What DO you DO?

So what DOES an Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist do?

“Is it some weird religious thing?” “ Is it being a vegetarian?” “Do you make people be all bendy like pretzels?” 

These are actual questions I have gotten at parties, workshops, college classes, even in line at the grocery store.

“I know I should do Yoga.”  “I've heard of Ayurveda”.  “I am SO Vata right now!”

“I am NOT flexible.”  “Oh I got injured in my Yoga class so I can't practice right now.” 

These are actual statements and comments I have gotten over the years. Some intrigue me, others amuse me, some confuse me and some entertain me.

So how do I respond?

It depends....here are some my actual responses.

I have...gone shopping at the Farmer's Market.

Practiced breathing. Made face masks. Drawn pictures. Written poetry. Cooked and drank homemade herbal tea.

Practiced walking meditations at the beach and park.  Practiced sun salutations standing and/or seated.

Danced in warrior pose.  Chanted simple mantras and sang Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

Brainstormed about improving relationships.  Visualized our best selves.

How did we get there? Is that even Yoga/Ayurveda?

Yoga is whatever works. It is about relationship.

I get to know my students.  We chat a lot the first session.  They take a survey/quiz and we talk a lot about their responses and what they might indicate.

I teach them about their physical, mental and emotional constitution and current imbalances. They learn about what health looks like from Ayurvedic (the sister science to Yoga based in Nature) perspective.

We set exciting yet believable goals.  We break things down into do-able sustainable lifestyle practices.  We use creative tools to tap into the healthiest parts of ourselves. We co-create a plan.  Then you practice and we check back in.  We make adjustments....sometimes more breath,  or more fun, maybe less time, or more challenge.  You go back and practice some more.

How do you know it works?

You know your Ayurvedic Yoga is working if your relationships get better. You'll begin to notice what is practiced in a 1 hour session and then on your own at home makes the other 23 hours of your life better.  The progress  is cumulative and exponential. All of a sudden you have reached a goal and it surprises you it.  

Success Stories:

I have had the honor to witness, and hear success stories of a client with severe arthritis going for a distance ocean swim, a college student with severe anxiety be able to focus and breathe their way through a final exam and get an A,  an overworked overstressed middle age woman with insomnia be able to fall asleep and stay asleep for an entire week straight,  a seventy something senior citizen with knee replacement be able to get up and down of a very low chair without straining.  

But what makes me love my work even more is when clients and students tell stories of sharing their simple experiential wisdoms:

"I taught my daughter the breath and and she can sit still better in school"

"I taught my boyfriend how to make a request and we do not fight so much now"

"I shared the warm water in the morning with my mother and she no longer has severe constipation"

"I told my daughter about nasya oil and she no longer gets sinus infections"

SO what do I do?  I LOVE my work, my practice and I get to help people get back in touch with their true nature with practices based in Yoga, Ayurveda and the Creative Arts. It's WAY cool and I am grateful.

 

 

 

 

 

Golden nugget

What is the best way to choose a piece of fruit at the farmer's market?  For some of us this is second nature, for others…we have no clue.  My yoga student and I pondered the question at the Santa Monica's farmers market yesterday morning.

You see, my student just happen's to be living with Autism.  We have been working on Yoga and Ayurveda inspired life skills.  I encouraged "Sally" to ask one of the farmers to help her choose the "best" golden nugget mandarin. A small, african american man with long dread locks spilling out from under his ski cap was more than willing to help.  The sparkle in his eyes and bright white smile lightened up Sally's intensity immediately.  

His posture displayed a wonderful confidence and pride as he picked up and described his produce.  As he discussed size, color, and shape of the fruit...I could see Sally's eyes glaze over and his smile begin to fade. He could tell she was not getting it.  I "translated" a few of his comments and they both took a loooong exhale of relief.   

A huge smile then gently grew on Sally's face..."SMALL, DARK and UGLY"! Now she had a twinkle in her eye. For half a second I was concerned looking at this short, very dark farmer...now he was beaming too!  "Yes" he laughed.  "I never thought of it that way before. That is pretty much the way you pick any fruit for the best flavor".

 

Ayurvey-"DUH"

Several weeks ago during our unusually intense hot spell I was in my kitchen cutting up the cucumbers I had just gotten from the farmers market. I stepped outdoors and picked some mint leaves from my balcony herb garden. I was preparing my “famous” cucumber mint water.  It’s a big hit at barbeques. I often get requests.  Just a big pitcher of water, a few slices of cucumber and a large handful of mint leaves. SO simple, SO tasty, SO cooling.

With sincere curiosity, my husband asked “Why that combination?”

Those ingredients are cooling” I quickly replied. “In Yoga and Ayurveda we treat with opposites and nature grows exactly what we need to nourish and replenish ourselves.  We eat and drink with the seasons.”

With a huge grin on his face, my husband replied “That makes so much sense   Why don’t they call it Ayurvey-DUH?!”

My husband began his Ayurvedic odyssey as an accidental guinea pig of sorts.  He has become a believer because he applied a few simple tools with consistency and a sense of humor.  He has been willing to try new foods, take herbs daily, drink teas, go to bed a little bit earlier and change his Yoga practice.  Since dabbling in Ayurveda over the last few months, he is able to play softball free of pain, he has cooled and healed his severely itchy “heat rash”, and he has even learned how to eat vegetarian chili and prevent gas… (Sorry Honey!).

When I first mention Ayurveda to my Yoga students, many have ”heard of it” but are quite frankly intimidated by it.  They might assume it is some kind of religion, raw vegan diet, or maybe even a bizarre painful pretzel like posture that takes years of severe discipline to master. “NOT SO!”…I tell them “It is SOOOO much simpler than that”.  Just like we change our clothes with a change in the weather, in Ayurveda we make simple lifestyle changes to adjust to the changes in our environment (ie: climate, work and home).

These basic lifestyle considerations are traditionally broken down into three categories know as the “The three pillars of life”.

1.  Food and digestion

2.  Sleep

3.  Energy expenditure

When we look at these pillars and make changes according to our individual body/mind constitution, we can create a sense of balance and well-being that is meant just for us. Yes… An Ayurvedic lifestyle is a SIMPLE way to re-Connect with our true nature re-Balance our health and re-Vitalize our spirit.