Yoga Digest - March/April 2015 by Yoga Digest

MARCH / APRIL 2015

I N S P I R E • E D U C AT E • C O N N E C T

Jonny

Kest

What You Can Feel You Can Heal

ictures That Redef ine Yoga Robert Sturman

Kino MacGregor

Taking a Step Back to Move Forward Marla Apt

Props For Therapeutic Yoga A How-To Guide

15 Yoga & Wellness Experts Share How Yoga Heals 7 Ayurvedic Remedies for Spring Allergies

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MARCH / APRIL 2015

Publisher Yoga Digest, LLC Founders & Chief Editors Jenn Bodnar Cody Groth

Senior Columnist Kurt Johnsen

Magazine Designer Zoran Maksimovic

Contributors Marla Apt Kim Bauman Nick Bez Breeana Callaham Cary Caster Alicia Galantic Meenakshi Gupta Kino MacGregor Brittany Nelson Miryam Quinn Tommy Rosen Robert Sturman Racheal Weathers Eleonora Zampatti

Advertise yogadigest.com/advertise advertise@yogadigest.com Subscriptions yogadigest.com/subscribe Mailing Address Yoga Digest, LLC 950 E State HWY 114, Ste 160 Southlake TX, 76092

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“There’s nothing wrong ... ...with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater, you realize that you’ve been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent.” —Dave Barry Yoga postures, or asanas, are just one of the 8 limbs of yoga like breathing, being kind, practicing moderation, doing the right thing and taking care of yourself. While aesthetics and the physical practice of yoga can be beautiful and should be celebrated, it’s the transformation that keeps people coming back to their mats over and over again. The greatest kind of transformation is that which comes from deep within. Ask people why they come to yoga and you will find it’s more about how it makes them feel, not what they look like while practicing. Jonny Kest says meditation is the highest form of yoga. So in essence, it’s in stillness, observation and reflection that great change can occur. It’s through noticing and seeing more that we are more available to receive the gift of healing. This issue opens up some old wounds, digs deep and releases the true meaning of yoga. Yoga is healing, it’s meant to make you feel better and it truly is a practice that can benefit everyone. The healing power of yoga resonates within both of

us, especially Cody who found yoga to heal a back injury that ended his college basketball career. Even after every doctor said he would need surgery, he chose yoga, which not only completely healed his back - it has created a whole new perspective of mind-body healing. Thank you to the numerous beautiful souls who shared their vulnerabilities and triumphs to make this issue possible. Our mission has been, and will always be, to encourage as many people as possible to live life to the fullest and be healthy. We hope this issue inspires you to feel your best, educates you on the tools available to help you feel more alive, and connects you with your strong inner guide as well as others who have experienced healing and transformation through the practice of a yoga lifestyle! Keep a look out for us on the road this spring and summer. Our bags are packed! We recently enjoyed a great event recently at ‘U Studio Yoga’ in Los Angeles, California! Want to schedule a Yoga Digest Meet up at your studio or? Let us know! We love yoga! We also love connecting with you guys and hope to see you soon! Jenn Bodnar & Cody Groth Founders/Chief Editors Yoga Digest

Table of

Contents 10

EDUCATE

THE 5 MYTHS of Alignment in Yoga ��54 by Jonny Kest

HEART HEALTH 7 Poses to Open your Heart to Wellness and Longevity ��58 with Racheal Weathers

THE USE OF PROPS For Therapeutic Purposes In Iyengar Yoga ��62 by Marla Apt

Q&A WITH A REIKI MASTER �� 72 by Brittany Nelson

THE FOUNTAIN OF YOU(TH) �� 76 by Cary Caster

AYURVEDIC HEALING REMEDIES for Spring Allergies �� 78 by Meenakshi Gupta

MAKING YOUR OWN Aloe Vera gel ��80

INSPIRE

LINEAGE, LAYERS AND LIBERATION An interview with Jonny Kest �� 10

10 SUPER HEALING FOODS �� 81

FOOD IS MEDICINE The Organic Heart Story ��82 by Breeana Callaham

Unique and Flavorful RECIPES �� 84

15 YOGA & WELLNESS EXPERTS Share How Yoga Heals �� 16

CONNECT

HEALING VS. FIXING An interview with Mathew Sanford ��22

UPCOMING EVENTS �� 87 TRAVEL TO INDIA, practice yoga and give back! ��88

TRUE TRANSFORMATION ��26 by Robert Sturman

OVERCOMING THE FIGHT ��40

In Every Issue

YOGA SAVES MY LIFE �� 44

YD WARRIORS! �� 8 STAFF PICKS ��86 OUT OF YOUR Comfort Zone w/ Kurt Johnsen �� 90 INSPIRED VOICES �� 91

by Kino MacGregor

by Nick Bez

ADDICTION IS A DISEASE ��49 by Tommy Rosen

ODE TO THE MOON �� 50 by Eleonora Zampatti

YD Warriors!

How has yoga helped you heal physically, emotionally and/or spiritually? NICK BEZ

Practicing yoga and being surrounding by its practitioners has not healed me – it is however the path that continuously heals me. And yes, the distinction is an important one to make. In all my experience with the science of yoga, it has repeatedly shown me that it will meet people where they are and hold space for them to be perfectly whole and complete despite any ailments of body, heart or mind. It does this while also making it explicitly clear that if they are willing to walk it, there is a path to a more natural, less dis-eased state.

LESLEY CARNEY

To heal, we have to feel. In order to feel, we must be present. Yoga helps me to remain present and aware even during suffering. Of course there are situations where I don’t manage to stay present and that’s what the yoga mat is for - that’s where those tough experiences come around again and I get another chance to feel them and another chance to heal. It’s in this presence and truly feeling the moments, where I notice healing happen.

STEPHEN JONES

The physical and spiritual sadana of yoga has healed me tremendously. The daily asana practice affords me the opportunity to allow light into my being. This light comes in the form of self-assessment as to how I am progressing through the practice. It does not stem from a place of judgment but from connection to and through the practice. The spiritual sadana has brought me closer to God. I use the practice of yoga as a vehicle to form a deeper connection to my faith, creating a marriage of the physical and spiritual elements of the practice.

LORRAINE SCHRAY

Healing is a very strong word and can take on many meanings. Just like yoga is a strong practice and takes on a different form for everyone. To feel from the core of your soul the difference something makes in your life is priceless and that is what Yoga has done for me. The core of my physical and mental fitness has forever changed. Physically reminding me the power of the mind over the body and the strength to persevere by connecting the two is a learning experience with every class. Peace, love & Yoga.

DONNY STARKINS

After having 7 operations on my left knee, I started practicing yoga to heal my body. From the very beginning of my yoga journey, I experienced immediate healing. However, I had no idea that the true healing would happen in my mind, heart and soul. I am fascinated by the magic that happens when I fully connect with my breath. Using my breath to quiet the noise, slow down the mind, and release the tension in my body allows me to show up in the world more loving, mindful and present.

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Liberation An interview with Jonny Kest

• Jonny explains his family’s strong ties to Pattabhi Jois, creator of Ashtanga, the physical yoga practice • Discover the deep elements of yoga beyond the postures • The secret to healing revealed BY JENN BODNAR

INSPIRE Lineage, Layers and Liberation with Jonny Kest

nder the strong recommendation and encouragement of his father, Jonny Kest began practicing yoga when he was just 12 years old. By the time he was 15, he had been asked by his gym teacher to teach yoga once a week to his high school gym class. Jonny says he knew it was quite clear yoga was going to be a big part of his life. Back then, he says, there was not one single yoga video, no Yoga Teacher Trainings, maybe a handful of books and the only time you ever really heard of yoga was on the TV show “That’s Incredible”, when they found a yogi who was able to stop his heart from beating and pretzel himself into a small box. Jonny has definitely witnessed the evolution and popularity increase of yoga over the decades. He says after “That’s Incredible”, yoga became known as alternative medicine. None of the mainstream medical institutions thought of it as a realistic option for improving health. Next, yoga became complimentary medicine: you could do yoga but you had to take this or that pill along with it in order for it to work. Now, they’re calling it integrative medicine. Physicians are integrating yoga into cancer, heart disease and many other treatments. Jonny says yoga went from “That’s Incredible”, to integrative medicine where almost every major hospital somehow has a yoga teacher connected to it. Jonny’s father was a surgeon who suffered from severe back pain. At the time, more than 50% of all back surgeries failed. Jonny’s father fell into that category.

He had 4 unsuccessful back surgeries and was living in such pain, he had to leave his medical practice and go on disability. He was open to any alternative. Someone said ‘hey, why don’t you try yoga?’ This was in the late 70’s, around the time Patthabis Jois was making his first visits to the United States from India. Jois is noted for developing and introducing the western world to Ashtanga Yoga, the most traditional physical practice of yoga. Jonny says his father went to Jois’s workshop and was in such bad shape that he had to create a special class for those that were in pain. He says, “there lies the beginning of a very special relationship that went very deep and my father immediately started to feel the benefits of yoga on his back, in his mind and in his whole body. He benefitted so much that he followed Patthabis back to Mysore, India. He took my younger brother and I out of school for three months to study yoga and meditation with him.” JB: I’m curious because most kids don’t just catch on to yoga and appreciate it right away. It seems parents, teachers and coaches all see the value but the kids don’t. What was your initial attitude towards yoga when your dad first introduced this to you at 12 years young? JK: A lot of the time when kids are introduced to yoga, it’s a little bit too soft and not challenging enough. You just have to keep holding the space for them. We were introduced to Ashtanga Yoga that has some pretty challenging arm balances and has 4 series so it’s set up to be extremely edgy and just that physical challenge alone caught our attention. We wanted to be able to do handstands. Our teacher, David Williams, was amazing at making it interesting for us. And the fact that we were young teenagers in the beautiful yoga community of Hawaii…there was this open feeling of a lot of love and support. My dad was also very disciplined and we didn’t really have a choice, but he didn’t have to twist our arm too much. JB: You said your father immediately began to feel the benefits of yoga. Was there anything specific that you saw or any kind of breakthrough in your father’s back pain? JK: Back pain is the second leading reason we go see a doctor in the United

Yoga gives you a lot more choices when you learn how to come to your br eath. States. There is some scientific evid ence from Dr. Sarno, out of the New York University of Medicine, who has written several books. One is called ‘Healing Back Pain’. From his research for over 30 years, he found that 95% of all back pain is suppres sed feelings. He calls it tension myositis syndrome (TM S): because we are suppressing our emotions, we end up building tension and tension blocks the flow of oxy gen. What happens is there are actually areas of our bod ies that are oxygen deprived and it creates pain on the nerves. A lot of the times these things don’t even sho w up on x-rays. In my father’s case, it did show some herniation, but the surgery didn’t help because, like I said there is always a psychosomatic component to it and I think that was the shift. Somehow practicing yog a allowed my father to have a different outlet with his feel ings and there was

A study from the International Journal of Yoga found that long-term yoga practice was associated with little to no obesity issues in women over the age of 45. Of the 211 women surveyed, there was no obesity found in the 49 participants who had been practicing yoga for more than 25 years. Yoga practitioners were less likely than non-practitioners to use medication for metabolic syndrome, mood disorders, inflammation, and pain.

INSPIRE Lineage, Layers and Liberation with Jonny Kest some kind of release there that freed him from a life time of holding. When I saw that research, I thought ‘ahhh that’s what happened.’ It wasn’t really one yoga posture or one flow, I think it was the fact that he had found a safe way to feel his feelings and it changed him, it softened him. JB: In your Yoga Teacher Training, you teach the 7 Axioms, or truths. One says that ‘pain and fear can be our greatest teachers.’ How does this relate to your father’s experience? JK: Yes, I heard the saying once from an ayurvedic teacher ‘Our issues are in our tissues.’ Yoga gives us a way to work out a lot of our karma’s on a less intellectual level and a more intuitive, energetic level. So, I can’t tell you when and where the release was for my father, but EVERYBODY felt it. We all were smiling. We all benefitted from it because when one person liberates oneself, the whole universe feels that liberation. JB: You’re always quoting, in your classes, studies and benefits about yoga. In your opinion, what are some of the best benefits of yoga?

If you practice yoga long enough and if you’re practicing properly, you’re moving yourself into stillness. At some poi nt it will come up and you’ll start ask ing about meditation. Meditation is the hig hest form of yoga. I had practiced yoga for 10 years before I went on my first 10 day vipassana silent retreat. That’s where the rea l shift happened and I truly understood that I was not using my body to get into the pose, I was using the pose to get into my body and change the habit pattern in my mind. Meditation is huge. This whole pra ctice is to move you into stillness. Life gives and life takes. Eventually that handstand that you worked so hard to achieve will be taken from you. No matter how much asana you do or how much blue algae we eat, eve ntually we are going to grow older. How do you face that if you’re whole practice is abo ut moving into a climatic pose? What happen s when that pose is taken away from you ? —Jonny Kest 14

JK: We interview each potential candidate for our yoga teacher training. You have to be accepted because it’s a very big commitment. One of the questions we ask is ‘Do you have your family’s support?” You have to have support to come out of the program successfully. One particular student was actually a high school girl. Occasionally, we do have a few high school students go through training, it’s quite amazing. She, of course, had to get her parents permission. Her family was very supportive. They could tell without asking if she had went to the gym to workout or to a yoga class. If she went to the gym, she was more tense, more reactive and there was a shortness to her. When she went to a yoga class, there was a lightness, a feeling of kindness and friendliness about her. Santosha. If I had to pick a few of the real benefits, I would say it changes your nervous system, you’re more open hearted. That’s what you hear from students: “my husband sent me to yoga class, my wife sent me to yoga class….my work associates have noticed that I started taking yoga because I’m more calm and content.” JB: So now you’re calm, you have this Santosha, you’re not wanting to put chemicals and toxins in your body, but it’s really hard to describe this to the everyday person not practicing yoga. It’s so hard to explain that shift to people. Can you speak to that? JK: I remember reading an article a long time ago, it was funny and caught my attention. The title and I’m probably paraphrasing, is “Yoga Ruined My Life.” After this guy started practicing yoga he didn’t feel like hanging out late with the same friends, smoking and drinking. He stopped eating crap. It ruined his life: it changed the food he was eating and the company he was keeping. It was kind of a joke that it ruined his life because basically everything changed, how he approached work and all the things he was attached to. JB: You’re very blessed to have been introduced and adapted to the yoga lifestyle at such a young age, but even with that how has yoga helped you heal over the years? JK: Even though I came in to it young I think maybe one of the reasons I gravitated to it, is because I was very, very defensive, reactive and perhaps even addictive. I was told this by many teachers and parents but I felt it, too. Yoga was a huge source of soothing for this agitation I was feeling deep inside. It’s a lifetimes work, but I feel if I didn’t have yoga…..my life would be extremely different. Yoga gives you a lot more choices when you learn how to come to your breath. I’m not much different than any-

body else. Unwanted things happen and wanted things don’t happen in my life, but I was very fortunate and feel very grateful to have had a tool so young that instead of building mor e tension, I was able to start coming out of it early. There is no question abo ut it, there’s layers and layers and laye rs. It’s a lifetimes work. JB: You do such a good job of mai ntaining the integrity of yoga. So many are overly concerned with the asana or physical part of the pra ctice. There’s actually a hashtag for yoga porn on Instagram! How can we change that message and con vey that yoga is a healing practice? JK: It’s a work in progress. I’ve been aware of how big social media is, obviously, but I’ve always just shied away from it. I’ve never been really attr acted to doing a yoga video or tha t kind of way of selling. There is som ething

When one person liberates onesel f, the whole universe feels that liber ation. that can get polluted in that. There is some way that it maybe even exaggerates your ego instead of dissolving your ego. I’ve seen that happen with yoga students and teachers: They amp lify their addictions. You have to check in…make sur e you’re moving in the right direction. Mind mat ters most (See ‘5 MYTHS OF ALIGNMENT’ by Jonny Kest on page 54). When I teach, what motiva tes me to get out of bed, to travel and leave my fam ily and community is not coming and giving a work out, it’s giving you a way to live a more happy, hea lthy life; giving you guys tools that can help lift you out of your old habit patterns of aversion. That’s wha t motivates me to teach, you can go get a workout from anyone. JB: What’s the answer? What is the reason why yoga heals? JK: Yoga allows you to feel and there is no healing without feeling. What you can feel, you can heal. Yogis say that the greatest barrier , or the greatest

source of suffering is the separation between the mind and the body. Our practice, if it’s done properly, dissolves, dismantles and breaks down the barrier between mind and body, allowin g you to feel and integrate…and heal.

