Migraine time again......

Sometimes we tick along happily in our lives taking our health for granted, I certainly do anyway.  But then something will happen and make you stop and take stock.  For me it is migraines, these weird episodes can take on many forms and most people assume it is a 'bad' headache.  For me there is no headache and for that I am blessed, but I go dizzy and I am violently sick - this is usually preceded by a few weeks (sometimes months) of hearing loss and tinnitus.

My latest episode came as a bit of a surprise - I had not had a migraine for 2 years (almost to the day) and have been taking a small amount of medication to keep them under control, and it seemed to be working.  But I had been experiencing hearing loss and tinnitus for a few weeks and then suddenly yesterday - on a beautiful early spring afternoon I was struck down with a real hum dinger of a migraine.  The fact I was walking my boys home from school was slightly inconvenient but I managed to get us all safely back home.  My head was spinning and I could feel a heavy, cold feeling in the pit of my stomach - all I wanted to do was to lie down.....Then the vomiting begins, it's quite violent and my whole body feels like it's turning inside out (sorry if that is too graphic!)  So I lay down and proceeded to turn ice cold - my eyes burning with even the dimmest of lights.

My poor kids just left me to it - all the time I was worrying about my early evening yoga class which I was due to teach in less than 2 hours......a quick and slightly incoherent phone call to my Mum (also a yoga teacher) resulted in her coming to my rescue again and covering for me.  Another garbled phone call to my husband who valiantly dropped everything at work and came home and took charge.  I just kept thinking how lucky I am to have such a great support network to help me out.

Well true to form after 2 and half hours of lying completely still with my eyes closed I started to come out of it - feeling like I had run a marathon (migraines can leave you feeling incredibly tired)  Also feeling guilty about letting my class members down - although they were in the hands of an amazing teacher...

Then I remembered something I had read in a Yin Yoga book - it said something about our lives can sometimes become too Yang in nature and then something happens and the example they gave was that we may be sent the 'gift of a migraine'.  When I read that I thought "Ha - bloody gift - that has to be a joke".  But actually it was saying that these things may happen to us as a warning to slow down, to create more Yin in our lives.  It also made me reflect on the fact that I have had 2 whole years of being migraine free and how much I took that time for granted.  Not to mention being grateful for this amazing network of people I have around me to help me out, because when you run your own business it's simply not possible to ring in sick and I absolutely hate letting people down.

So while I struggle a bit to think of a migraine as a 'gift' - I can see it as a timely reminder to take time out, to slow down (both my actions and my thinking) 

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Handstand anyone??

There is an abundance of yoga 'selfies' involving the handstand.  It has been drip feeding into my consciousness for a while now and I have always been a bit of a handstander over the years but not a very accomplished one (sometimes during my teens and twenties they were wine induced handstands - not very sensible!) Weirdly I mainly 'handstand' in the Summer, just as I did when I was a child.  Simply because we spent so much time outdoors and it seemed natural to try and stand on my hands, knowing there was a soft grassy blanket beneath me when I inevitably fell down!!  I suppose you could say I have been a 'fair weather hand-stander'.

There seems to be an obsession with handstands on social media and at the risk of climbing on the bandwagon of handstands, I have been doing some Winter handstands indoors, mainly with the safety net of a wall behind me.  But as usual the nagging thought in my mind is 'why are you doing it?  Is it because you have seen so many yogis and yoginis flipping up in the air and showing their own practice? Is it your ego rearing it's head yet again - taunting you to practice?'  But the other part of me says 'No, I just feel great upside down, yes it's pretty tiring and seems to expend an amazing amount of energy but it gives me a feeling of strength both physically and emotionally'

There is also another feeling of flipping everything upside down, so when negative thoughts creep in a few kicks up to the wall and I have soon got myself out of my head and into my body.  There is something liberating and freeing about doing it - maybe it's because it reminds me of being a kid again.  I was never any good at team games and competitive stuff, I just didn't care enough about winning to really try - but I always loved standing on my hands and on my head and doing cartwheels.  It's probably just a way to play and have fun - so maybe I'm not really doing 'yoga' when I am doing it, but that is a discussion for another day.......I think I'll stick with it as long as I am having fun and try not to analyse my reasons for doing it!!

The first photo is me aged about 9 years and the second photo is about 30 years later!

 

 

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Whimsical Nun's Prayer(17th Century)..for grumpy times!

