Ayurveda at Stafford Street! First event is Valentines Day!

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Many of you have been hearing the word Ayurveda (ah-yer-vey-duh) being used in and around the studio over the last couple months and some of you may have been familiar with it before.  Many may not be aware of the connection and expansive history that Yoga and Ayurveda share.   

The two go hand in hand and are the ancient life disciplines that have been practiced in India for thousands of years. 

* Yoga is the science of union with the Divine, and Ayurveda is the science of life 

* Ayurveda is the healing side of Yoga, and Yoga is the spiritual tradition from which Ayurveda emerged 

* Through Yoga one prepares for a healthy mind and through Ayurveda one prepares for a healthy body 

* Yoga helps with enlightenment and Ayurveda helps with perfect health 

 

Yoga and Ayurveda originate from the Vedic traditions of India, and both are a means of gaining and maintaining better health.  

Yoga is a spiritual science of self-development and self-realization through a wide range of methods that span from physical postures, breathing exercises, mantra and meditation all based on the philosophy of living a natural life. 

Ayurveda is the traditional medicine of India and like yoga covers a wide array of health practices including diet, herbs, exercise, bodywork, detoxification programs and life-style management regimens that relate to our unique individual constitution and laws of nature. 

Yoga and Ayurveda are two complementary systems of maintaining health and human development.  They were developed by the legendary rishis or holy men, who understood the laws of the universe and the inner workings of the cosmos that hold the key to transformation of the Self. 

Join Amanda, Tannis and myself for a little bit of extra love on Valentine’s Day. We will be delivering delicious food and beverages made with love onTuesday, February 14th following the 5pm & 7pm classes. 

The tasty Valentine's Day menu includes Wheat-free Chocolate Almond cookies, Macrobiotic Ume Papita Stuffed Rice Balls (What the heck are those you ask? Come on down & see for yourself!), and Tannis' Special Quenching Coconut Lassie Drink. There will also be a healthy Ayurvedic Mung Dahl meal for purchase if you would like to complete your day in a delicious & nutritious way. Cash only please.

I will also be here at SSHY for our upcoming monthly open house Sundays (First one - Sunday, Feb. 26th!) for questions on treatments (ayurvedic facials, body work, diet counselling etc.) or even to share a cup of delicious tea that I have prepared for you!  I will be involved in the April Yoga challenge which promises to be the first of it’s kind with a plethora of goodies built in to the challenge to help set you up for the best health you ‘ve felt in years!

Stay tuned for videos and monthly blogs from myself, Amanda and Tannis on recipes, treatments, and how to make ayurveda a part of your daily rountine and lifestyle. 

Sincerely,

Kalee Mund


Get those abs and fend off holiday flab

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How easy it is. Develop your abdominal muscles in Bikram Yoga!

Happy Holidays fellow yogis and yoginis!  Along with the holidays comes delicious over indulgence…sweets, goodies and libations abound!  So, let us take notes on how we can all continue to feel good through the holidays!

It’s often our bellies that take a hit, so I will share with you some Bikram yoga tips!

Starting with Pranayama breathing exercise- You must work extra hard and when inhaling, SUCK your stomach IN.  You try your best to see your rib cage in the mirror.  For those who have extra inches, even if you cannot see your ribs, the more you try to do it, you will start to feel it, then eventually, it WILL happen!

Try being aware of this all of the 20 breaths, and your abdominals should be sore the next day.

In Awkward Pose- Very important to use your abs.  In all 3 parts, keep your stomach sucked in, and do your best to breathe slow and normal as possible.  Again, try to see your rib cage in the mirror.  This use of the stomach muscles will also prevent and help heal your back pain.

In Eagle Pose- same thing, keep that belly sucked in.  Rib cage visible, upper body arched like backward bending.

There are many other Bikram poses where you can use your abdominals more.  Standing forehead to knee requires the use of these muscles to help you touch your forehead to knee. Try this awareness from now on in your Bikram practice, and look forward to amazing results! 

To keep inches off and stay trim through the eating of 3 xmas dinners:

...CHEW your food...

This is the most profound way to improve digestion, to keep from over eating, and to improve your bodies’ ability of actually absorbing nutrients.  You want to try and chew your food minimum 30x per bite.  No joke, you will lose weight if you do this.  And it’s absolutely free!  Just think of it - by chewing you will also enjoy more flavours, more satisfaction, more joy! 

Happy eating!              

xox Amanda

Healing negativity with Bikram yoga

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Remember, dear students, positive energy and positive thoughts are very powerful!  

When you and others in the room decide to emit positive energy, you all attract benevolent feelings, healing and abundance.

If you find yourself feeling negative, or your thoughts are on repeat negatively about you or anyone else in the room (including the teacher!) then YOU are creating that, YOU always have the choice to turn it around.

Funny thing is, especially you challengers will notice, as you DO more yoga, feeling good will start to become what you are all the time!!!

Practicing Bikram Hatha yoga clears you and helps you deflect any negative energies that can weigh you down. Some things in life you cannot figure out and aren’t meant to (at least not right this second), so instead, use the power of your CONCENTRATION in class to get you through the toughest times. 

If the person next to you is somehow unnerving you or annoying you, concentrate more on your locked knee, or your eyes in the mirror, or, always, practice breathing more slowly!

Remember, “if you let anyone steal your happiness or peace away from you, you are the loser.”  ~ Bikram

 

Go with the flow, nothing is perfect, everything is just as it is meant to be!!! 

 xox Amanda

Image source: Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Sweet Tooth? Satisfy it the Macrobiotic way: Brown Rice Malt Syrup

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A huge percentage of people admit to having a sweet tooth, a little craving for that something sweet.  For that lucky small percentage who do NOT have a sweet tooth: GOOD ON YA!  But for those of us that do (this may sound familiar), you often “treat” yourself with something containing:

•    White or brown sugar (no nutritional value)
•    Honey or maple syrup (a little nutritional value)

This “treat” is really no treat at all.  You may experience a temporary energy lift, but then CRASH!  This upsurge in blood sugar level followed by a big plummet is particularly significant for those that don’t normally indulge; however, it is still felt by those who regularly consume these sugary sweeteners.

Effects of the “sugar blues” can include:


•    Anxiety or irritability
•    Low energy or fatigue
•    Feelings of depression

Long term affects of sugar indulgence has been linked mental illness, diabetes, hormonal and degenerative diseases.

Yikes!  So what is one to do to satisfy that sweet tooth without compromising one’s health and well-being?  Satisfy it the macrobiotic way: brown rice malt syrup!

Brown rice malt syrup is made by a slow, natural enzymatic process, as the whole grains are partially broken down into a thick liquid.  While providing that bit o’ sweet, it only contains 3-4% glucose (the substance that gives the quick hit sugar buzz).  Besides that, it contains complex carbohydrates, maltose and water which allows for a long, gradual digestion period.  That means that it's a prolonged source of energy that is calming as opposed to a sugar high then crash.  To boot, it contains many of the vitamin B and minerals found in rice and barley

Brown Rice Syrup has a simple taste that won’t overpower - add it to your kitchen pantry!

Want to bring the power of macrobiotic eating into your life, but don't know how to do it? Our macrobiotic master, Tanis Kohut, is offering a series of workshops at the studio. Get all the details here.

You can also check out the Macrobiotic Guide, a website chock full of macro tips and information.

Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net