Jon

ny Kest is the National Director of Yoga Teac her Training for LifePower Yoga with Life Time Fitness. He is the founder of Center For Yoga Studios in the Detroit, Michigan area where he resides with his wife, Milla and four of their children. Nathan, 15, a highschool wrestler, Benjy, 13, a middle school basketball player and Milana, a 6 year old kind ergartner. Their oldest son, Jonah, 18 is a 200 hour certified yoga teacher, teaching and attending college in Boulder, Colo rado. Nathan, in his last year of middle school had a hard time and committed, with his grandpa’s Lazar inspiration, to 100 cons ecutive days of yoga classes and did not skip a bit. The improvem ents in his emotional, spiritual, mental and physical well being were incredible. Benjy, is just staring his yoga as he reall y needs it playing basketball. Milana, goes weekly to kids yoga and drops in once in a while to regularly scheduled Vinyasa class es with her daddy. Also, Jonny’s high school gym teacher still comes and attends his classes at Center For Yoga! 15

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15 Yoga & Wellness

Experts

Healing, as a concept, has played a huge role in my yoga story. I started doing yoga when someone recommended it as a way to heal a knee injury in 1997. But it was helping a man with sciatic pain while assisting Desiree Rumbaugh at a yoga therapeutics retreat that made me want to do this as a career. One thing that has fascinated me about healing is how incredibly demoralizing pain can be. I, more than most, believe in the power of the body to heal itself. And I’ve seen over and over how yoga can be a healing catalyst. But I am still shocked at my own negativity whenever I get even a small injury. Just this past summer I injured my back … my sacroiliac joint specifically (a very common yoga related injury). And even though I’ve seen and helped others with this injury, my initial reaction was that this was THE injury. This one was so bad it was beyond healing. It felt like punishment, that I must have done something terribly wrong to deserve it. In other words, I did not feel “open to the power of healing.” It was a heavy dose of humble pie, reminding me of how powerful pain can be, how much it can shut us down physically and emotionally. So I got to work. Yes, I worked on figuring out

what I had done physically. But the major work was softening my frustration and remembering, in the face of major pain, that healing is possible even though it might seem far away. Thank goodness this isn’t as hippy-dippy sounding as it used to be. Most people now would agree that our attitude plays a part in the healing process. Even so, I think it’s something that needs to be said and something that requires effort. And honestly, believing in healing will probably always require spiritual prowess. I think there’s a vast frontier when it comes to how attitude can be a conduit for healing. And it’s likely a life-long quest to learn how to step out of the darkness and hopelessness and instead sincerely believe that healing is possible. This is not to say, of course, that attitude is the only thing. It’s just step one. We must also take charge of changing our unhealthy patterns. And, we must find a way to integrate a healthy attitude and new patterns in our normal life. But I believe if we can start with a shift, or at the very least start by just remembering to breathe, we give ourselves the best chance of tapping into the force we call healing. I think we can learn to respect our pain without seeing it as the most powerful force in the universe.

ss Rayburn o R

Amy Ippoliti

aro Photo: T Smith

Yoga has helped me to heal emotionally through the community. The real teacher in yoga is not necessarily a person, it’s the community. When I’ve been hurting most, my yoga community has been there for me to help dry my tears, uplift me when I’m low, remind me that life is good when I’ve lost hope, and been there for hikes, hugs, and venting sessions when ever I’ve asked. I feel so lucky. If you have yet to surround yourself with a wonderful group of people, I can not recommend getting involved in yoga community more highly!

Arthur Boorman

DDPYOGA helped me physically in many ways. By giving me a workout that was accessible, I was able to improve my health, and eventually regain control over my body. This improvement in health had positive effects on all aspects of my life. In my job, my social life, and in my family life. People noticed that I had more energy; they saw me moving with less pain, and they saw the physical changes. While it felt good, compliments only reinforced my own growing awareness that I was retaking control over not only my body, but over other aspects of my life. I began to rebuild my self-esteem. I had a chance to remember that while there is life, there is opportunity for self-improvement. We are beings capable of healing and growth.

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Alicia Galantic

Pho to: Na om

Yoga not only allows me to connect to my true self but it also has the ability to heal myself in whole. I believe when dealing with an issue, it is imperative to take the time to pause and actually face it. When you do this each practice, you will find yourself getting deeper and closer to being at ease. Yoga heals me similar to how a whole foods lifestyle does. They are both simple ways to show self-love and are key in personal growth.

INSPIRE How has yoga helped you heal - physically, emotionally and/or spiritually?

Daniel Scott

DJ Taz

Drishti.com (Pete yond r A : Be ldri tch oto ) Ph

Shift happens everyday. It may not be easy, but it doesn’t have to be hard. Yoga gives us an effective set of tools to make the choice which best serves the situation, fine tuning our capacity for accurate self-assessment. We learn to trust through practice, believe in experience, and better understand the difference between moving and being moved. Before yoga, I used to do everything I thought I needed to do in order to get what I want. Now, I do everything I want and get exactly what is needed. Thanks, yoga!

My first experience with yoga was back in middle school when I borrowed a Fundamentals of Yoga book from the public library and did the asanas (postures) by myself in my parent’s basement. During those childhood days of practicing yoga in secrecy I felt myself transported into an enchanting connection with life. Nearly two decades later I can say my practice has taught me how to be present and watch all the shadow habits and destructive mind patterns arise on and off the mat. While practicing regularly I feel a stream of expanded creativity and high synchronicity flowing through my life with ease and grace. I walk away from my yoga matt transformed and rejuvenated. The best part of replenishing my inner world is that I get to bring this clear, illuminated consciousness out into all of my relationships.

Justin Wolfer

Kelly Sullivan Photo:

A friend suggested that I try yoga and at that point I was desperate to do anything to avoid surgery on my knee. I had no idea what to expect and after my first class I left feeling more frustrated then when I went in. But this was a different sort of frustration. It dawned on me that as the teacher was asking me to do this and to feel that, how little I knew about my body and how seldom I paid attention to it. How could this be? 20 years of athletics and suddenly this yoga practice was revealing multiple injuries that I was totally unaware of; chronic pain, anxiety and poor biomechanics to name a few. Needless to say that in just a few months of yoga I had uncovered enough bad habits to think; “what’s the point” and I nearly quit. Something inside me urged me to keep going. Yoga has become a means of getting to know my inner and outer world, a means to uncover dysfunction and toxicity allowing love and compassion to grow in my life. I often say: “Don’t wait for the right situation to become who you want to be, just become that person over and over again. The relationships we find both in harmony and dysfunction provide us mirrors that light our path.”

Brian Hyman

When my mother passed away in 2009, my yoga practice helped me heal emotionally, as feelings of grief that had once consumed me were replaced with feelings of acceptance and forgiveness. When I suffered from disease and addiction later that year, my yoga practice helped me heal spiritually, as feelings of loneliness that dominated my thoughts and actions were replaced with an awareness of Oneness with God, nature, and all things. When I was diagnosed with degenerated discs in my lower back the following year, my yoga practice helped me heal physically as debilitating pain was replaced with strength and freedom of movement.

nifer Macniven Photog : Jen rap o t o hy Ph

Les Leventhal

The best part of being a yoga teacher is remembering. I found teaching because I was such a passionate student and I never want to forget or lose that quality of experience. Yoga found me during a time in my life when I was lost, confused and desperate for change. The beauty of my practice is that transformation is slow, so I can see everything for its necessary and truthful purpose in my life as it is and not how I may, even today still, try and manage it to be. Physically, yoga has healed some injuries and availed me the practice of patience through others and to accept my body to age gracefully.

Liz Arch

to: Robert Sturman Pho

I first arrived on my yoga mat completely unaware that I had so many scars buried beneath so many layers of limiting beliefs. These beliefs led me into an abusive relationship, and it was yoga and meditation that helped me navigate my way out. As my physical body began to open, so too did my mind and my heart. I slowly peeled away the layers of fear and self-doubt and began to feel powerful rather than powerless. Yoga continues to heal me on a daily basis and my practice is a constant reminder that true love is about loving yourself first.

INSPIRE How has yoga helped you heal - physically, emotionally and/or spiritually?

Michiala Ashkenazy

Ph o

The start of my yoga journey was a clumsy one. I was lost, to say the least. I spent my nights in clubs with people I didn’t know, and my days recovering from those long nights. It was in the darkness that yoga was (strongly) recommended to me, as a way to nourish my body and soul instead of destroy it. The first few classes were rough… I was uncoordinated and inflexible. But before I knew it, there was no room for any darkness in my life. I was surrounded by lightness. I was the light. Yoga brought mindfulness, patience, understanding and healing back into my mind, body and soul. hal r Jo pe s a :J to

Tiffany Cruikshank

Over the past couple decades yoga has been a powerful tool for healing myself personally as well as in my work with over 25,000 patients this past decade. The beauty of the practice for me & what has kept me around for so many years now is it’s potential to affect us physically, mentally & spiritually and it’s ability to be used as a form of medicine.

Tao Porchon-Lynch

Kelly Sullivan Photo:

Yoga is more than a powerful physical exercise to stimulate the flow of energy within the body. The subtle energy of the breath of life enables this “inner energy” to wipe out the darkness of fear, then brightens our mind and body. I think a short practice of yoga resembles the sun rising over the horizon, it opens up a new dawn of life for both nature and mankind. It reveals the purity of a new day and the wonder of knowing that this power behind every thought or action makes us aware that Nothing is Impossible™. As the music becomes a tingling silence, the wonder of the breath of life carries me like a shooting star beyond the physical and mental visuality and I am at one with the whole universe. Yet with a flash it is gone. My journey to experience the eternal, may only be fleeting, never to be realized, but I am convinced that yoga, the breath of the creator, helps me open the door to help others reach this wonder of life.

Masumi Goldman

an Photography / ww w.k delm n atie eA i t an a de :i K t d

m .co an

Yoga has healed me on so many occasions and in so many ways. In the physical sense, yoga rehabilitated my body after a series of painful autoimmune attacks. The time on my mat each day helped me regain full range of motion in my stiff joints and develop flexibility and body awareness that I didn’t have before. My physical practice also opened the door to the emotional aspects of healing through yoga. In the same way that I could breathe through challenging postures on my yoga mat, I found that I could breathe deeply and find peace in the most unimaginable life circumstances. As I sat beside my daughter’s hospital bed following her kidney transplant and subsequent acute rejection episode, I found that I was able to reduce and eliminate my initial feelings of overwhelming panic. My yoga lived inside of me, not in my poses. Although I didn’t physically practice yoga for many weeks, I endured stifling stress and set my mind free of mental anguish by clearing my thoughts, focusing on my breath, and holding tight to the yogic principle of Aparigraha (non-possessiveness)--- letting go of expectations for the future and living in the present moment.

Stacey Lei Krauss

A break-up from a 7-year relationship had left me broken and utterly depressed about the upcoming holidays. I’d always gravitated to the Bikram practice; this strict sequence opens my body with healthy asanas, refinement through precision and engagement in moving meditation. I committed to the (controversial) 30-class in 30-day “challenge” because the plan spoke to me. I undertook this project during the holiday season, and refrained from typical indulgences since they hindered my practice. I’ve refreshed my self-discipline, self-esteem, gratitude… and I can breathe again! My body is nimble, my skin glows and I have mind-ful clarity. I’ve restored my relationship with myself: the most profound blessing of all.

P h oto cre

Healing vs.

Fixing An interview with Mathew Sanford BY JENN BODNAR

athew Sanford has been a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher to participants of all levels since 1991. He has transformed thousands of lives by sharing the simple concept of mind-body connection. He is an author, public speaker and the founder of Mind Body Solutions, a non-profit organization whose mission is to help people the transformation of those who suffer from traumatic loss and disability. One of Mathew’s greatest strengths as a teacher is to adapt yoga for all types of conditions. He shares this knowledge in trainings for yoga teachers all around the world. Mind Body Solutions also works with healthcare professionals to bring mind-body principles into the delivery of their care. Mathew says, “we figured out how to teach the subtle body in ways that probably no one else is doing. We have learned to integrate it into health care. For example, we teach health care workers how to sit in the presence of suffering without trying to fix it, while giving and receiving simultaneously.” Mathew is quite familiar with feelings of suffering. In 1978, at the age of 13, a devastating car accident took the lives of his father and sister, seriously injured his mother and left him paralyzed from the neck down. His book, Waking: A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence, (2006: Rhodale) describes his experience of waking up three days later, being a paraplegic, losing half of his family, going through acute care, finding yoga and eventually leads up to the birth of his twin sons, one who was stillborn. Mathew says he came to yoga ‘because he really missed his body and really wanted to do something with his mind and his body.’

JB: How does adaptive yoga differ from yoga therapy? MS: I think yoga therapy is great: trying to treat specific conditions with yoga poses is brilliant. Our approach is much more about feeling whole and vibrant throughout the entire body. Look at me, I have a severed spinal cord. Yoga is never going to make me walk again. If I came to yoga because I thought it was going to reverse my condition, I would have quit early on. It’s important for yoga teachers working with people who have serious trauma to understand you can’t fix it. You have to learn to sit in the presence of their life and be okay with not being able to fix it. The motivation to help another human being is one of the most noble motivations on the planet but usually every caregiver and every yoga teacher I’ve ever seen is trying to save somebody, or a time of their life, or a loved one or themselves. So until you start to know your own story better,

“The principles of yoga don’t discriminate, but yoga poses do” 23

INSPIRE Healing vs. Fixing with Mathew Sanford

“It’s a sacred moment when someone starts to heal” you’re going to APPLY yoga to people. You’re going to try to fix them. When you do that you unintentionally wind up taking power from them. JB: How do you help someone feel whole and vibrant throughout the entire body when they have no sensation? How do you help a paraplegic feel the mind-body connection? MS: Teaching me how to be grounded in my body, helping me feel the sensation of grounding is just like when someone comes and places a sandbag on your legs: that sense of relief you feel - that you can teach to anybody. JB: Is this the same thing as muscle memory? MS: No, as it turns out the mind-body relationship involves the outer body and a more subtle connection to the entire body. There are ways to activate and teach the subtle body that don’t require muscular action. You know this from your yoga practice - there are things that your

body has taught your mind that your mind could never have realized without experiencing the body. Think about what savasanna actually is. You’re learning to trust the floor. The ability to surrender your weight to the floor seems simple but it’s huge for someone with PTSD. JB: Do you meet a lot of resistance with healthcare professionals when you talk about integrating mind-body connection techniques to patients? How open are they to this? MS: It’s taken a long time. It has come a long way and there is still resistance. It turns out that our culture isn’t very comfortable living in their body. It’s so simple. We are about to do a healthcare training next week and they’re nervous about doing partner work with each other. We are trying to teach them about presence by teaching them very basic things like ‘What are you doing while your washing your hands between patients? Are you wiggling your toes?

Are you grounding through your feet? Are you lifting your arches? What do you do for your feet when you stand on them all day?’ When you lift your arches, energy goes up the spine to the top of the head. We ask them if they feel the hunching in their shoulders at the end of the day, if they feel smaller. Then we ask what they’re doing to make themselves feel bigger. Simple, applied mind-body awareness. It’s a revolution for them. JB: What makes yoga a healing practice? MS: It makes you feel better. Stretch up towards the sky, go beyond your fingertips and imagine you can touch the sky. By integrating mental awareness and body awareness, by integrating how you are living within your body - not WHAT you’re doing with your body - HOW you’re living in your body and doing it well, with respect and honor…that’s why it’s healing. When we have the courage to live in our whole body, to learn how to stretch

to the outer edges of our body, to occupy space, to live in more space within who we are, that’s healing. I think that so much of our culture is fixated on healing as a reversal of condition. Anyone who has lived through trauma knows you can never go home. It’s never going to be the same and that’s okay. I’m never going to walk again - does that mean healing is done for me? Does that mean the only healing possible for me is to have a good attitude about being paralyzed? Absolutely not! What yoga creates is the conditions for people to heal in unexpected ways if they can just look beyond healing as curing. Sometimes yoga does cure stuff, but if that’s the flower you’re looking for, you’re going to miss the garden. If you’re looking for the flower of curing, you’re going to miss the garden.