Yesterday I found myself in a grumpy mood, no explanation for it really.  Just felt decidedly grumpy.  Maybe I am on the slippery slope to becoming a grumpy old woman I thought - but it reminded me of a reading that my Mum gave to me and it prompted me to scrabble about amongst my yoga papers to find it.  I'm not sure who originally wrote this piece or even if it was really written in the seventeenth century.  It is just a photocopied sheet that my Mum sometimes reads out in her yoga classes and I have occasionally read in my classes.  I love the whimsical, slightly tongue in cheek tone to it, but it does deliver quite a poignant message.  Needless to say - my grumpy mood lifted, and I resolved never to turn into a grumpy old woman, maybe a slightly batty, eccentric one - but never, ever grumpy!!  Enjoy.......

"Lord, Thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older and will some day be old.  Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.  Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs.  Make me thoughtful, but not moody: helpful but not bossy.  With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but Thou knowest Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details, give me wings to get to the point.  Seal my lips on my aches and pains, they are increasing and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.  I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of other's pains but help me to endure them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cock-surety when my memory seems to clash with others.  Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may have been mistaken!

Keep me reasonably sweet.  I do not want to be a saint - some of them are so hard to live with.....but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil.  Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people and give me O'Lord the grace to tell them so!
Amen"

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Lion’s Breath – A Yogic Breathing Exercise for Adults and Kids

Children naturally love doing yoga, they may not call it yoga, they may never have heard of yoga, but just observe them when they are playing.  Often sitting in hero’s pose – rolling over into plough pose, handstands and headstands – it is in their nature to move around and stretch and do yoga.  It is great to harness this natural ability from a young age and to encourage and stimulate your child’s imagination.  You can take them to classes or even buy a simple children’s yoga book.  Most of the postures take their names from animals anyway so this really appeals to children.

We can even encourage children to get involved in breathing exercises – a simple game of pretending to blow up a balloon – or to breathe on their hands and see if they can make the breath hot or cold, whatever they find fun.  What most children really love to do is lion’s breath, unlike some adults who can sometimes feel self-conscious, silly or just plain embarrassed.  It is useful for adults to try to forget their ego and just have a go – it is really worth it for all the benefits it brings.

The benefits of this technique are wonderful – the Sanskrit name for this technique is Simhasana or sometimes Simhagarjanasana which means ‘roaring lion’. 

Instructions for doing Lion’s breath:

1.     Relax the whole body.

2.    Inhale through the nose with the mouth closed,

3.    At the end of the inhalation open the mouth and extend the tongue out as far as possible to the chin and slowly exhale producing a steady ‘aaaaa’ sound keeping the throat wide.  There should be no strain or force.

4.    Repeat for several rounds.

You don’t need such specific instructions for children – just get them to copy you.  It can also be incorporated into a game or a story. 

The benefits of this breathing exercise (for both adults and children) are as follows:

1.     Great for the health of the throat, nose, ears and mouth especially if done facing the healing rays of the early morning sun.  It helps to increase blood flow to the throat area so can provide instant relief for sore throats.

2.    Helps to release emotional tension and relieves frustration – this can be an invaluable tool for children with hot tempers.

3.    Tension is removed from the chest and diaphragm.

4.    Wonderful for people who stutter or who are introverted and nervous.

5.    Helps to develop a strong, clear voice.

6.    Balances energy in the throat chakra – which can help with issues of communication and expression.

For adult practitioners of yoga this is traditionally done in a kneeling position with knees apart and leaning forward with palms on the floor with fingers pointing towards the body, the arms are straightened and the back arched.  When doing this with kids it can be done in a simple kneeling position or even standing, with children’s yoga the emphasis needs to be on fun and enjoyment without worries about traditional practice or specific alignment of the body.  As long as the child is safe and happy then that is the priority!

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Kitchari Recipe - to get you through the Winter!

We all feel a bit lacking in energy during the Winter months and if you are like me then you might feel attracted to comfort food.  But instead of reaching for some buttery mashed potato butties (completely carbtastic but can make you feel a bit sluggish for the rest of the day) why not have a go at Kitchari.  This is my new signature dish - makes the house fragrant and wonderful.

As a bonus you can actually help soothe and cleanse the digestive tract with this combo of ingredients, it is an Ayurvedic recipe and if juice cleanses are not your thing (and they are not mine - done too many extreme diets in this lifetime!) this can be a really great way to boost energy levels and feelings of well-being without feeling deprived.  You can eat this for breakfast, lunch or dinner - or all three if you really like it. 

Recipes vary wildly - so here is mine which I have modified from several recipes I found online (as usual I have trouble following recipes exactly!)

