendly and offered to let us join their bathing group (I'm pretty sure that's what they were saying) but we politely declined. Sometimes it's nice that there is a bit of a communication gap.

Sylvia had lost a tooth a day or two ago, and she wanted to throw it into the Ganges. So, we did. I told her to say a little prayer as she tossed her tooth in, as an offering to the Ganges. She has left a bit of herself in India.

We turned in and followed a path into the prairie. We saw the farmer grazing his two camel. We saw the herd of antelope-type animals (I don't know how to spell it, but sylvia told me they are called "neel-guy". I'll figure it out later.) Then we got closer into the village.

I think that a lot of the village stayed out of sight when our group came through a couple days ago. Things were really bustling today. It was laundry day (although maybe everyday is laundry day, judging by what I've seen). Of course kids were all over us. As we stopped to admire the paintings of Hanuman and Shiva on one house, an older boy came up to us. He lived there and could speak some English. We talked a while about the paintings, the shrine that was built outside, how the house had been his grandfather's. Then he invited us in the back to sit and have tea. I was thrilled to sit, but was afraid to do the tea. We went back into his yard and he pulled out three plastic chairs and a little wooden bench so the four of us could sit down. We did and a big group of kids and older boys gathered around to stare at us. We admired a young cow that was in the yard. He said it was three months old, but I have to wonder about the translation there; it looked like three weeks or maybe days to me. It was tiny. We did the kind of chat thing for a while, then we indicated we needed to go. He was adamant that they were making tea for us. I so, so, SO wish we could have felt comfortable taking tea with them, but the day before I was as tethered to the outhouse with a GI issue as this little calf was to his post, and tomorrow we have a several hour bus ride. I just didn't feel I could risk it. But, that is my biggest regret on this trip so far, that I didn't feel I could risk a cup of tea with these wonderful people.

The boy didn't seem too offended, and followed us down the road a while longer. A nice crowd grouped around us and accompanied us as we walked. We ran into a man that spoke English and got directions to the next village.

As  we entered the village there was a group of boys playing cricket in an open space. They seemed to be inviting us to join in. This was one invite we were eager to accept. Doug was the first at bat, then we all got a turn. As we played, I could see small groups gathering off in the distance watching us. Over time (yes, we played for quite a while) they came over to watch. There was a bit pile of sand, and I sat down on it and some women in their saris and kids sat on the top. It felt just like home: little league moms watching from the bleachers. At one point I turned around and said "good game, huh?) to one of the women, who had no idea what I was saying. I cheered at totally inappropriate times, and am still not sure what the rules were, but I'm pretty sure I'm good at cricket and impressed them very much.

After handshakes (and we've been teaching high-fives also, which is one thing that seems to catch on quick) we left.

Later in the village we asked directions back to the Ganges and two boys took us into a "side street" path, some got to see a little behind the scenes. An old man bathing under a pump. Two little toddlers taking a bucket bath, and fighting when one splashes the other.  The villages are really quite beautiful. Earthy, natural.

We never walked far without picking up some company, mostly young boys. Two followed us as we hit the river again. We didn't ever really talk to them, except to clap as they showed off a little and jumped over a particularly large ravine. They stayed behind us as we walked. Suddenly I heard them calling "good-by!" and we turned around to wave and yell back. They called  "good-by!" and "thank-you!"  to us. I. Loved. It.

Yesterday was my favorite so far. Instead of heading into the throngs of the Mela, we went in the other direction. We walked along the Ganges for a while then veered off into a large prairie and walked along a path toward a village. Here we saw sheepherders with large flocks, and herds of an antelope-type animal. It was so nice after the heat, dust and noise of the Mela.

The village we were walking through was expecting us. As Westerners only walk through a couple times a year, generally with the Himalayan Institute, HI went there the day before to tell them we'd be coming. That way they could stay in and out of sight if they wanted. However, a lot of villagers were out, and it was wonderful.

This village is a "healthy" village, meaning not a poor one. They do have electricity, although from what I could see it looked like maybe a bare bulb or two per household. Houses are clay or brick with thatch roofs. Each house has several  cattle, usually tied to a ground post in the yard. I think I heard some goats inside the structures, but I didn't see any chickens, as Hindus generally do not eat eggs as well as meat. 

It definitely felt awkward taking photos; on one hand I don't want to leave without something  to remember this walk, on the other it feels intrusive. However, again, the curiosity seems to go both ways. Several women and I made eye contact and smiled at each other; I think if I spoke Hindi or they English it would have been wonderful, but not so exotic. One woman spoke enthusiastically at Doug and I as we were admiring her cow; we had no idea what she was saying, but it seemed to be encouraging us to take a picture. So, we did, and right on cue as we snapped the shutter it let out a huge bellow. We jumped back and she laughed hysterically. I think she had that cow well trained.

Kids, of course, are the great equalizer, and they LOVE having their picture taken. They run up saying "hello!" "hello!" "hi!" and ask for a picture, which you then show to them on the screen and they laugh. They shake hands and generally love visitors.