“What yoga creates is the conditions for people to heal in unexpected ways if they can just look beyond healing as curing” 25

True Transformation

BY ROBERT STURMAN

www.robertsturmanstudio.com

All around us, there are people in every field creating the life they want to live. It is a privilege to recognize and celebrate the good in this world and point towards it. When we enter a dark room and flip the light switch on, the darkness disappears. Meet Officer Milo, a yogi with whom I have the honor of practicing with in my neighborhood. He takes his yoga off the mat and embodies what all police officers were originally titled, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Officers of the Peace.â&#x20AC;? My work as an artist is not about dreaming of a better world, it is about celebrating the world we have, in an effort to bring as much light to it as possible, in hopes of creating a larger reality. The news often bombards us with negativity surrounding police officers. While it is necessary to hold human beings accountable for unacceptable behavior, it is just as necessary to cherish, celebrate, and praise human beings who live lives of excellence, always pointing towards what is possible. When I was a child, I looked up to police officers as beacons of peace and justice. Re-inspired by Officer Milo, I am a child again, sharing my vision of great cops as the embodiment of cool.

Yoga is for everybody and everybody can do yoga. When we began our quest to dedicate an entire issue focusing on yoga as a healing practice, we weren’t sure what photos could possibly capture this message. Insert Robert Sturman. Robert received his first camera from his father when he was 14 years old. He asked what he was supposed to take pictures of, his father’s response was “Everything that you love.”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The women say that yoga has become a rare source of happiness in their daily lives. I tried to capture this joy and the relaxing effects that this practice is bringing into their current reality. Most of the women wrote about how much they loved yoga. Here is the direct translation of this woman’s picture. “I love yoga, when I come from practicing yoga, I feel my body has relaxed.” Yoga Teacher, Amy Impellizzeri holds the child of one her students as she leads class at Langata Women’s Prison, Nairobi, Kenya. Many of the inmates are HIV positive. After yoga they all painted pictures. This one broke my heart. “I live with virus.”

AFRICA YOGA PROJECT

LEFT & TOP Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t this man beautiful? His name is David Maina and he lived with deep shame and considered himself ugly for most of his life. He was burned in a fire when he was a young boy and because of all his burns, he felt like an outcast. He connected with the Africa Yoga Project and was able to heal some of these deep wounds and lived his lift devoted to teaching yoga to youth in Africa. BOTTOM Tree House Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Orphanage, Nairobi, Kenya. An orphan pauses to show me some of his favorite yoga poses.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT A mistake many of us make when we think of a prisoner, especially one who is serving a life sentence, is that they have all been convicted of a crime of violence. Many people are unaware of the three strike law, Sturman says about the inmates he met and photographed at San Quentin State Prison in California. Three strikes and you’re out of society for life. They are just sitting in there trying not to rot away, and looking forward to the hour-and-a-half yoga class they are permitted to attend once a week. You want to punish a human being? Lead them to their own conscience. These men who have taken the courageous step to come to this thing called yoga, which is not necessarily viewed as the most masculine recreational activity in the prison system, and have something inside of them that longs to crumble. My camera is a voice for that man. There was a lot of humor in the class on my last visit. Before class, this inmate R. Askari Johnson pointed to both of his cheeks and told me to make sure I got his good side. YOGA NIDRA in SAN QUENTIN. In San Quentin State Prison, there is a yoga program just for veterans. In the program, the last portion of class is devoted to the practice of Yoga Nidra (described below), and is taught by a wonderful teacher named Kelly Boys. Because I was there working, the schedule was a little off and most of the class focused on asana. The hour long class moved along and when the time came when Yoga Nidra would normally begin, this devoted inmate broke the classroom silence and asked if they were going to get their Yoga Nidra. If you read about it below, you will understand why it is so precious to these men. I’m pleased to say that the class went a little longer so that they could fit everything in. I would have felt horrible if, because of me being there, they would not have been able to practice this powerful meditation, which was one of the most beautiful guided journeys I have ever witnessed. Yoga nidra or “yogi sleep” is a sleep-like state which yogis report to experience during their meditations. Yoga nidra, lucid sleeping is among the deepest possible states of relaxation while still maintaining full consciousness. The practice of yoga relaxation has been found to reduce tension and anxiety. The autonomic symptoms of high anxiety such as headache, giddiness, chest pain, palpitations, sweating and abdominal pain respond well. It has been used to help soldiers from war cope with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I’m a huge supporter of prison yoga programs. Most prisoners will one day return to our streets. After class, the most common thing I heard them say is that yoga helps them slow down, calm down, and respond differently. It does that for me, too. Prisoners often ask me how their families can see the pictures that we make together. There’s a sadness to me about that question and at the same time it is so beautiful. Sadness because I can’t guarantee that the families will see the images and beautiful because the inmates want their families to actually ‘see’ that they are doing their best.

SAN QUENTIN

JUVENILE HALL YOGA PROGRAM

UpRising Yoga is dedicated to bringing yoga to the Los Angeles Juvenile Hall since 2011. Of all the poses I saw while working in 2014, I think this one featured above done by this teenage boy, caught my eye the most. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a really deep pose. My experience with this one is, first Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not able to breathe and then if I go, my knees are gonna snap. I loved seeing this kid close his eyes and surrender. The mission of Uprising Yoga is simple: to bring yoga to incarcerated youth and to underserved communities. With a belief that yoga has the power to help heal individuals regardless of the setting, URY teaches yoga for one hour every Tuesday night to youth in the Alpha and Omega units at Central Juvenile Hall. The UpRising Yoga Juvenile Program gives the students an opportunity to understand how yoga can be used effectively in all aspects of their life. They are very curious about the origin of yoga, how it helps heal their lives and various injuries. Visit uprisingyoga.org to learn more.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Amy Pastore, yoga teacher says “Yoga reminds me of what is really important in life and helps me to let go of what is not. It connects me to my source, giving me faith in something bigger. I find a sense of freedom in that.” What does a beautiful yoga model look like? Who are we honoring and celebrating? I will not stop pointing, until the world begins to embrace, honor and celebrate the full spectrum of human beings who are doing their work, digging deep inside, waking up each day and trying to be the best version of themselves that they can be. This is what a beautiful yoga model looks like to me. Pictured: Tommy Valencia in Vashistasana on Venice Beach, California. Adam Verdoux found yoga in San Quentin and was released 7 months ago. Since his release, he has continued his yoga practice while working as a violence prevention facilitator and speaking about restorative justice. Saira Hopper, Long Island Sound. Saira is a frequent and luminous subject in my work and I love her. She’s got Multiple Sclerosis and is feeling stronger than ever.

OTHER WORK

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT 96 year old yoga teacher, Tao Porchon-Lynch. Her simple saying, “Nothing is impossible,” has inspired the masses. I do not think I have worked with a more influential human being.

OTHER WORK

Chloe Gelber, pictured at Herrick Lake in Wheaton Illinois, was diagnosed with leukemia (PreB ALL) when she was 4 and endured two plus years of treatment. She completed treatment in April and is doing well. When I asked seven year old Chloe what pose she would like to do, her sweet voice and heart slowed everything down and lit up the world, as she explained why. “I chose the warrior pose because I am a cancer survivor and I feel like I can do anything now! I am so strong!” Major Melissa Rosol in tree pose, Upstate New York. ”Malaysia banned yoga for Muslims, 60% of its population, in 2008. The ban uplifted shortly but yoga studio operators are warned not to include chanting and meditation in its classes,” says Malaysian yoga teacher Ninie. “Our spiritual life in this temporary body is too short to not try to extend the breathe and the health Highest Above lent to us - in whatever name we all call Him. “I am Malaysian and I am Muslim. And I do yoga. And I pray. And I chant and I meditate, in any language I make it a point to know its meaning ... I see God in all of his creation - with my head covered or not, in my clothes revealing or not. My religion teaches love, respect and kindness hence yoga is in every religion, at least in mine.”

Robert Sturman’s art captures the timeless grace and em-

bodied mindfulness of asana. A dedicated yoga practitioner himself, Sturman’s work has increasingly gestured at something beyond the physical, something transcendent. In his own words “I often think of Rumi: ‘I can’t stop pointing to the beauty.’ We are happy to celebrate someone who sees beauty at the molecular and most human level: in the desire to be better, feel better and do better.

Overcoming

Fight The

BY KINO MACGREGOR

that will test everyone. Some people, because of natural strength or flexibility, will not find their edge until they try an advanced pose, but that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make their journey more valid than someone who finds their challenge in a forward bend. Yoga is not a bend-off. Handstands and backbends will not win you the gold medal. What counts is the quality of work that you put in to being a better person every day. Even though yoga seeks to push you to the point of what you might call comfortable dis-

Agathe Padovani Â / www.ifilmyoga.com

oga is a process of self-discovery, an eternal journey into the center of yourself. Some people ask why we need advanced postures if yoga is about the inner journey. Yoga happens at the edge of your comfort zone, when you are pushed beyond the boundaries of what you already know and accept as comfortable and true. Only by going to the places that scare you down within the inner terrain will you find out who you truly are. Everybody and literally every body need to be challenged and there is a pose

John Miller / www.eyecbeauty.com

comfort, it isn’t about demanding that your physical limitations shift immediately. Instead yoga is about finding the places of difficulty in your body and mind that trigger intense emotional responses and then changing your conditioned response to them. Most people will either fight against pain, quit in the face of adversity or get addicted to pleasure. Yoga asks you to walk the middle path and cultivate an equanimous mind that is not attached to any particular outcome. When you attempt an advanced yoga posture and you do not succeed it’s easy to be impatient and frustrated while directing those feelings into jealousy or self-loathing. The practice itself can sometimes take the form of flogging yourself for your short-comings. But practice is not meant to be that at all. Instead, the purpose of challenging postures is to bring you to the edge of your comfort zone where your nervous system is heightened and everything in you wants to react from the old patterning. Then, instead of choosing that old path, you choose a new one. Handstand was one of my greatest struggles, it pushed me to limit of possibility and brought up so many of my personal issues (short arms, thick thighs, never a dancer/gymnast). My path was riddled with a host of struggle and difficulty because I fought my way forward and tried to force my body into the handstand shape. I never took the time to ask for guidance or direction, all

I did was throw my body upside down and exert what I thought was my best effort. Nowhere was this more evident than in my quest for the handstand press. I remember being so upset that I couldn’t float off the ground while it appeared to me that so many other people could. I blamed my short arms, my weak core, the shape of my legs, my lack of physical training prior to yoga, my gender and anything and everything I could think of. I fought with my body every day on the mat. Then after about five years of effortful striving in my practice I took a few days off practice during a holiday. I came back to my mat and suddenly an insight came through before I tried the illusive handstand press. Instead of just pushing and grunting I got the idea to move my shoulders forward while engaging my abdominal muscles. And then the lift up just happened like magic. Yes, I put in the work over the years of building strength and flexibility but the key to my success wasn’t actually my effort. It was the space that let in the moment of insight that led me to the right activation pattern. I could have kept trying in the way I was before for years and the result would have only been more failure and frustration. I needed a key shift in perspective in order to attain the result I wanted. After fifteen years of practice, I’m tired of fighting all my obstacles. It doesn’t mean that

John Miller / www.eyecbeauty.com

INSPIRE Overcoming The Fight

Agathe Padovani / www.ifilmyoga.com

The next time you meet an obstacle in your practice or your life that does not respond to your best efforts, take a step back and ask for guidance. I’m tired of working or practicing. I’m just tired of fighting all the battles. And I realized that the fighting itself doesn’t work to remove or purify the obstacles. Instead, there is another method that I’ll share with you. The next time you meet an obstacle in your practice or your life that does not respond to your best efforts, take a step back and ask for guidance. Devote at least five minutes of your day to a meditation practice where you ask for divine guidance. If you have a relationship with God then ask for Him to show you the way forward with a clear sign. Whenever you feel yourself burdened with the stress of an obstacle, ask for the burden to be removed from your heart. Wait for guidance before taking any action. It might show up as an insight in a dream, a clear symbol in your life or a knowingness in your heart. If you ask and wait patiently for the answer, then the path will be revealed. Take no action until it’s clear and when the solution is presented your only job will be to surrender and follow.

Everything in life is a divine gift. There have been many times that I’ve taken the good things in my life for granted or mistakenly thought it was my effort that created the result. But now more than ever I feel like everything big and small--every smile, every handstand, every moment of peace, every act of forgiveness, every sunny day, every blue sky, every good night’s sleep, any success and all the love in my life--is all a blessing, a divine gift. I want to drop down and appreciate everything with clear eyes and a humble heart that acknowledges that no matter how much effort I put in the real power lays in surrendering into the grace of God.

Kino MacGregor is an international yoga teacher

with 15 years of experience. She is the author of three books, producer of six Ashtanga Yoga DVDs, co-founder of Miami Life Center, founder of Miami Yoga Magazine, and a Certified Ashtanga Yoga Teacher practicing through the Fourth Series. She is one of the few people in the world of yoga to blend both the traditional teachings of India’s historic past and the contemporary practices of today. You can find her teaching all over the world and online at www.kinoyoga.com, and Instagram@kinoyoga.

Yoga

Life Saves My

Approximately 3,000 days. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how long yoga has been saving my life. One day at a time, continuously and progressively saving it. What is it saving me from? Me.

Photo by Sarah Hrudka

BY NICK BEZ

efore beginning this journey into the life I was leading and the supporting role yoga has in the evolution of my life, we should press pause. My wife, who is also a yoga teacher and person in recovery from self, has suggested that I work in some feeling words or an emotional buffer of sorts to create a connection with you. Something that potentially softens some of the heavier details of my experience so that they don’t crash too abruptly into your sensibilities. Her challenge isn’t easy for me. Like many of the relationships in my life, the one I have with emotions is free of subtleties or filters. I fully understand and occasionally experience, tear-inducing swells of happiness and fiery outbursts of rage but the layers in between - that space where the next few paragraphs may poke you in a way that leaves you uncomfortable, are pretty mysterious to me. I believe that some of the greatest opportunities to evolve the world we live in and our experience of self are rooted in having our comfort zones challenged if not completely overturned. So with hope that you will hold space for this story, and potentially even hold it up in such a way that it uplifts you or your practice, here we go… By the time 2007 began, I had given nearly a decade of my life to the seemingly endless carousel of hopelessness, fear and resentment that is addiction. All of the drinking and drug use that you likely assume would play a part were there, along with drastically imbalanced relationships with money, food, women, sex and anything else that might register a spike of adrenaline or alter the chemistry of my brain. The decade was filled with distribution of a wide variety of drugs. It saw me threaten the life of my mother, physically abuse a long-term girlfriend, put a daughter up for adoption and cheat everyone and anything that got in my way.

BUT I THOUGHT THINGS WERE STILL UNDER CONTROL.

As winter snows retreated under the pressure of spring rains and warm rays of sunlight, I too was experiencing a shift - albeit it a much less expected one. The inevitable truth that my journey was an unsustainable one was beginning to overpower my best efforts to prove otherwise. In what is easily one of the messier chapters of my story, I (in short order) lost nearly everything and everyone that I had left. My job at a downtown nightclub, the mother of my daughter and the apartment we shared, the money I had hustled relentlessly for, my last shreds of sanity and humanity and much more were either gone or going. Karma, or

some other universal force, appeared to be making a power play for balance and would not stop any more than the shift in seasons could be impeded. Shortly thereafter, on a night early in July, my continuing dance with mortality gave way to a much more tangible understanding of the direction of my rapidly advancing state. This was not another night of near misses like the one when gunshots had seemingly gone out of their way to miss me or one of the many nights when I came out of a blackout with just enough time to keep my car from careening into another vehicle or off the road. On this night, as I was sprawled across a couch in my mother’s empty condo, I slipped between layers of consciousness. There was a palatable rotting that came from much deeper in my being than the usual taste of blood, which almost constantly seeped from my gums and sinus cavity. It moved through me with the most distinct yet indescribable smell I have ever experienced. In the years since that night, I have had a number of conversations with people who have observed the end of a life. They confirmed my initial understanding of that smell. It was the reek of impending death. If you have any experience with addiction or alcoholism, it will likely not surprise you to learn that despite the events of that night, my sober date is not in July. Addiction is an incredibly powerful disease that all too often appears to get stronger as its host gets weaker. I was no exception. It took nearly another month for me end my decade of destruction.