Kitchari

2 tablespoons of coconut oil (the original recipe said ghee but coconut oil has so many health benefits and gives a lovely background flavour)
Half a cup of split yellow peas (soak these for a few hours or overnight)
One cup of brown basmati rice (the Tilda one is very good - worth paying a bit more for the rice as good quality rice makes a really great Kitchari)
4-6 cups of water - depending on how moist you want it to be
6-7 cups of mixed veg (I love cauliflower, broccoli, green beans)
2 inch piece of ginger - minced
1 Tablespoon turmeric
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon mustard seeds
Half teaspoon of ground coriander
Half teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
Half a teaspoon cinnamon
1 Tablespoon of Himalayan salt or sea salt

1. Heat the coconut oil in a large pan
2. Add the mustard seeds until they start to pop, then add the ginger and spices but not the salt at this point.
3. Add the rice and the yellow peas.
4. Slowly start to add the water.
5. Add the veg and bring to boil.
6. Cover and let simmer for 45 minutes - keep an eye on it and add more water if it looks like its becoming dry.
7.  Add the salt at the very end - I know it seems like a lot of salt but this recipe makes many portions.

This is a great recipe and you can change the proportions of spices and add other things like lentils or mung beans (this is very traditional but I couldn't get hold of mung beans in the town where I live!)
Just make it to your taste - some roasted sweet potato and a large spoonful of coconut milk makes it a more indulgent, rich dish but still healthy.  Try it - I am sure you will love it!

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The Workshop and the Recipe!

In that lull between Christmas and New Year I ran a detox and revive yoga workshop, there was such a fantastic turn out and I think a bit of time out to recharge the batteries was just what everyone needed.  It was a lovely sunny morning and I could sense the positivity in the room.

I am sure everyone enjoyed the yoga and I hope everyone appreciated an introduction to some things we don't cover in class, as well as some of the usual pranayama and asana practice.  What was really overwhelming was the response to the time we spent after class having tea and fruit and some of my seeded bites (recipe below) It was a lovely gathering of like minded individuals, there was such a strong community feel about the whole occasion.  Many people have asked for the recipe, so here goes....

It is loosely based on a recipe from one of the River Cottage Handbooks but of course I always have a compulsion to change any recipe I attempt!!

125g butter (coconut oil is a great substitute for those wanting dairy free)
70g soft brown sugar
100g honey
150ml of any fresh fruit juice - think orange for sweetness or maybe cranberry for a sharper taste
Zest of an orange
200g porridge oats
125g mix of seeds (I used flax seed, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds)
150g mixed dried fruit (tailor this to your own taste - I love sour cherries and cranberries)

Preheat the oven to 180degrees/gas 4.  Put the butter/oil, honey, fruit juice and orange zest in a large saucepan over a low heat and stir time to time until the everything has melted together.
Remove from the heat, add the oats, fruit and seeds and stir well.
Transfer the mixture to a greased and lined baking tin (18x25cm or what ever you have) Press down lightly.  Bake for 25-30 minutes.
This bit is really important - LET IT COOL BEFORE YOU SLICE AND REMOVE FROM TIN AS IT IS VERY CRUMBLY!!
These will keep in an airtight tin for up to 10 days but there is no way they will last that long as everyone will devour them!!

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What The Class Members say.......Part 6

1. How long have you been practicing yoga?

Most recently for 3 years.  I had previously practiced yoga for a period of 5 years.

2.       What do you feel you get out of your yoga practice? 

I learn the art of relaxation so in times of stress or anxiety I can call upon the techniques.  I also learn to control my breathing which helps me to maintain the postures.  I enjoy the small improvements I have made particularly in posture and suppleness.
 

3.       How do you feel your life has changed since you have been doing a regular yoga practice?

A sense of wellbeing because I am aware of my improving ability to relax and keep supple.
 

4.       What is your favourite posture and why?
 

My favourite posture is warrior as I feel strong, grounded and well stretched.  My second favourite is sphinx which is a great back stretch.
 

5.       What would you say to someone who is thinking about attending yoga for the first time and a little afraid to take that first step?

Come along and try it.  Everyone works to their own level.  There is no competition to reach a particular standard.  There are lots of variations of postures for varying abilities.  You will find you are better at some postures than others.  Give it a good few weeks or months before you decide if it is for you as each week is different.

 

Questions kindly answered by another one of our regular class attendees who hardly ever misses a session!  Thanks to Katy Wride x

 

 

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