My favorite was a boy who met us on the road with his camel. He let me pet it, and then asked if we wanted to see it lie down. Our guide spoke Hindi and everyone said, no, because it looks like so much effort for a camel to get up and down. But the boy really wanted to show off for us, so finally he ignored us and started saying "sit!" "sit!" and the camel with much effort lied down on the road. Then he got up and the two of them ran off, camel on a leash like a dog, into the field.

While I'm loving the cultural part of this trip, there are also lectures in the ashram on the symbolism of this place, visits to temples, and lectures on meditation. I am particularly enjoying Rolf Sovik's lectures on meditation and mantra.

Finally, weather has its highs and lows. Daytime temperatures are beautiful, sunny, high 70s. But nighttime has been quite cold, high 40s. As Sunday is an auspicious bathing day at the Mela, crowds are growing, and the fervor is building. This means that any hour of the night I wake because of cold, it'll be equally tough to go back to sleep due to noise. 2:00, 4:00am, the Mela never sleeps, and from 4 kilometers away, the din is consistent.

Wednesday

Yesterday we walked to the Kumbha Mela. We walked along the Ganges bank. The Ganges rises about 20 feet during the monsoon season, then recedes in October. It's currently at its lowest level, which means all the debris it carries during the monsoon is left on its banks afterward. Bones, garbage, and other less pleasant things need to be navigated.

We walked to the center of the Mela, the Sangam. This is where the three rivers meet. Rows of sandbags are stacked to protect the shore, and pilgrims gather to bathe, meditate, and make offerings. A little girl approached us with a basket. In it were little boats made out of newspaper, filled with marigolds and some incense. The girls bought two and made their offerings on the bank.

The Mela is filled with priests, sages, and those on a multitude of spiritual paths. Some are not authentic; they might be simply dressed up for the event like Trekkies at a convention, some are shams that offer "blessings" then want money. I received a blessing from a renunciate who sat by a post carrying a ring of bones and some sort of wooden plaque. I'm not certain of his authenticity, but he was so interesting looking I couldn't resist.

. 

Radiating out from the Sangam is the rest of the Mela, the festival. Gurus come and claim a spot for their "camp" and set up huge theatre-like areas. There is a stage in the front, and a large area for followers to sit. These can be very elaborate, with an amusement park like quality. Their teachings are broadcast over loudspeakers, and apparently there is some competition to be the loudest . Unfortunately for us, I've only heard Hindi spoken, so going in and listening isn't so informative.

Between the camps are vendors selling either supplies for people camping there, (pots, food, supplies), souvenirs, mala beads, etc.

There are beggars. Some are clearly born with deformations they've turned into a livelihood. Others have performed austerities that have created deformations. I only saw one that I could identify, but know that this was a practice among yogis in the past to earn money. The man I saw was laying on his belly, having stacked bags of rice on his back over folded back legs. His spine was twisted and his legs deeply bent and shriveled.

I felt a little guilty and embarrassed to want to take pictures of all the colorful people, from those who obviously wanted to be on display, to those who were there there as pilgrims, but equally interesting to me. Some were clearly poor, and had made great sacrifice to take trains or buses or walk in to he here. 

But I felt a little better after I realized that the curiosity went both ways. While many people didn't seem to give us much notice, others clearly were curious of us and not embarrassed to stare. Some would follow us and take pictures. In one case, there was a young girl who appeared to be with a boyfriend, she was maybe about 15 or a little older. She was sophisticated enough to be carrying a cell phone that could take pictures and videos. She was so intrigued with my girls, particularly Eva. She started taking pictures, then got bold and asked Eva if she could have a picture taken with her. Her boyfriend snapped the shot, then then Sylvia and our friend Riley were included, then we continued. But the girl continued to follow us, walking behind Eva and videoing her as she walked. This went on for a long time, until it got uncomfortable. She just couldn't get enough.

That was cute, but later Doug walked ahead with the girls and a similar thing happened, but this time with a group of teenage boys. The paternal Doug was pretty concerned about this, and kept trying to break out of the group that was surrounding them, but the boys just adjusted their pace. Ultimately, it was fine, innocent curiosity, if maybe a bit inappropriate by our standards.

These incidents were really helpful in processing the sights and oddities of the Mela, for all of us, but especially the girls. Of course it makes them feel like little celebrities, but it also humanizes all of the very different people we are seeing. Rather than feeling like spectators viewing an exhibit, with the curious energy only going one way, we have become a participating part of the spectacle, to some degree. 

...?..

I am sitting in my eco-hut writing this. In the background is the sound of another camp in heavy, over-the-loudspeaker chant mode. This will go on all night. From several directions. All night. Long.

Today we took boats to the point where the Ganges, the Sarasvati and the Yamuna.  meet. This is an important area in the Kumbha Mela, the point where the nectar of immortality, the elixir of life was sourced. This elixir is happiness, and it it the point to take a dip, if you dare to dip in a body of water that currently has e-coli levels 100 times above the Indian governments acceptable level. Not saying anything about the U.S. governments acceptable level. But after watching our local boatmen paddliing against the current, pulling us along shore, dipping in and out of the water to get us there, even reaching over the side for a sip when thirsty, it seemed almost insulting to not dip a hand in and scoop a little on the top of the head for a symbolic blessing. But I think most of us took a long, luxurious bucket shower afterward.