Photo by Nicole Stewart

My sober date is August 5, 2007. It was an impressive day - a balance of sunshine and blue sky that is seared into my memory. I have always found it curious that I remember such a detail given what I have been told about the events of the night before and my experience with the psyche-shattering detox process that was to follow. Sometime around noon on the 5th I woke up on a bathroom floor that was not my own. I had no recollection of how I got there, where my car, phone or wallet were, or really any idea of what had happened the night before. I do recall that it started with me enjoying the better part of a bottle of 100proof schnapps along with an

eight ball of cocaine. At some point, it also involved me getting dragged out of a bar. From the high, drunken wreckage of that night, I emerged on the 5th. After finding my belongings, I made a phone call. To this day I don’t know who it was to, but I know that I said, “I need to go to rehab.” In the next couple of hours, my life took one of its most dramatic turns and in the days and weeks that followed things got far more intense Serendipitously, the few surviving relationships I had were with people who, over those next days and weeks proved uniquely qualified and graciously willing to support me while I detoxed in the same living room where I had nearly died just a few weeks earlier. They navigated the bureaucracy that stood between me and a treatment program capable of teaching me the techniques that would bring me to a place of being once again employed and able to resurrect friendships that had been extinguished by the abuse and antics of my addiction. It was through one of those relationships that I landed in my first yoga class. About 45 days into my sobriety, I reconnected with a woman who I had once seen as a sister, but had justifiably felt compelled to leave me to my own devices when it became apparent that my addiction was more important than our friendship. During our reunion, one of the first things that she shared with me, as I chain smoked cigarettes outside of the café where we had met, was that she recently started practicing yoga. To hear her talk about it, you would’ve thought that with one deep breath in camel pose your spirit animal would burst from your chest and bestow magical powers upon you! We met two more times in the following weeks in which I smoked and she sang praise for all things yoga. Not too long after our third exchange of second hand smoke and experience she unexpectedly called me. I was told to be at her house to

Photo by Sarah Hrudka

Yoga Saves My Life INSPIRE

Addiction is an incredibly powerful disease that all too often appears to get stronger as its host gets weaker. pick her up for yoga at 1:30 p.m. She told me that we were going to a 2:00 p.m. class which would be free because I was new and, while I was there I would be surrounded by attractive women clad only in spandex and beads of sweat. Not to mention most of them would be single. Why had she been keeping this aspect of yoga a secret?

I PICKED HER UP AT 1:29 P.M.

Well, it turns out that she had taken some liberties in an effort to help me help myself. Class was not about the hedonistic utopia of single gymnasts I had been promised. I almost instantly started sweating a noxious blend of nicotine and Alcoholics-Anonymous-meeting-grade caffeine that could have not only stripped paint from walls but also made it impossible to move without a limb slipping precariously off my mat. My t-shirt spent the hour

doing its very best to strangle me in every downward facing dog and forward fold I stumbled into, while my ill-fitting glasses attempted to escape my face with each move of my sweat-drenched head. In hindsight, I had such little bodily awareness that I undoubtedly looked to be auditioning for the part of baby Bambi in an upcoming Disney On Ice special. A magical thing did happen at the end of class, though. In the last pose of class (savasana or corpse pose) I was able to breathe! It felt like the first time I had ever taken a breath in my entire life. Almost poetically, in the death of my practice I found the next step in the evolution of my life. Those moments lying in my first savasana quickly made it clear that there was something more about yoga and my life that I needed to learn and experience - much more. Little did I know at that time that those moments would change my life forever.

INSPIRE Yoga Saves My Life

Each day the practice of yoga and the community of yoga is there - supporting me, healing me, speaking to me and yes, saving me, one day at a time. Every day since then I have been connected to yoga. At first it was through classes, then through workshops, then community events and eventually through hundreds of hours of teacher trainings. Just as it had been suggested in treatment, I found a group of people who had what I wanted and I immersed myself in their culture to gain understanding of what it was they had, how they maintained it and what new freedoms and happiness could be found if I was painstakingly diligent about this phase of my development. It is that diligence and connection that I came to understand as the practical definition of yoga that created the space for the opportunity to experience my own personal connection to the effects of yoga. Through my daily practice I continue to find acceptance with where I am while becoming aware of the path that extends in front of me. Physical body awareness that practice after practice reinforces, continues to have ripple effects that reach into my emotional and Photo by Nicole Stewart

intellectual bodies. Each practice magnifies and broadens my appreciation of the truth that how I do anything is how I do everything. It reminds me that if I am investing half an effort into my interpretation of a series of sun salutations or even a single posture it is a safe bet that as a father, as a person in recovery, as a yoga teacher and beyond, I am not taking the steps or initiative to be fully present for my life. Each day I awake to the realization that I am alive and on a journey to stretch beyond perceived limitations. Each day the practice of yoga and the community of yoga is there - supporting me, healing me, speaking to me and yes, saving me, one day at a time.

Nick Bez has lead thousands of practitioners through numerous variations of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga formats bringing light and laughter into the most challenging of practices. He has also transitioned into the world of Group Fitness, co-creating Life Time Fitness’ yoga-fusion format Warrior Sculpt. Building on his experiences, he strives to continuously find new ways to bring his personal mantra to life: Each Inhale: “Can I?” Each Exhale: “I. Just. Did.” You can follow Nick on social media @NtotheBEZ.

Addiction is a disease ...

BY TOMMY ROSEN

... of “lack.” At the core level, we feel something is missing and we set out to try to fill the void through a set of behaviors that leave us further depleted. We damage the systems of our body and sap ourselves of “life force.” Our endocrine system gets taxed. Our nervous system is overworked. We live in nearly constant fight or flight, bringing on the horrible consequences of stress. In my opinion, the 12 steps provide a wonderful path to overcome acute addiction. They work almost always, I think, if you put your energy and focus into them. The great promise they delivered to me was that the desire to do drugs and alcohol was removed altogether. That’s a HUGE statement, a miracle really. Yet, there are three important things that the 12 steps do not address: body, breath and diet. Interestingly, these three things are the irreplaceable building blocks, the essential amino acids if you will, for a stronger recovery and a more successful, enjoyable life. Think of recovery as a multi-tiered process in which different people need different things at different times. If a person is mired in acute addiction to any of the big five -- drugs, alcohol, food, sex or money -- then that must be dealt with first. That is where Recovery 1.0 or the 12 steps come in. A person has to detoxify first. One must have a community to support the epic and imminent transformation that takes place in early recovery. After some time, and this varies from person to person, one’s energy and “frequency” rises up and permits the practice of yoga, breath work and meditation. This is where Recovery 2.0 comes in. This is a great benchmark on the path of recovery, and if taken with intention, awareness and proper guidance from a mentor or teacher, one has the opportunity to make a lot of progress. I do not feel that yoga and meditation are optional for people in recovery. Life will simply be better with practice than without it. Of course, one can stay sober without yoga and meditation. It’s just that if you want to lift yourself up out of the energy of addiction

and break through to a new level of strength and awareness, one will have to adopt a practice that continues the detoxification process on a much deeper level. I learned the hard way what it means to be sober while still stuck in the energy of addiction. I had put the drugs and alcohol down, but other addictions, stresses and dis-ease plagued me for many years into my recovery. It was not until I found Kundalini Yoga and gained a deeper understanding of Vinyasa that I began to re-claim my self and break through the force field of addiction perhaps for the first time in my life. Here I am now 11 years later. I teach people in recovery how to apply these tools to their lives so that they, too, can experience the freedom that was given to me by my teacher, Guru Prem, and these amazing practices he shared with me.

Tommy Rosen is a yoga teacher and addiction recovery

expert who has spent the last two decades immersed in yoga, recovery and wellness. He holds advanced certifications in both Hatha and Kundalini Yoga and has more than 23 years of recovery from acute drug addiction. Tommy is a pioneer in the burgeoning field of Yoga and Recovery, assisting others to holistically heal from addictions of all kinds. He teaches regularly at yoga conferences and festivals, including Wanderlust, Hanuman and Sun Valley to name a few. He is the host of the Recovery 2.0 Online Conferences, a groundbreaking conference series of over 35 hours of inspiring talks from experts that will help you overcome addiction and thrive in recovery. He also teaches annually at Esalen, Omega and Kripalu. Tommy’s first book, ‘Recovery 2.0: Move Beyond Addiction and Upgrade Your Life’, was released by Hay House in 2014 and has since touched the hearts of countless individuals in need. Tommy and his wife, noted yoga instructor Kia Miller, live in Venice, California.

Ode Moon to the

A new moon practice against domestic violence BY ELEONORA ZAMPATTI Imagine what it means to live in the darkness. A world of clouds, fog and shadows, where you constantly hold your breath, scared to say or do something wrong.

Too scared of what will be the consequences. Too scared to be yourself, constantly thinking that you are not enough. I was there, I saw that world, and I was a prisoner in it. I was abused, emotionally and physically. Nobody could tell.

was living a picture perfect life. I was walking around looking fierce and happy but I was carrying an endless sadness inside. The reality of my situation was that I was afraid to disappoint my family and afraid no one would believe me if I asked for help. I suffered from depression, eating disorders, panic attacks and I hid it from everybody. I was alone with my demons and I thought nobody could understand me. My life was dependent on my partner and that was his power, I thought I was not abused enough to complain until one day, one fight too late, I realized that there was no coming

back anymore, something needed to be changed or I would soon be dead. So I left. I booked a plane for NYC following what I call the “american dream” hoping to rebuild my life away from him and all the pain he had brought into my life. When I arrived in the USA, I was a lost soul with a broken heart. I struggled in silence, too ashamed not only to talk about my past, but I also could not even think about it. I pretended it never happened. I never mentioned it to people in order to forget. Above all else, I wanted to avoid judgment. I kept choosing partners who would hurt me, physically and mentally. I understand now that I did not think I deserved to be loved. I remember watching couples walking and holding each other’s hands, and thinking that I was not good enough to experience that simple act of love. One day, after a terrible fight with my ex-partner, I found myself feeling helpless. While wandering around the city, I saw a yoga studio. Feeling lost and depressed, I was convinced I could not survive another day in this world, I decided to just walk in that studio and take a class. I did not have any expectations, I just wanted to shut my mind off for a couple of hours and escape from the life where I felt trapped. Something shifted inside of me, after that day, I started to feel the need to go back to that class over and over again. Soon, the physical benefits turned into emotional relief. Through the movements of my body, I started to establish a relationship with myself and I started to hear the voice of my soul. Eleonora, the warrior, allowed Eleonora, the vulnerable, to start rising from the ashes of her past. Tears started to flow, and I allowed them to just fall. I started my journey of forgiveness. This journey has brought me to a place where I understand that strength lies in balance between accepting my body’s beauty and imperfections. Despite the surrounding darkness, I discovered a great light within me. I started to believe in myself and to appreciate myself. When you walk away from the nightmare that is called domestic violence, you are left alone, dealing with demons that nobody wants to get to know. Most of the time you blame yourself for everything that happened to you and you are ashamed of who you are. Being abused does not end when you leave your abuser. It is a long recovery and it takes enormous energy and faith. Faith that one day that sharp pain that is eating you inside will end. Faith that love will never hurt so much again, faith that a partner can love you

Yoga is intended to bring union to the practitioner. Through surrendering to the moment, we find the ability to forgive others and ourselves. for just who you are and never use violence to dictate his fear on you. Yoga taught me that you can change all of this, you can understand that the past does not come back to hurt you, it simply never leaves and you have to learn to accept it so you can embrace everything you are: light and darkness, sun and moon, earth and water, all in one. Yoga is intended to bring union to the practitioner. Through surrendering to the moment, we find the ability to forgive others and ourselves. I decided to not fear my pain anymore and to rewrite my story. When I started to let go of the past, I was able to understand my power and I decided to dedicate myself

INSPIRE Ode to the Moon

My mission is sharing knowledge my students and empowering them to carry their practice out of the yoga studio and into their lives... I wanted to create a place where they can understand what it means to be vulnerable and free of judgment. to help those who are still living under the overbearing shadow of violence. My mission is sharing knowledge my students and empowering them to carry their practice out of the yoga studio and into their lives. In addition, I teach them the importance of letting go of anything that is hurting their Mind, Body, or Soul. I wanted to create a place where they can understand what it means to be vulnerable and free of judgment. I have discovered that live music is vital in getting this feeling across so I started to add acoustic live music during class. Music evokes connections with people, and when properly combined with the movements to the breath, this allows us to get in touch to those emotions that we hide within ourselves. By practicing according to the moon cycles, this connects us to the cycle of darkness and light, life and death, strength and surrender. Because of my experience, my teaching started to focus on bringing awareness on the topic of domestic violence. I wanted to create an environment where we can raise our voices against violence, where we can sing our song and say no to it, where we can use our body to dance to the symphony of life.

This was the inception of “Ode to the Moon”, a fundraiser yoga event to bring awareness to domestic violence. I’m able to share my personal battle against the silence that surrounds this topic, using yoga and music to heal the souls of those who are suffering. I live by the ocean now - the place where I always wanted to be. I wake up every morning looking at the sunrise above the Navesink River, surrounded by love. I am lucky enough to teach yoga for a living, lucky enough to be loved for what I am with all my imperfections and my doubts. Today I am safe and healed in Mind, Body, and Spirit.

Eleonora Zampatti is a native of Milan, Italy. Her wide

range of teaching abilities include Pilates, yoga, dance and strength training. Now, a full time yoga teacher in Monmouth County, New Jersey, adomestic violence survivor, Eleonora found her salvation in her yoga practice. Eleonora is a former artist and educator and knows first-hand how the arts can be a healing force for victims of violence. She created Ode to the Moon, A fundraiser series of yoga events with live music to shine awareness on the topic of domestic violence. Eleanora is very grateful to vocalist Allison La Rochelle and Danielle Buccellato, the owner of Renaissance Pilates Red Bank, who offers her studio space for the Ode to the Moon special yoga series. For more information visit the website: www.embraceandbloom.com.

The 5 Myths of Alignment

by Jonny Kest

We hear the term “alignment” all the time in yoga class, but what, exactly, does it mean? Merriam-Webster says that “to align” means ‘to place in a straight line or correct relative positions.’ And it seems like a harmless enough term--indeed, it sounds a lot like what many yoga teachers actually do: they line up the arms and legs and torsos and necks until their students’ postures (asanas) look “correct.” So what could be wrong with “alignment” as a concept? It’s just a word, after all--no more or less weighted than any

MYTH #1

You were born with perfect symmetrical alignment but through behavior and environmental conditions, you lost it. This is one of the most common misconceptions in yoga: we used to have perfect symmetry, and if we hadn’t injured ourselves, or succumbed to the conveniences and comforts of modern life, perfect alignment and flexibility would come naturally and a more ‘advanced’ yoga practice would be within our grasp. In other words we only have ourselves to blame for any limitations in our yoga practice.

in Yoga

used to define the hard-to-capture practice of performing yogic postures for health, well-being, and self transformation. Unfortunately, the way many students—and even some teachers—interpret this concept, it can sometimes wind up doing more harm than good. Below are the five most common misconceptions about yogic alignment—and some suggestions on how you can reframe the concept for yourself—and make your practice more joyful, effective, sensual and satisfying.

The truth, however, is that we are born asymmetrical: one leg is longer, one arm is stronger; the liver is off to one side, while the heart is skewed toward the other side and the right lung is larger than the left. And, of course, everyone writes with a dominant hand, sees more clearly through a dominant eye, and kicks more forcefully with a dominant foot. However, we do not go to bed off balance and we do not feel out of alignment just because we brushed our teeth with our right hand and did not switch to our left half way through. Certainly, life experiences, mood and behavior affect the tone of your muscles and your physical posture for both good and ill. But winning the genetic lottery of inheritance plays a far bigger role in determining alignment, flexibility, and our capacity for performing the most acrobatic or extreme yoga postures than most practitioners believe. Some children are able to touch their feet to their head behind their backs virtually from birth; others will never be able to. Some rank beginners wander into a yoga class and pull off a deep backbend pose like upward bow (full wheel) on their first day--while some lifetime yogis simply cannot. When you realize everybody’s alignment is unique, your yoga practice shifts. You stop seeing the poses as idealized linear shapes that you try to achieve, but as tools for learning and moving towards a deeper level of self-understanding and acceptance. Rather than making corrections, you start making more energetic connections. You no longer use your body to get into a pose, but instead use the pose to get into your body.

MYTH #2:

There is a perfect posture waiting to be mastered. Throw all this natural misalignment and asymmetry into a yoga pose and it becomes clear that ‘perfection,’ in human form, is an illusion. In every yogi, in every asana, bone eventually comes into contact with bone, and no yoga teacher in the world--no amount of chanting, visualization, or deep breathing--will get you any deeper. At that point, whether or not you’ve achieved an asana worthy of winning the next Instagram challenge is determined almost entirely by the shape of your bones, your genetics. The best any of us can do is create an individual interpretation of each pose—our own expression of the asana, like a musician’s take on a well-known song. Yo Yo Ma may play

MYTH #3

When you’re not in proper alignment you will ultimately hurt or injure yourself. When you’re talking about the interrelated parts of a machine, “the term alignment” makes perfect sense. Aligning your tires, for example, prevents accidents, prolongs the life of the tires, and makes your car function better. Many yoga teachers make the same claim about the human body, however, often using the very same language: Our bodies are like machines, they suggest, they work better and last longer when all the separate pieces are properly aligned. Well—do they? In a sense, we’ll never know. Perfect, mechanical alignment doesn’t happen in the body—any body. Bodies are not constructed in straight lines but in curves: blood vessels snake languorously through the body, and bones and teeth contact one another on surfaces that are invariably convex or concave. Try standing relaxed with your feet together—as in mountain pose and close your eyes. What do you notice? Even mountain pose is a balancing posture requiring countless tiny, moment-to-moment adjustments among many opposing asymmetrical forces. A 1994 study from the New England Journal of Medicine found that 82% of people experiencing no low-back pain actually showed signs of disc bulges and herniations. The point? The vast majority of us go through life quite happily and comfortably ‘misaligned’—as literal embodiments of the Japanese term “wabi sabi’—beautifully imperfect. Injuries do occur in yoga classes, mostly in the soft tissue of the knees, ankles, shoulders, and lower back. But it’s unlikely that they result from ‘imperfect’ alignment, which varies widely from one body to another.

“Ode to Joy” in a way few can match—but your nine-year-old niece’s interpretation of the same song might bring tears to your eyes because of her commitment, enthusiasm and generosity of spirit. We can find lots to appreciate in both versions.

More likely, these injuries occur because people ignore the signals their bodies are sending them about what is safe and what is not safe for them--and instead try to push themselves to achieve an idealized version of an asana that their body is not ready to perform—and may not ever be.

EDUCATE The 5 Myths of Alignment in Yoga

MYTH #4

When we practice poses with proper alignment, energy flows freely throughout the body. Many practitioners believe that when you perform a pose with perfect alignment, something semi-magical happens: Energy (prana) effortlessly flows through your torso and extremities. Your nervous system lights up like a Christmas tree. All obstacles to the flow of energy are entirely removed. In practice, the opposite is true: you go into a pose in order to create an obstacle to the flow of prana. Stretch a muscle, twist your spine, or bend a joint near its end range, and blood and lymph inevitably have a harder time circulating. All you have to do is spend a few minutes in virtually any pose to prove the point: no matter how perfectly aligned your outer form appears, certain areas of your body eventually become numb. Come out of the pose, however, and prana gushes into your extremities like water through an unkinked hose. Think of a yoga posture, then, as a constraint for the flow of prana—a crimp in the energetic hose—and think of a yoga class as a series of challenges for your capacity to remain equanimous even when obstacles are present. Can you keep breathing, extending your awareness, activating your hands, feet, fingers and toes, even when you start to tire, even when your muscles are shaking a little, even when you really

MYTH #5

There are universal principles of alignment that are good for every body. Don’t let your front knee travel in front of your toes in lunging poses or you’ll hurt your knee! How many times have you heard this? Probably enough so that you carefully avoid it--never realizing that your knee travels in front of your toes in any yoga side lunge pose such as skandasana

want to come out of the pose? A yoga class is a pranic ‘obstacle course’ which you can eventually learn to negotiate with more and more ease and mastery. Learning the subtle art of keeping calm and balanced even in the face of difficulty is a powerful lesson—and one with profound implications outside the yoga studio as well.

and both knees travel in front of your toes in a yoga squat. Whoever came up with this rule clearly never noticed, either. Another common one: Keep your elbows close to your body in chaturanga dandasana, yoga push-up or you’ll hurt your shoulders! For some people, that’s true. But depending on the architecture of the shoulder joint, the elbows-in position

can also cause more inflammation and pain than an elbows-out position. The natural asymmetry and variation of the human body makes it very tough to come up with universal rules that always apply to every body, all the time. Ask five yoga teachers for a detailed description of how to perform triangle pose (trikonasana) and you’ll get five subtly different answers. Inevitably, each responds based on a backlog of experience, which they’ve found to be effective for themselves and perhaps their students as well. But no description will always work perfectly for every-‘body’, no matter how eloquent or perceptive the teacher: It’s why there are a couple dozen different common styles of hatha yoga, and over 5,000 yoga studios in the US alone. Every teacher has insight and inspiration, and every teacher has blind spots. Those of us who practice and teach yoga are like the blind men in the fable who describe the elephant in a different way depending on which part of the animal they’re touching. None of us are wrong, exactly--indeed,

Concluding Words

In truth, the human body itself is the most effective and perceptive teacher in the yoga room—and the best yoga teachers themselves understand that. Their teaching is as much inside-out as it is outside-in: they guide their students towards the awareness of sensations associated with each asana more often than they stage a pose for students to copy. The most masterful yoga teachers, therefore, aren’t necessarily the ones who can achieve the most impressive-looking yoga poses but the ones who can speak the language of sensation most clearly and vividly: Feel your chest opening towards the floor and notice your hamstrings lengthening in downward dog; sense your upper arms near your ears in warrior one and observe your top hip rotating backward in triangle pose. Approached like this, any inappropriate competitiveness or overreaching dissipates, and a class becomes a simple, joyful and sensual exploration rather than a “posture race.” Many high-profile master teachers from disciplines like voice, music and movement long ago recognized the effectiveness of this kind of teaching—with across-the-board impressive results. In his book The Use and Training of the Human Voice, the late Arthur Lessac compares the phonation of each letter to the playing of an instrument in an orchestra, complete with instructions on the feelings that occur while you ‘play’ each one—and almost nothing about how each is supposed to sound. Similarly, Australian musi-

all of us have a firm grasp on some part of the truth. But no single teacher can wrap his or her arms around the whole practice, or perceive the whole truth within each and every student. In a sense that’s what makes yoga an exciting and dynamic art, and not a finite, fully-graspable science—it’s an expression of an individual in space and time, not a playing out of a set of principles which are inherently limited and predictable.

cian Neil Moore, founder of a method for music instruction called “Simply Music,” doesn’t even start to teach music theory or reading notes at all until a student has been playing for almost a year, instead teaching piano by breaking down songs into easily repeatable physical images and patterns. And teachers of the Feldenkrais Method take a wholly inside-out approach to movement re-education, verbally guiding students through increasingly complex and challenging movements, using precise details on how each movement feels, never telling or showing students what action or physical pattern they are trying to master until they have discovered it entirely for themselves. It’s a rare but invaluable yoga teacher who can pull this off, but the best ones put you so “in your body” that even a challenging yoga sequence can become as joyful and expressive as a jazz improv: loose but controlled, disciplined but fully in the moment. Students who experience this feeling—either by working with a great teacher or by discovering it on their own—will not only have a juicier time practicing, but will experience tremendous growth as well. It’s the great, paradoxical lesson of yoga, and one that most of us need to learn again and again: that it is only when we let go of our ambition to improve, and silence the insistent voices that urge us towards some illusionary plane of perfection, that real transformation actually occurs.

Heart Health:

7 Poses

Heart to open your

to wellness and longevity WITH RACHEAL WEATHERS PHOTOS BY ALEAH CLARK

Anjaneyasana

Low Lunge/ Modified Crescent: Not only does this posture open the hea rt and shoulders, elongating the bac k and neck. It also strengthens the legs , heightens ones balance, and crea tes an awareness on how to engage the abdominal muscles to create that bala nce.

According to the American Heart Association, yoga can actually boost heart health by lowering blood pressure, increasing lung capacity, improving respiratory function and heart rate, and boost circulation. Emotionally, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to have an open heart and release resentment, anger and anxiety which can cause as much blockage in the heart as poor diet and lack of exercise. Anahata means un-struck and is the sanskrit word in yoga to describe the heart chakra or center. An imbalanced heart chakra can lead to serious health problems and depression. Here are 7 poses to open and develop a happy and healthy heart with Racheal Weathers:

Uttanasana

(with clasp hands) Clasp Hand Forward Fold: There is so much beauty in Forward Folding because the benefits are limitless. Adding the clasping of the hands behind the back increases this stretch even more! From head to toe this posture calms, elongated, soothes, and strengthens the body. And the variations for this posture are endless.

Ustrasana

Camel Pose: While stretching the hip flexors, ankles and thighs, Camel Pose is a great way to strengthen the back muscles whilst opening the shoulders and chest.Â

EDUCATE Heart Health: 7 Poses to Open your Heart to Wellness and Longevity

Urdhva Dhanurasana

Upward Facing Bow Pose: Known to be the most full expression of heart opening, this pose requires strength and flexibility. This beautiful asana is guaranteed to build stamina and strength throughout the entire body.Â

Camatkarasana

Wild Thing: Wild Thing pose offers a stretch for not only the chest, but also the shoulders and throat. This pose also builds strength in the upper back, arms, and shoulders.

6 Utta Shishosana

Extended Puppy Pose: The chest, spine, shoulders, upper back, and arms receive a beautiful stretch in Extende d Puppy Pose. This posture can also be therapeutic for stress and anxiety, as well as chronic tension and insomni a.

Dhanurasana

Bow Pose (Half Bow): This dynamic and energizing stretch focuses not only on the front body, but also on the back body. Pressing the feet back into the hands really opens the entire front body and strengths the back for other variations of backbends.

Racheal Weathers is a 23-year-old certified yoga instructor based out of Los Angeles, California. She began her yoga journey three years ago when she was inspired by others on social media. She has hosted workshop s in her community, Miami, FL., Malibu, CA and plans to start a kids’ yoga program this Fall! Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter: @YogaRacheal.

The Use Of Props For Therapeutic Purposes In

Iyengar

Yoga

Yoga is by definition therapeutic. In the Yoga Sutras of Patañjali, it is stated that: Yoga not only prevents suffering* But cures it** — tatah klesha karma nivrittih; Chapter IV. Sutra 30 (Then comes the end of afflictions and action) — heyam dukham anagatam; Chapter II, Sutra 16 (The pains which are yet to come can be avoided) *

BY MARLA APT

ccording to PataĂąjaliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definition, all practitioners of yoga are undergoing a form of therapy, whether it is for a spiritual ailment, a mental misapprehension or a physical illness. In the practice of Iyengar yoga, the therapeutic and meditative benefits are derived through a progressive system involving the sequencing of the asanas (poses) and pranayama (yogic practice involving breath control), attention to the alignment and technique of the practices and the timing in the practices. In the example of the treatment of physical and psychological illness and disease, the therapeutic branch of Iyengar yoga often employs sophisticated props to help the student/patient along the path. Yogis in India have utilized basic yoga props for centuries. Yogis who traditionally practiced in ashrams in forested areas would hang from ropes tied to thick tree branches. The use of sticks and belts as supports to yoga practitioners (to help maintain an upright seated posture with the spine erect, even at rest) is commonly depicted in ancient Indian art and temples. B.K.S. Iyengar has furthered the usage of props to enhance the yoga practice through the development of many new props with specific uses, especially in the field of therapeutic yoga.

When B.K.S. Iyengar first started teaching yoga as a young man, he quickly realized that the vigorous practice that had been taught to him as a teenager was not appropriate for all of his students. Even though he had effectively healed himself from debilitating illness and disease (typhoid and tuberculosis), he had not been exposed to the therapeutic practice of yoga for students of varying ages and abilities. Having observed and experienced improvement in his own health and in the health of his students, Mr. Iyengar developed faith in the healing power of yoga. He started to adapt the poses to the ability of each of the students so that all could benefit from the therapeutic properties of each asana. In his experiments with his own intensive practice, B.K.S. Iyengar began to use household and found objects to help him improve. He gradually refined and developed props specifically constructed for use in yoga. Today, many of Mr. Iyengarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s innovations with props are commonly seen in the yoga marketplace and their applications are widely used. Perhaps one of the most basic modifications in wide use today is the effective raising of the floor with a block for students, who due to stiffness cannot reach the floor in Trikonasana (Triangle pose).

LEFT The block enables the student greater chest rotation, which is helpful for shoulder, cervical, and thoracic problems. RIGHT The block enables students who cannot reach the floor to do the pose. Those who can reach the floor can improve their alignment or address specific issues that may be neglected or injuries that may be exacerbated with the hand on the floor.

EDUCATE The Use Of Props For Therapeutic Purposes In Iyengar Yoga

Functions of Props:

Support • Education • Direction • Intensification of Action • Relaxation and Stress Reduction

Support Props can serve several functions in a therapeutic context. In their supportive role props can support the entire body in an asana or support the various parts of the body that require rest. Often, the poses that are considered to be most beneficial for a particular condition may not be attainable to the patient due to physical restrictions or lack of strength. The props can render some of the most advanced poses accessible to beginning, injured or disabled practitioners. For example, a student with only one leg can address structural imbalances in the pelvis sacrum and spine through the practice of standing poses with the support of a tall bench and a trestle (wooden prop also referred to as “horse”). Or students unable to support themselves in an inverted pose such as Headstand (Sirsasana) can experience the many benefits of being upside down while hanging in headstand on the ropes. Some of the most advanced poses can provide the strongest medicine for various conditions and if not for the use of the props, the medicine would not be within the patient’s reach. In a therapeutic prescription the sequence of the poses, the manner in which the pose is executed (the form and alignment) and the amount of time each pose is held is as important as the poses prescribed. In their supportive capacity, props can enable the student to hold the pose for a much longer duration than when performed independently. Whereas a patient with yoga experience may be able to hold Viparita Dandasana (an inverted backbend) for one minute, he or she can more easily hold the pose for 5-10

LEFT Sirsasana (Headstand) on ropes RIGHT Sirsasana between two chairs

minutes with the support of a chair and not only experience some relaxation in this intense pose but also reap the benefits from a prolonged stay in the pose.

LEFT Ustrasana (Camel Pose) RIGHT Ustrasana with chair and bolster and blankets

As a support, a prop can also help the patient overcome fear (of falling, losing balance, etc.). Fear can prove to be an impediment in the yoga practice. The protection response to fear can frequently cause one to hold the breath,

to tighten the very muscles and organs that need to relax and extend, or to compensate with gross misalignments in the pose that can destabilize the pose and make one vulnerable to injury.

Virabhadrasana III with support of trestle & stools

EDUCATE The Use Of Props For Therapeutic Purposes in Iyengar Yoga Pranayama can be quite effective in treating certain respiratory, nervous, blood pressure, cardiac and psychological disorders. Pranayama is classically practiced in an upright seated position, that when done properly, requires a great deal of strength, endurance and elasticity established from a foundation of asana practice. If the posture and technique of pranayama are not executed correctly, the practice can cause undue strain to the structural body as well as

the nervous system and mind. In order to cultivate the body and the mind for pranayama, it can be practiced in a supine position in a supported version of Savasana (Corpse pose) rather than in a seated position. The brain and nerves relax while one is lying down. The prop support improves respiratory functioning and allows the organs involved in the respiratory process to broaden and take the shape required for stress-free pranayama practice.

Supported Savasana with blankets, eye bandage and weight

Education Props can help cultivate an understanding of the correct alignment in the pose so that the pose is done safely. Many structural and systemic problems are caused or exacerbated by an imbalance in the body forming habits that persist, if unchecked, when performing asanas. The props can help form a kind of frame for the body, so that the student can feel where the asymmetries occur- by observing the discrepancy of the contact between

the body and the prop from side to side. In its educational function, the prop serves as a teacher to help the patient study oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own alignment and state of being, and often reveals the source of the problem, empowering the patient in the healing process. The prop can teach one to see and feel oneself from within. The introspection facilitated by the prop increases the meditative effects and mental benefits of yoga.