Speaking of the amenities, yes, shower stalls are private, with buckets. You fill the buckets in another area with some hot water. In each stall is a spigot of cold. You mix until you have the ideal temp. Today I showered, washed hair, and washed clothes in about a half bucket of water, plus cold to rinse. There are outhouses with flushing toilets. We sleep in grass huts with mosquito nets. So we are pretty much outside all the time.

The girls have made two good friends their age here, so they are now officially having a blast. I also think it helps them process some of the things they are seeing,to discuss with a peer. After driving in and seeing the poverty, and craziness, and (gasp!) dogs with udders (pretty much all dogs seem to be feral here and thus have many litters, unlike dogs at home) one daughter was a little teary and homesick for "western civilization". A good friend makes all the difference in the world.

First few days...

february 3
Arrived in Delhi to hop on s bus for a four hour ride through the densest fog I've ever seen. Absolutely no scenery to enjoy on the way to Agra, just thick fog.

Started to break up just as we reached Agra. I absolutely love the street scenes. Is everything I heard; loud, chaotic, dirty, but it's also a big group scene. Whereas at home when you see throngs of people on the street, generally they are walking somewhere, either by themselves or with one other person. Here it's much more interactive. Lots of groups of people (mostly men, really) sitting, working, walking.

Cars aren't rare, but what I see is that bikes and motorcycles are the main modes of transportation. Whole families on one motorcycle. Mom rides sidesaddle on the back, then a kid or two then Dad driving, then the baby placed, naturally, right up front.

Bikes are similar, they have a flat book rack on the back and the passenger sits there.

Then there is the animals. There are tons of stray dogs, all over. Even litters of puppies. Of course there are cows wandering, eating the trash alongside the dogs. A lot of horses to pull carts. I have no idea what breed or mix these are, but they are the thinnest, most narrow-chested horses I've ever seen. Ribs showing more than any animal I've seen at home.

Possible the most exotic animal se've seen on the streets so far are camel pulling carts. And baboons roaming in packs.

The big field trip that took us into the city was the Taj Mahal. Being a Sunday, it was packed like Disney World on spring break. the Taj is just like the photos. One thing I'd say is that it has a very transparent quality. In photos we attempted from further away, it seemed to actually fade away.

The next day, yesterday, we got on a huge tourist bus to bring our group here to Allahabad. We encountered our first Indian style toilets, which one daughter proudly navigated. Ten hours later we are here. 

Tuning In to a Better You

Anne Unger, RYT

Pratyahara, the fifth limb in yoga, is one of my all time favorite practices. It teaches us how to consciously withdraw our senses from the outside world and look inward. It’s a practice that helps me stay focused and connected to my true self. I have learned how to stop at any point throughout the day, even during the most stressful and chaotic times, and tune into what I’m feeling. It allows me to remain present in the moment and think through my actions rather than thoughtlessly reacting (or overreacting) in a way that I may later regret. I can rest easily in difficult moments so my inner voice can surface, until the answers I need become apparent.

I love that I can practice pratyahara anytime, anywhere. It’s such an important part of my life and practice that I bring it into all of my classes, giving students several opportunities to focus inward, to withdraw from the world around them, and notice what’s happening inside. It’s a beautiful moment for me, to witness so many people at once tune in and let go of all that surrounds them.

Not all worldly moments are treated equally, however. There will be setbacks. Even when I know I shouldn’t respond or react to something without thinking it through, I can find myself doing it anyway. It’s almost as if there’s a host of harsh and turbulent situations lurking around every corner, ready to trick us, ready to pull us into a vortex of bitter regret. But I know my alarm sound now; I’ve been paying attention. It’s loud and fierce and fills my head. It’s simple, but damning, and sounds like: “WHAT?!”

As soon as that alarm goes off, I know I need to step back from whatever is happening—whether it’s an abrupt email, an unpleasant phone call or a personal affront—and breathe, bringing my focus inward. Connecting first to my breath helps me withdraw from the over stimulated senses, then I can tune in to my better self, my thoughtful and reasonable self. It’s about tuning in, rather than tuning out and running from reality. It’s about choosing how we can best respond in challenging moments, rather than simply being reactionary.

Breathing deeply can help calm the nerves in difficult situations, and maybe even stop you from making rash decisions, or saying something you later wish you hadn’t, but the practice of pratyahara works deeper. It allows us to stop time, to take a moment to ourselves and bring control over the mind. It creates an opportunity to tune in to our true self and get grounded to make better choices.

At my next Tea Talk, we’ll discuss this idea of tuning in to our true self during uncomfortable situations and choosing how to respond. Join me for Tea Talk on Monday, February 18, 6-7pm. Stay for my 7:15pm class to experience a mindful vinyasa flow in candlelight that focuses on tuning in and getting grounded.

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Sutra 2.54. When the senses withdraw themselves from the objects and imitate, as it were, the nature of the mind-stuff, this is pratyahara.