Parivrtta Trikonasana at trestle/horse

Direction Props can also be used in a directive manner so as to highlight a specific aspect of the posture or breath. In this function, the prop calls attention to the area that needs to be addressed for the ailment and provides the student with a sense of direction. The prop directs the student to the particular action of a pose that is therapeutic. For example, a student with cervical spondylosis may be very stiff and immobile in the cervical and thoracic region and cannot independently produce the necessary actions in the asanas that will create traction for the neck. However, with the help of a rope harnessed around the trapezius muscles and pulled downward, the prop can offer relief from pain and, at the same time, teach the student the action he or she is seeking to replicate.

Intensification of Actions Props can be used to intensify the actions required in a therapeutic application of a pose. While the props can support and enable the student to hold the pose for a longer period of time, the pose can be made more intense or can take the

student deeper into the position through the specific placement of the prop. In some therapeutic sequences, for example, the intensive contraction of the kidneys, extension of the neck, or elongation of the liver are required to treat a

EDUCATE The Use Of Props For Therapeutic Purposes in Iyengar Yoga particular ailment. A heart patient may be given a pose designed to rest the student, lower blood pressure and reduce stress, while at the same time strongly opening the chest cavity, specifically the area proximate to the heart. The props

enable the surrounding body to relax while the targeted areas work more intensively. The prop can transform a pose that could be potentially harmful when done incorrectly, to a pose that brings tremendous relief.

Paryankasana with brick

Props can be used in different ways to enhance specific aspects of a particular pose. A single pose can be altered through numerous prop setups to treat a full range of therapeutic issues ranging from structural to organic to psychological.

TOP LEFT Setubandha Sarvangasana over cross bolsters creates space in pelvis and relaxes pelvic organs (menstruation) BOTTOM LEFT Setubandha Sarvangasana on bench nourishes heart, lungs (asthma, colds), helps with immune disorder, fatigue RIGHT Setubandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose) with ropes gives lumbar extension and open chest cavity

Relaxation and Stress Reduction Props have proven to be invaluable in the treatment of immune disorders. For relaxation and stress reduction, B.K.S. Iyengar developed what is commonly referred to as a restorative practice, in which props support the student innovative

ways so that the poses can be held for optimal amounts of time. Inversions are a critical tool to aid the immune system and props enable students to hold inversions for prolonged periods for maximal benefit.

Different variations with props of Sarvangasana (shoulderstand) cycle. CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Niralamba Sarvangasana at wall benefits systemic problems (endocrine, etc.) relieves mental fatigue, benefits reproductive organs; Sarvangasana on Chair increases chest opening (cardiac patients, shoulder problems), reduces pressure on head and lungs (high blood pressure, asthma, neck problems, mental fatigue), abdominal organs relax (gastrointestinal problems, pregnancy); Sarvangasa at trestle improves spinal alignment (disc, sciatica, back ache), increases circulation around spine (arthritis, degeneration, of disc/bone), relieves neck pain; Ardha Halasana with bench rests body and mind, decreases insomnia, relaxes back muscles; Supta Konasana with legs on bolsters on chairs opens pelvic region and widens buttock bones (constipation, hemorrhoids, pregnancy) and increases circulation to pelvic region.

EDUCATE The Use Of Props For Therapeutic Purposes in Iyengar Yoga Like the use of medical instruments, the use of props is an exacting science. The patient’s age, mobility, responsiveness to instruction and pain, psychological state and strength must all be taken into consideration and adapted to each individual. Before a pose can be modified with the use of a prop, its properties and qualities must be understood thoroughly. As with any healing modality, rigorous training is required. Yoga therapy not only relies on observation skills and correct application but also on practical and

personal experience. B.K.S. Iyengar conducts daily medical classes at his Institute in Pune, India, where innovations in the treatment of diseases and ailments (ranging from Parkinson’s, cardiac, polio, scoliosis, spinal & disc injuries, depression, etc.) with the use of props are developed. Yoga Therapy can therefore not be seen as a separate career path from Yoga practitioner/teacher. Without practicing the art under the guidance of a senior practitioner, Yoga Therapy cannot be effective and can even be harmful.

Types of Props Material

Works On

Wood, Metal

Bones

Cotton Rope Sand, iron Eye Bandage Various small Pieces

Flesh, skin Ligaments/Joints Nerves/Inflammation Sensory deprivation/ stress disorders Specific support, Stability

Examples blocks, chairs, benches, quarter rounds, slanting planks, wedges, stumps, horse/ trestle, poles, stools blankets, bolster belt, wall ropes weights, sandbags

wooden pieces, foam wedges, squares and rectangles, mat pieces, small cloths

Marla Apt, a Senior level Iyengar Yoga teacher based in Los Angeles, was highlighted by Yoga Journal magazine as one of twenty-one young yoga teachers helping to shape the future of yoga. She has studied in India with BKS Iyengar and his family in India for many years, including a year of study in Pune, India. Marla leads workshops and teacher trainings around the world and has been involved with medical research studies on the therapeutic effects of yoga for various conditions. She is pursuing her interest in making the healing benefits of yoga available to communities in need as founding board member of the non-profit organization, Iyengar Yoga Therapeutics. Learn more at yoganga.com. * - photographs from: BKS Iyengar, Light on Yoga

Article originally posted on yogana.com

BY BRITTANY NELSON

• How does reiki work? • Is reiki for you? • What you should look for in a reiki practitioner? • Should you become a reiki practitioner?

nlike acupuncture, you don’t need needles to get serious energy flowing. With a simple lying of hands, Reiki can transform one’s physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. What is reiki? ‘A complementary health approach in which practitioners place their hands lightly on or just above a person, with the goal of facilitating the person’s own healing response,’ according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. But this healing method is not new. Its Eastern background has been around, and used, for centuries. I chatted with Certified Reiki Master and Eclectic Spiritual Healer Carol Roberts of Carol der Engel on everything you need to know about the ancient practice, how to prepare for a session and how it can transform your life.

BRITTANY NELSON: What is your definition of reiki? CAROL ROBERTS: It’s a way to energetically heal the mind, body, spirit and being by way of connection with our spirit guides. And it’s facilitated with symbols, hand movements, and prayer. BN: What ailments or emotional issues does reiki aid in? CR: It is recommended for everything. And I have seen it work for everything that I’ve ever tried it for. That’s not to say one session is 100 percent curative, but it facilitates healing and change dramatically almost every time, anywhere. Physically, it’s indicated for everything, but most commonly people will do it with cancer, tumors, diseases of the body, injuries like broken bones, chronic pain, headaches, digestive problems, and a really big one is circulation problems, and when people experience some sort of blockage. It’s amazing for people who come in with some sort of complaint like, ‘I’m stuck. I can’t clear something, I can’t get over something and I don’t know the answer.’ Energetically or spiritually, the body is playing it out with an ailment; for instance, ‘I get migraines whenever I think about a traumatic event.’ Reiki is really good for physically removing traumatic blocks from the body that occur emotionally. If you suffer from an emotional trauma, oftentimes it will manifest in the physical body. Reiki will be used energetically to clear all types of traumas. BN: What do you love most about reiki that other healing modalities lack? CR: I practice many modalities, but what I personally love the most about reiki is that I feel my messages I get from my higher power and my guardian angels and my spirit guides, are much stronger and faster. I feel completely connected to them and feel they’re absolutely in the room with me—more intensely than any other modality. I also like that it allows people to be emotional. Some modalities don’t allow people to be emotional—they just clear. And some don’t clear, they just over process, and ‘this is supposed to be torture.’ What I like about reiki is it allows you to be emotional but also clears at the same time and it seems a bit more balanced.

or not it’s good for me to do it. Once I get the OK, I tell that person there are basic tenants that must be followed according to The International Center for Reiki Training: no alcohol or any type of drug other than something prescribed 24 hours before and to limit your food so that you’re not extremely full when you go into a reiki session—97 percent of our body’s energy is used when digesting food—and to get some sleep.

Reiki

(pronounced Ray Key) ... ...is a combination of two Japanese words rei and ki meaning universal life energy. Life energy or force is also called prana and used to describe breath in yoga. It flows within us through our chakras, nadis and meridians. The external energy around us is called aura. Reiki is performed by a practitioner, who serves as a channel through whom the Universal Life Energy can be delivered to the recipient, by either hands-on or distance healing techniques. Practitioners may also practice Reiki self-treatments. When energetic flow is interrupted it affects proper function of the physical body. Reiki heals by flowing through the affected parts of the energy field and charging them with positive energy. It raises the vibratory level of the energy where the negative thoughts and feelings are located. This causes the negative energy to weaken and fall dissappear. In essence, Reiki clears, aligns and heals the energy pathways, allowing the life force to flow in a healthy and natural way.

BN: How does one prepare for their first session? CR: This is very dependent on the individual. When I’m approached for reiki by someone new, I go into a meditation with my reiki guides about whether or not I have what this person needs and whether

EDUCATE Q&A with a Reiki Master After that, I’ll get unique messages for instance: telling them to drink water, telling them to eat greens, blueberries, etc. depending on the person. I’ll get a download from my spirit guides on what that person needs, and oftentimes it’s nutritional. BN: Is there anyone who should avoid reiki? CR: I think it’s good for everybody, but if they have a psychotic disorder I wouldn’t recommend it. Sometimes you’ll get a message from a particular person’s soul: ‘don’t do it right now’, because they may not be ready. Some people have a hard time managing how quickly their life changes after reiki. After just one session, people will go

8 Benefits of REIKI 1. Reiki offers relief during emotional distress, depression and sorrow. Reiki helps in the grieving process. 2. Relieves pain from migraine headaches, joint paint and sciatica. It also helps with symptoms of asthma, chronic fatigue, menopausal symptoms, and insomnia. 3. Shorter recovery from surgery or long-term illness. As it helps in adjusting to medicine/treatment, it also tends to reduce side-effects..

4. Supports a healthy immune system and increased energy by removing toxins. 5. Helps with pregnancy and childbirth, and post pardum. Improved memory, enhanced creativity and self awareness.

6. Creates a better feeling connection with others and the universe. 7. Increases vitality and postpones the aging process. 8. Promotes spiritual growth and emotional clearing.

and quit their jobs, get married, get divorced…all amazing things. So you want to have someone ready for that. But if someone isn’t very strong emotionally, you can always dial it down and give him or her a really soft reiki. BN: What should one do post-session? CR: Drink water and try to have as much quiet time as you can (in the days before and after). Think of it like this: when someone gets a massage, they say ‘I want to feel this relaxed as long as I can, so I’m going to be careful about what I do with the rest of my day and week.’ The same thing is true for reiki. You want to stay in the zone as long as possible. Meditate and pray. As far as instructing them what to do, I prefer it to be up to them. I never want people to feel that I know the answer and they don’t. What we really want is or people to come into their own ability to heal themselves instead of relying on their guru or clergy to do it. None of the information comes from the practitioner, we are just conduits. That’s why reiki is so good for everyone—we [reiki practitioners)] are coming through for that individual directly from his or her spirit team. BN: What are the biggest misconceptions about reiki? CR: That it’s dangerous: physically or emotionally. It is not massage therapy; the hands are lightly placed on the body. Another is that people think it’s new or alternative or not well researched, when in fact, in Asian culture, its origin has been around for as long as we know. It is not new. And it is not unusual or unknown. If we live in other cultures outside of the US, those beliefs wouldn’t be there. The last one is that it is not Christian or that it is a dark art. Other religions are of their religions. Dark arts are just dark arts. It goes with anything. Again, the point of it is for the being to connect to their higher power and their spirit team, which can be different things for different people, so a lot of people who are Christian practice reiki and they will pray to God, Jesus, and feel just as connected or more connected as they do at church. BN: How has reiki changed your life personally? CR: That is a conversation that would go on forever for me to list and explain what it has done for me on a daily basis now and what it will do for me in the future. In the beginning, what reiki gave me was a full awareness of who my spirit guides are, where to find them in the atmosphere, what their names are, how to recognize them, how to use them and what my specific healing potential is and what my special and unique abilities are as a healer. I quit my job within a month of my first reiki attunement class and my income in

my practice tripled. I also have a much higher respect of myself now. BN: What unique gifts do you bring as a reiki master? CR: I personally work very, very heavily in chakras. Not because I enjoy them per say, but because when I learned reiki I found that that was my unique gift—was to heal people within chakras, and to balance their chakras. Different practitioners have different abilities. Some of them are going to have more awareness about certain issues than others. BN: What are some tips/advice to give to those interested in reiki? CR: I would recommend that everyone who is interested in it or hears about it to explore their curiosity and to talk with a reiki healer in a consultation manner. Any good reiki healer or practitioner will be willing to do a free consultation. That’s just something we should do. Go ahead and call, be curious, ask questions. If you don’t resonate with someone, that’s OK. Allow yourself to find someone who feels really delicious, and make sure to see his or her credentials. Have fun and just try it—you cannot be harmed by reiki. The absolute worst thing is just that you won’t feel anything. I would also encourage if you have reiki and fall in love with it and want to have a lot of reiki done, please, please, please take a class. That is infinitely better than receiving it from someone else: you feel your ability to heal and you hear your messages from your guides more clearly if you don’t have a conduit. Classes aren’t that expensive, and it’s free when you’re doing it on yourself, anytime, anywhere, even in a public setting (people won’t know you’re doing it). You can run reiki without your hand movements, any time, all the time. You can run it in your sleep, while you’re having surgery—you don’t even have to be conscious. It’s really cool. Carol Roberts works with energy in a variety of modalities including Angels, Christianity, Buddhist Usui Reiki Ryhoho, crystal healing, Access Consciousness®, Mediumship and Akashic Records. She also teaches 1,2 and Master levels of Usui Reiki Ryoho, and provides healing sessions around the United States. Roberts is a registered Reiki Master Teacher through the International Center of Reiki Training (ICRT) as well as an affiliate member. Holding a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology, she resides in the Pacific Northwest. Visit www.carolderengel.com to book a session, sign up for a class or to learn more.

In the beginning, what reiki gave me was a full awareness of who my spirit guides are, where to find them in the atmosphere, what their names are, how to recognize them, how to use them and what my specific healing potential is and what my special and unique abilities are as a healer. Brittany Nelson is a devoted yogi who is tech copywrit-

er by day, newfound spirit junkie by night. Living in beautiful San Francisco, CA, she finds magic on a daily basis in its beautiful woods, beaches and mountains. She is attuned to Reiki 2 and practices many different energy-healing modalities. You can find her on a hike, sweating it up in a yoga class, or out at a music show or festival. Follow her Bay Area Life and on Instagram@ brittany1christine and for meditation mantras and music recommendations on Twitter@bnelson7.

The Fountain of

YOU(TH) Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself. —Hermann Hesse

Who among us isn’t in search of the next panacea of wellness and renewal - a vitalizing diet, the ultimate fitness regime, a universal youth elixir? We make these searches to maximize our current state of being and to live the healthiest, most fulfilling lives possible. BY CARY CASTER

pringtime is the universal season of rebirth and growth, making it an ideal time to evaluate all the things we can do to better ourselves. Self-reflection and setting personal goals can help us achieve attainable, positive results. We need proper nourishment, exercise, rest and a balanced emotional state to be our best selves every day; however, today’s modern society provides challenges to leading a clean, holistic, and stress-free lifestyle. We have to search high and low for organic, non-GMO foods and read labels of packaged goods as though we were scientists, reviewing chemical names to confirm that synthetics and adulterants are excluded. We also have to learn to manage our stress levels and set realistic intentions for ourselves. These are no small tasks. The Chinese philosophy of the Five-Element Theory supports this idea of spring renewal by focusing on nourishing the “wood” element, which corresponds to our liver and gall bladder. These organs are responsible for continuously detoxifying the body and smoothing energy flow throughout the body. Without the help of these natural cleansing systems, our bodies would suffer

from numerous imbalances and illnesses. Thus, during this time of rejuvenation, one should pay particular attention to nourishing the liver and gall bladder as the ultimate key to optimum health and wellness. Muscle tension and soreness, headaches, digestive issues, high blood pressure and low energy are just some problems that can manifest when the wood element or liver function is stagnant and out of balance. Creating manageable personal goals in the rejuvenation process is paramount. The first step in this process is giving the liver a break. We can achieve this by cutting back on things that are high in sugars, like soda, coffee, alcohol and processed foods. At the same time, we can help boost our liver function by consuming foods that are known to benefit the liver, like bitter greens (i.e. dandelion, arugula and sprouts). Lastly, the importance of movement and stretching can’t be stressed enough. Increasing circulation through physical activity helps nourish both tendons and ligaments. Another facet of the age-old Eastern synergistic approach to restoring the wood element is the use of essential oils. These pure plant extracts of fresh material have a vitality of their own and wonderful rejuvenating properties.

Some specific essential oils that are helpful for revitalizing energy and cleansing the liver are ginger, geranium, lemon, peppermint, cardamom and juniper.

Ginger

Peppermint

essential oil is another great energizer. It’s stimulating to the circulatory system and, when properly diluted and applied to the skin, can have a cooling and pain relieving effect for sore muscles. It is also notorious for helping with stomach issues. It’s refreshing scent also helps with headaches and nausea.

Geranium

essential oil helps the liver function better by balancing and regulating the fluids in the body. It has a refreshing and over all tonifying effect on the entire terrain of the body.

Lemon fruit has always shown to have liver-nourishing properties. It is also an uplifting as an essential oil and can help increase motivation during the cleansing process.

Juniper

essential oil is not only a wonderful detoxifying essential oil, but is also a great analgesic. It helps with bloating, fluid retention and helps stimulate circulation, which all assist in liver detoxification.

essential oil stimulates circulation and is wonderful for digestive concerns. It is also a wonderful for tight and sore muscles and tendons. The fresh root can also be added to meals to aid in stomach imbalances.

Cardamom is a wonderful overall tonic to help build up the liver and detoxifying system. Its warm, spicy scent is stimulating for circulation and helps clarify metal stagnation. These qualities also make it a great choice for alleviating nausea and other digestive constrictions.

All of these essential oils can be used individually or blended together in custom combinations, depending on the desired effects. Always remember that essential oils should never be used neat on the skin, as they can cause irritation. A salt scrub, lotion or bath soak could help get the blood flowing and energize the detoxification process.

We recommend you try one of these easy recipes:

Salt Scrub

Springtime encourages opportunities of growth and rebirthing. Treat yourself and your body with the compassion it deserves. As Buddha said, “If you search the whole world over, you will find no one who is more worthy of loving kindness than yourself.”

Cary Caster, B.S., LMT, CCA is a Botanist, Bath Soak

Lotion

Add 8 drops of any combination of the above essential oils to 1 ounce of unscented lotion or cream.

Add 10-15 drops of any of the above essential oils to 2 ounces of milk, then add to your bath.

Add 5-10 drops of any combination of the above essential oils to 1 ounce of jojoba oil, then mix into 1 ounce of the salt of your choice (my favorite is Himalayan pink salt). Make sure the oils are mixed well into the salt before applying to the skin.

Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Clinical Aromatherapist who is on a mission to help people be their best self every day. She believes that people can take their health into their own hands. Cary is not only the founder and expert behind 21 Drops, an essential oil therapy company, but she is also a devoted healer who sits on the board of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists and has been featured as an essential oil expert in the Huffington Post, Vanity Fair and Martha Stewart Living, among others. Cary offers continuing education classes in Aromatherapy at the University of Miami’s iCAMP program, and throughout the country. To learn more about Cary and how to work with her, please visit www.21drops.com

Ayurvedic

Spring Healing Remedies for

Allergies BY MEENAKSHI GUPTA

Spring: a time when the entire world awakens from the hibernating days of winter. Unfortunately for many, this is a time when allergies awaken as well. You may wonder why one person can spend an afternoon walking through blossoming fields without any symptoms, while another canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t step out the front door without experiencing severe allergic symptoms.

ccording to Ayurveda, Spring is the season of high kapha dosha. It’s easy to see kapha’s elements—earth and water—in your surroundings as snow melts, streams swell, and soil becomes heavy with moisture. Kapha’s heavy, cold, and viscous qualities naturally tend to dampen, rather than kindle - the digestive fire, inviting the ama/allergy process to develop. In other words, seasonal allergies are caused by a build-up of impurities due to digestive weakness. In the spring, this effect is compounded when impurities accumulated during winter start “melting” due to warmer temperatures of strong rays of sun. The now liquefied toxins flood the tiny passages of the body — the very passages that convey nutrition to the cells or waste away from the cells. When these micro-channels are congested and the cells are debilitated from lack of nutrition and overwhelmed with waste, the body’s immune system is compromised. So now when the immune system is weakest, flowers burst into bloom, flooding the air with pollen just when the body’s defenses are most challenged. Fight allergy season with these 7 ayurvedic remedies and take some natural steps toward a sniffle-free spring.

Improve Digestion

In Ayurveda we need strong Agni (digestive fire) for immunity and proper digestion. Allergies are related to digestion, improving your digestion means improving your allergy symptoms. Avoid dairy products, greasy foods, cold beverages and microwaving. Ayurvedic dietary recommendations are to eat more pungent, bitter and astringent foods that expel toxins from the body, like bitter greens (arugula, collard greens, kales, and watercress).

2 3 4

Spice it up!

Spices are a powerful to right allergies. Turmeric is anti-allergic, cumin helps stop the creation of ama, coriander seeds helps cellular detoxification, fennel is cooling and neutralizing, ginger clears the channels, and black pepper cleanses the channels.

Drink Ginger Tea

1 cup water (for best results boil on stove instead of microwaving) 1⁄4 tsp fresh grated ginger 1⁄2 fresh squeezed lemon 1 tbsp organic local honey

Local honey

Take a spoonful of your local wildflower honey with freshly ginger juice 2x/day. By taking in some of the local wildflowers that grow only in the spring, it will help to immunize against some of the strong local pollens that affect us so strongly.

Nasyam

Nasyam is an ayurvedic practice that helps to lubricate the nose. It treats allergies, headache, and asthma. Nasyam helps to remove toxins that accumulate from the upper part of your body by opening up the lymphatic channels and allowing the toxins to be removed through your nasal passages. Nasyam oil is typically applied in each nostril through a small dropper. One can use about 3-4 drops in one nostril and then inhaling while pinching the other nostril closed with your index finger. Repeat the process on the other nostril.

Neti Pot

Neti Pot is part of Kriyas, a yogic practice that cleanses and purifies the internal organs and energy channels. This technique is used to clean your nasal passageways and very helpful in controlling the allergies. Warm up some distilled water until it is lukewarm, add a pinch of the neti salt to the lukewarm water, and mix until the salt is dissolved. Over a sink, turn your head sideways and place the neti pot into your nostril. The key here is to relax and allow the water to flow through one nostril to the opposite one. Repeat to the opposite nostril.

Do Yoga

Yoga and Ayurveda advise keeping the solar plexus and abdominal muscles strong in order to fire up Agni, reduce ama, and boost immunity. To accomplish that, begin a daily practice of asanas that tone the belly and a breathing practice—Agni Sara—that activates the deep abdominal muscles and the pelvic floor. At its most basic level, Agni Sara involves contracting the abdominal wall by drawing the navel into the spine on the exhale and then smoothly relaxing on the inhale. Instead of seeing our environment as a threat, we can begin to calm the excitability of the immune system and instead, experience our connection to the external world as nurturing. Ayurveda provides us with the healing remedies to experience this connection and move closer to our natural state of health and balance. Happy spring!

Meenakshi Gupta is an accomplished Ayurvedic practitioner, with a Masters of Doctor in Ayurveda, (classically trained in India) with more than 17 years of experience practicing and teaching Ayurveda worldwide. Meenakshi specializes in Life Style Management, treating ADHD and Parkinsons, as well as skin disorders such as chronic eczema, and hives. She also specializes in stress, anxiety depression, Insomnia and Bio-cleansing modalities. You may reach Meenakshi at ayurroots@gmail.com.

Aloe VeraGel

Making Your Own

USES

Aloe Vera Gel

Ingredients: 6 leaves around 5 inches long 1T Coconut Oil 4-5 drops of Tea Tree Oil 4-5 drop of Lemongrass 1. Take the leaves from the plant and place them into a bowl, standing up, for around 45 minutes to an hour. This allows the sap to get released which sometimes causes irritation. 2. Wash the leaves once the sap drains out from them. Use a peeler to remove any thorns and use a knife to cut the leaves open. You can then use a small pairing knife to scrape the gel out. 3. Place the gel into a blender until it’s a puffy texture. Add the rest of the ingredients from above and blend again. Place the mixture into a clear clean mason jar and put the lid on it. (If you plan to use this for a hair treatment, make sure you strain it first.)

Ice Cube Gel Originally posted by Anna McPhee on naturalnews.com

Aloe Vera plant contains a wealth of biologically active compounds that make up the many healing properties. 80

he Aloe Vera plant is a plant with amazing healing properties. Not only is the plant itself beneficial, but in its different forms it also carries its own benefits. For example, Aloe Vera gel is known for soothing sunburnt skin, as well as being a natural moisturizer. Aloe Vera is also a great option for people that want a healing, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial product that is natural. Aloe plant can also treat gum disease, be used as a cooling conditioner for your hair, and since it’s all natural it’s actually healthy in whatever state you use it in; gel, liquid, water, etc. Unfortunately, when you go into a store to buy this stuff, it tends to be quite expensive depending on how natural it is and what additives they contain. Thankfully, this is a product you can make right at home and then you can use it for whatever you want, whenever you need it. The most important “ingredient” you will need to make your own Aloe Vera gel, is the Aloe Vera plant itself. Most of the health food stores do sell the leafs on their own, but if you really want to be cost efficient, it’s a good idea to plant your own. To the right are some great options for using Aloe Vera.

Use the above mentioned ingredients and steps minus putting it in a mason jar. Instead, strain the mixture using a fine strainer or cheese cloth. Then, place the liquid into an ice cube tray and freeze overnight. This is a great option for people that want a cool cubed way to help with things like sunburn or scrapes and since they are individually cubed, you can make sure that they do not get contaminated.

Mouth Rinse Gel

For a great mouth wash that is natural: Ingredients: 6 leaves of Aloe Vera Plant 1/2 tsp Baking Soda 1 ounce of water 1/2 Lemon Use the process used in the first recipe to remove the pulp from the leaves and strain it to get all of the fibers out. Then in a cup mix up the gel, baking soda, water and lemon juice until mixed thoroughly. For the best results use the mixture within 10 minutes. Swish it around in your mouth, and dispel into the sink. The lemon gives it a better tastes but lemon is also known for fighting anti bacteria as well.

10 Healing Foods Super

Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food. —Hippocrates

Avocados are high in oleic acid, which has been

Kiwis are among the most nutritionally dense fruits

Beans are a miracle food. They lower cholesterol,

Lemons have amazing healing powers, contain-

shown to prevent breast cancer. They’re also high in beta-sitosterol, a compound that has been shown to lower cholesterol levels. With all the folate, vitamin E, monounsaturated fats and glutathione, avocados can also lower the incidence of heart disease and improve heart health. regulate blood sugar and insulin production, promote digestive health, and protect against cancer. A lesser-known benefit of beans is their high levels of isoflavones which may ease the symptoms of menopause, reduce your risk of heart disease and improve your bone and prostate health.

Chili peppers aid in falling and staying asleep, lower cholesterol, reduce blood pressure, serve as an anti-inflammatory and help lower rates of certain cancers like colon and stomach cancer.

Dandelion has been used treat hepatitis, kidney

and liver disorders such as kidney stones, jaundice, and cirrhosis. It is routinely prescribed as a natural treatment for hepatitis C, anemia, and liver detoxification. Dandelion promotes digestive health by stimulating bile production, resulting in a gentle laxative effect.

Garlic is an antioxidant, anti-fungal, and anti-

biotic. Scientists have recently discovered that a compound in garlic acts as the world’s most powerful antioxidant. Allicin, the active ingredient released when garlic is crushed, stimulates the immune system. Garlic is also good for promoting cardiovascular health.

and full of antioxidants. One large kiwi supplies your daily requirement for vitamin C. It’s also a good source of potassium, fiber, and a decent source of vitamin A and vitamin E. Kiwifruit can also have a mild laxative effect due to their high fiber content. ing 22 anti-cancer compounds and a substance called ‘flavonol glycosides’ which stop cell division in cancer cells. They also fight the flu, detox the liver, cleanse the bowels, alleviate allergies and dissolve gallstones, calcium deposits, and kidney stones.

Onions have super antioxidant power. They con-

tain quercetin, a natural antihistamine that reduces airway inflammation and helps relieve symptoms of allergies and hay fever. Onions also boast high levels of vitamin C, which, along with the quercetin, battles cold and flu symptoms. Onions’ anti-inflammatory properties help fight the pain and swelling associated with osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis.

Spinach protects against eye disease and vision loss. It is also good for brain function and guards against colon, prostate, and breast cancers. Spinach protects against heart disease, stroke, and dementia and lowers blood pressure while promoting bone health.

Watermelon is packed with glutathione, which

helps boost the immune system. It is also a source of vitamin C, potassium and lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Not to mention it’s amazing hydration properties. Watermelon is rich in crucial minerals like sodium, electrolytes and potassium that we lose through our perspiration.

Food is Medicine:

The Organic Heart Story BY BREEANA CALLAHAM

• A 26 year old diagnosed with heart failure • How eating organic saved his life • Treating food as your medicine

met my husband when I was 19 years old and we were married when I was 20, he was 22. We’ve always been health conscious people, always trying to eat what our version of healthy was at the time and exercise moderately. But recently our perception of food and what health truly meant drastically changed. In March 2014, my 26 year-old husband was diagnosed with congestive heart failure caused by a rare unknown virus that attacked and weakened his heart muscles. His doctors told us that if his heart did not improve in three months he would need a heart transplant. Since his heart was only functioning at 10%, he could die of a heart attack at anytime.

He went from not being able to walk halfway through Target, because he was so weak and out of breath, to now running and playing basketball everyday in just ten months time. After he was discharged from the hospital we were left with so many unanswered questions from the doctors that left us feeling completely hopeless. We decided to meet with a naturopathic doctor who put my husband on an anti-inflammatory diet to help bring down the inflammation in his heart, which consisted of all gluten-free, dairyfree, low-sodium and organic foods. To share his progress with others, I opened an Instagram page (@the_organic_heart) documenting our journey and sharing my healing recipes (see recipes on page 85). My husband’s transformation was so drastic once he changed his diet and lifestyle. He went from not being able to walk halfway through Target, because he was so weak and out of breath, to now running and playing basketball everyday in just ten months time. My husband no longer needs a heart transplant and he is well on his way to making a full recovery. His doctors call him a “modern day miracle”, but I truly believe that food is medicine and by him

eating all organic and clean foods that were free of chemicals and preservatives, his body was able to rid itself of all it’s toxins and focus on just healing his heart. If I could send one message to people I would tell them to count chemicals, not calories. The food we’re surrounded with today is so full of chemicals, preservatives, GMO’s, and substances that are poison to our body and our body does not recognize as food. Therefore it’s in a constant state of war with itself. If you can rid your body of these toxic substances it will drastically bring down the inflammation in your system (where disease breeds), allowing your body to simply heal itself, which is what it’s designed to do.

If I could send one message to people I would tell them to count chemicals, not calories. My husband is so grateful everyday to have his health back and we feel so blessed and thankful that we get to share this journey together in learning how food can be your healer.

Jason and Breeana Callaham live in

Southern California. Jason is a Territory Manager for Shaw Industries and Breeana is a Surgical Coordinator for a Children’s Hospital. Both born and raised in Southern California, they have always adhered to a healthy lifestyle. Since Jason’s heart failure, their diet has radically changed and they are determined to educate others about the healing power of Organic Foods. You can follow their continuing journey and get Breeana’s great Organic, Gluten and Dairy-Free recipes on Instagram@ the_organic_heart. Breeana is currently working on a cookbook and is hoping to find a publisher soon.

Doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Have to be Bo ring

Mix it Up With these Flavorful Options! Eggplant Pizza Ingredients

k 2 large eggplants, sliced 1 inch thic 24 oz jar tomato sauce 20 slices provolone cheese d 3-4 oz fresh cherry tomatoes, slice 1 cup fresh spinach or basil Â˝ tsp himalayan salt Pepper flakes, optional

Instructions

two baking trays ar1. Preheat your oven to 425 F. In inkle the Himalayan Spr ts. range the sliced eggplan . utes salt and bake for 15-20 min oven and turn your the from t 2 Remove the bake eggplan ato sauce over tom of oon broiler on. Spread 1 tablesp slice of provoone by wed each eggplant round follo il and cherry bas or ach spin lone. Arrange some fresh minutes. 3-5 for l broi and tomatoes over the cheese e the eggplant Make sure you keep a close look whil really fast. is under the broiler as they can burn ty bread or as is. crus n grai le 3. Serve while still hot with who

R.D of eatgood4life.com Recipe by Miryam Quinn Doblas; M.S,

Yield: 20-24 pizza slices Total Time: 40 minutes

Coconut Curry on Quinoa Pasta Serves: 1

Ingredients @healthingyou Recipe by Alicia Galantic of Instagram

1 Cup of Quinoa Pasta Sauce: -Free) 1 Can of Organic Coconut Milk (BPA 1 Tbsp. of Coconut Oil 2 Garlic Cloves (minced) ½ of a Yellow Onion (diced) 1 Tsp. of Garlic (Grated) ½ Tsp. of Paprika Dash of Cinnamon 2½ tbsp. of Curry Powder Dash of Himalayan Salt 2 Tbsp. of Coconut Aminos (raw) 1½ Tbsp. of Pure Maple Syrup

Instructions

r quinoa pasta in 1. Bring water to boil and place you on what your ing to cook for 7-8 minutes (depend package directions are).

heat, place your 2. In a separate pot on low-medium melt. coconut oil in and spread evenly to well for couple as pot in n onio 3. Sauté the garlic and minutes. y powder, cinna4. Next, place your coconut milk, curr , maple syrup mon, garlic, paprika, coconut aminos . and salt in and stir well to combine water and place the n drai er, tend 5. When your pasta is in bowl. the pasta and enjoy! 6. Pour the Coconut Curry sauce in

Mexican BBQ Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Serves: 2

Recipe by Breena Callaham of Instagram@the_organic_heart

Ingredients

2 small organic sweet potatoes 2 organic chicken breasts, boiled then shredded 1/2 cup all-natural BBQ sauce 1 avocado, smashed Kosher salt, to taste 1/2 cup chopped cilantro 1/4 cup organic non-GMO corn, cooked 1 small Roma tomato, diced 1/4 cup green onions, diced 1/4 cup red onions, diced Jalapeños as desired, to top Lime wedges

Instructions

1. Bake the sweet potatoes at 425 degrees for 50 minutes or until cooked. 2. In a bowl mix your cooked shredded chicken with the BBQ sauce then add in the corn, cilantro, tomato and onions. 3. Slice open the sweet potato and stuff it with the chicken mixture then return it to the oven for 10 mins. 4. Combine the smashed avocado with the salt then remove the stuffed sweet potatoes from the oven and top them with the avocado and jalapeños. Serve with lime wedges.

Staff Picks and BodyRio Fitness wear brings fun ant vibr ir the with er eth function tog . prints and comfort to fit any size l fee y The m? the love Why do we fect Per ! look y the than even better for hot yoga classes, they breathe ed structand move with you. BodyRio is con ic. fabr e anc form of premium Brazilian Supplex® per ue uniq own ir the We also love the trendy vibe with imprinted on their l’ tefu ‘gra like es sag spin: find mes classic styles and bright prints. Not only do they feel and look great, they are durable and built to last. BodyRio fitness wear will not wrinkle, shrink or fade, even after years of wear. Enter ‘yogadigest’ at checkout and save 15% off your purchase! www.bodyrio.com

The MELT Method (MELT) is a simple self-treatment technique that reduces chro nic pain and helps you stay healthy, youthful, and active for a lifetime. New research has revealed the missing link to pain-free living: a balanced nervous system and healthy connective tissu e. These two components provide your bod y architectural support and optimal mind-body communication. New York City-based manual therapist and connective tissue specialist Sue Hitzmann has transformed groundbreaking neurofascial science and hands-on therapies into a one-ofa-kind treatment method called MEL T. Using specialized techniques, a soft bod y roller, and four small balls, MELT rehydrates the connective tissue, rebalances the nervous system, and restores space to compressed join ts. Why do we love it? Because it helps you stay healthy, youthful and active! www.meltmethod.com

Dharma Yoga Wheel

is a Truth, Balance, Virtue (TBV) Apparel nd arou d tere cen line hing conscious clot a in nce bala and lth promoting hea cute, playful and sexy way. Passionately created by Jordan Younger and designer Tynan Daniels, these . tees have a wear-me-all-day attitude and r hou py hap to io stud a From the yog can everywhere in between, these tees ? them love we do Why . hold their own Kale ‘Oh kie,’ Jun a ‘Yog With sayings like Yes’ and ‘Is Vodka Vegan?’ the wit and It’s hard charm keep us smiling and styling. f! rsel you for See to pick just one! www.theblondeveganstore.com

The first official yoga prop that helps open the entire back, shoulders, chest, and hip flexors. Why do we love it? The Dharma Yoga Wheel can be used for restorative purposes, to achieve deeper stretches in a yoga practice, or for any athletic purpose, increasing the practitione rs flexibility tremendously. If backbends are difficult for you, this innovative tool makes all those deep chest opening poses access ible for all to achieve and to experience. This product is guaranteed to change your bac k bending practice forever and to open you r heart. www.dharmayogawheel.com

Upcoming Events Kiss My Asana Yogathon - April 1st 2015

Mark your calendars for the opportunity to do what you love (yoga!) while raising awareness and resources for a non-profit that provides hope and healing to thousands around the world. Kicking off April 1st, the 2nd annual Kiss My Asana Yogathon is a nationwide, four-week yoga challenge that invites anyone and everyone to experience the benefits of yoga while supporting the work of Mind Body Solutions (MBS). To participate, simply commit to increasing your yoga practice by ANY amount for the month of April. Never tried yoga? Commit to just one session. Practice wherever you put your mat—at a studio, the office, or at home. The goal of the month-long event is to raise $75,000 to help fund MBS’ Adaptive Yoga Program, a program that opens yoga to everyone. Founded

Namas Day Festival - April 18th 2015

... returns to Philadelphia on Saturday, April 18, 2015, featuring a full day of workshops, learning and networking. The lineup includes Faith Hunter, Natalie

by nationally recognized paraplegic yoga teacher Matthew Sanford, MBS is the preeminent adaptive yoga training center in the country and nationally renown for teaching and offering programs to those who traditionally do not have access to the healing power of yoga— people living with disabilities, seniors, the incarcerated, veterans. Registration begins in February 2015. For event details, visit: www.mindbodysolutions.org.

Levin, Sati Rose and Noah Julian. Organized by Philly Area Yoga, Philadelphia’s premiere online source for yoga and wellness information, Namas Day expects to draw over 350 yogis from the area’s rapidly growing health-conscious, eco-friendly and socially-responsible community. If your organization is interested in sponsoring Namas Day, applications are being accepted online. Prime exhibitor space is also available. Event will be held at the WHYY Building on N. 6th Street. www.namasdayphilly.com

ONE LOVE 2015 Charity Yoga Event - August 8th 2015 You are invited! August 8th 2015 please join us in San Diego, California for our 5th annual charity yoga event. Our purpose is to bring yogis & like-minds together to create change and make a difference out in the world for under-privileged women and kids. We are proud

to announce Yoga Digest Magazine as our 2015 partner and we are honored to have Taylor Harkness and Mackenzie Miller on our team of internationally recognized yoga teachers. Please join us to celebrate youth and give back: www.jointheonelovemovement.org

Travel to India,

practice yoga and give back!

ver since I began teaching yoga 6 years ago, I’ve wanted to go to India and volunteer. I just never thought it would be possible because of cost mostly, and secondly I had no idea how to get involved. I hadn’t the slightest inkling where to even start, and so I didn’t until a year ago. Yoga is like that really great movie you want everyone to see, or that to-die-for restaurant you want everyone to try. If you love to practice yoga, you want it to change other people’s lives how it has yours. If you are a yoga teacher, you want to give back to your students what your teachers have given you. When I first traveled to India, I thought I would easily be able to practice and/or teach yoga with the children and schoolteachers. I was shocked that people weren’t doing yoga everywhere. After all...India is the birthplace of yoga. As I experienced the culture, I realized that under-privileged communities don’t have the resources needed to bring yoga to them. These communities don’t have access to so much of what we call “normal”. Allow me to generalize our western culture for a moment. You hear the alarm clock going off in the distance as you slowly come to life, but it’s hard to get up because you are nestled warm and cozy in your bed. You manage to make it to your feet and walk to the room next door to be awoken by a nice, long, hot shower. While you’re standing under the shower feeling the water cleanse you, your coffee is on auto-timer and begins to percolate. Just before leaving the house for the day, you grab your bag already packed the night before with your yoga clothes, water bottle, and yoga mat to hit a class after work. Having access to a toilet, a hot shower, and yoga is considered normal in our culture. What if we worked together to bring a piece of what we see as normal to the orphanage in South India and the teachers who serve India’s impoverished schools? What if we brought yoga to these communities to give back what we have received from our practice?

When I found yoga, I had no idea it was what I had been looking for. I had no idea it would feed me as it does and rescue me time and time again from myself. Yes, I needed to be rescued from me, from my negative chatter, my poor self-esteem, and my belief that life turns out for everybody but me. All I wanted was to feel good about myself and to feel comfortable in my own skin. Yoga did just that for me. Yoga became my safe haven. Yoga loved me as I was, no questions, no criticisms, no expectations. It was a space for me to work through heaviness in my heart, and anything I had going on inside my head, all so that I could be a greater force out in the world. As I moved through my “stuff”, yoga became my best friend because it was the one thing I could always count on. Why do you practice yoga? What has you come to your mat time and time again? We want to make a difference for under-served communities in India through yoga. We want to give them what yoga has given us.... because we believe yoga will change the world. Here’s where you can make a difference, where you can create positive change. Here’s where you can extend beyond the four corners of your mat, learn and immerse yourself into a sacred culture, and give back through yoga. Here’s where you can experience stepping into a space of vulnerability, heartbreak, beauty, magic, and love, all in one.

Background of the project:

Three organizations have come together to incorporate yoga as the means to uplift minds, build confidence, and provide tools for awareness. Reaching Hand is a non-profit based in South India that owns an orphanage home for 46 homeless youth and helps over 10,000 children in the slums receive an education through their sponsorship of government owned schools. While being interviewed, Executive Director Akshay Sagar says he wants to bring yoga to their schoolteachers and kids to insert positive growth and empowerment. He wants to give them the opportunity to receive the gift of yoga. Leave UR Mark is an organization also based in South India that provides a platform for people to volunteer and give back through local schools and orphanages. One of the #1 comments I from people looking to volunteer is that they don’t know where to start or how to get involved. Leave UR Mark is the connection that links you to service in India by organizing all the logistical details of your trip such as housing, food, and in-country support. The One Love Movement (www.jointheonelovemovement.org) is a non-profit organization based in Southern California, which acts as an advocate for under-served women and children locally and globally. The principles of yoga are the foundation for this organization, where the mission is to inspire “yoga-off-the-mat” and love & kindness out in the world, being a catalyst for you to take action and give back.

What does this mean to you?

• If you want to travel to India, practice yoga, and volunteer, then this means we want you. Here’s the opportunity: • A yoga-off-the-mat, volunteer, & humanitarian immersion • Guidance and smart information so you feel prepared whether traveling alone or in a group • Rental of a shared apartment with other international guests; a great opportunity to meet amazing people and create lasting connections! • Two hosted meals/day • Clothes washer available in apartment • Space to practice with & teach yoga to under-privileged communities, specifically women & children (you do not have to be a yoga teacher to participate) • Connections to NGO’s you may have otherwise not known of • Connections to under-privileged populations you may not know how to access • Education of the Indian culture through experience and local interaction • Time to explore surrounding towns, ashrams, temples, internationally known attractions, shopping • Entertainment and activity guide • Transportation from airport to apartment upon arrival We’ve made this trip to be as economical as possible. Cost for the above program for 2 weeks is $1089 (airfare not included). Cost of program increases/decreases based on number of days. We welcome you to stay for as long as you wish. For more info or to enroll in the program: www.jointheonelovemovement.org Henry Ford says, “To do more for the world than the world does for you, that is success.” We hope to hear from you and to be able to unite your heart with India’s. Namaste. By Kim Bauman Creator, The One Love Movement www.jointheonelovemovement.org Instagram: @theonelovemovement Facebook: The One Love Movement

Out of Your COMFORT Kurt ZONE Johnsen with

Uncomfortable Conversion Challenge In the world of yoga, growth is a frequent area of focus, whether it be growing longer and stronger physically, deeper emotionally or more focused mentally. Growth can be achieved in many ways and by traveling down many paths, but there is typically an important barrier to overcome in attaining that growth that is often not considered. You must get uncomfortable to grow. We humans strain our bodies and push through discomfort to build strength, a newly born horse struggles to control its limbs to take its first steps and a simple seed fights its way through the earth to the surface to taste the sun’s light. All things must get uncomfortable to grow. This simple truth will be the driving force behind this column and I will be presenting you with various challenges to assist in developing your ability to take bold steps outside your comfort zone. Once you nurture this skill, your ability to work effectively toward your goals will be limitless. The first challenge is one of my favorites and one I use in my life on a regular basis. It has the power to meaningfully improve relationships, both personally and professionally. These enhanced relationships manifest success in many ways, from the increased quality of time spent with loved ones to greater advancement professionally. The challenge I offer is the Uncomfortable Conversation Challenge. That’s right, I’m challenging you to have an uncomfortable conversation. Is there a conversation you have been delaying, perhaps for

years? A conversation you have had many times in your head with your boss, your spouse or a friend but have never had the nerve to actually attempt? What is stopping you from initiating the conversation? Confrontation can certainly be nerve wracking, but if the uncomfortable conversation is approached with honesty and respect, the conversation will likely be constructive and improve the relationship and the situation. We often suffer a great deal of stress by delaying difficult conversations. Instead, we should make the conscious decision to push through the discomfort and initiate dialogues. The resulting conversations are usually not nearly as uncomfortable or unenjoyable as we had anticipated. More often than not, the other person has wanted to have the same conversation and is ultimately grateful you initiated it. The results are almost always positive and sometimes life changing! I challenge you to initiate one uncomfortable conversation today. You can start small by asking your spouse to complete that one chore that just isn’t getting done or talking to a work colleague about a minor issue. Once you have a few successes under your belt, you can move on to addressing the more significant issues in your life. I often remind people that life is reflected by action, not thought. So now it’s time to act! Good luck and please let me know how it goes! Ever forward, Kurt Johnsen

yoga helped you heal physically, emotionally spiritually? How has

and/or

Yoga is keeping me sane while we try to navigate the uncharted waters of mental illness in my family. As I strive to help my child, I need the grounding, peaceful, focus of a yoga practice. The stability of a regular practice helps me to help her. Stacy - Frederick, Maryland I began practicing Yoga 2 decades ago. It has become a beautiful, guiding force in my life. It continues to transform me through the years, leading me to see more love, light and beauty in others, the world, and myself. I am thankful everyday for its ability to break me down, and see the abundant blessings that God provides in my life. Its calling has inspired me to share it with others. Malissa Whited – Monroe, MI Yoga has helped me heal by showing me that I am completely capable and deserving of achieving the things I desire. It has made me realize my worth. Courtney Nazak – South Lake Tahoe, CA I was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 years ago. Shortly after the discovery I had a double mastectomy. My yoga practice was so important to me that I could not imagine not having it in my life. I started practicing 3 weeks after surgery, doing physically what I could manage. I was taught ‘energy flows where your attention goes.’ This helped me be strong physically and emotionally. I am stronger in my practice today, than I was before surgery. Spiritually, an awareness of a connection with God that keeps getting better. My answer to anything is God, Yoga, and lots of water. It will cure all. Debi Gonzalez – Mansfield, TX After being laid off from my job of 10 years I was stunned. I went from working 12 hours a day, and being the go-to-girl to questioning my self worth.I fought not to fall into depression. My mind was spinning and with so much time on my hands I couldn’t shut off the voices in my head.Yoga became my new outlet. Focusing on my breath I learned to quiet my mind even if it was only for 75 minutes at first. Slowly I began to feel the peace flow into my life outside of class as well. One year later as I look back I realize that yoga saved me in what was a dark time in my life. Michelle Van Dyke - Suffolk, VA In a stressful year of school, working, and job seeking, I managed to get in regular yoga classes because my body and soul needed the yoga practice. On the day that I realized I needed to leave a really bad relationship, I went to back-to-back yoga classes. I was drawn to the yoga, only knowing that I needed to take my struggle to yoga. I said nothing but my teachers gave me extra support and hugs, when I really needed them. It is when I knew that yoga was already helping me heal and move on. Andi Sherek – Minneapolis, MN

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