by Flow, January 31st, 2012

I’m not in denial about being a deeply analytical person. I come from a background of philosophy and the hard sciences, so over time I’ve been trained to ask for the “why’s” and seek concrete answers.  Like many people, I started practicing yoga asana because it made my body feel good.  But then, over time, I noticed that yoga classes made me feel good in OTHER ways—but I couldn’t clearly identify “why” or even “how.”  So, being true to my inquisitive character, I decided to jump into yoga teacher training, to explore those questions further.  I hoped that by getting a grip on these questions, I would be able to share my experience with others, and also serve as a more informed advocate of the practice in my community.

I came into the first weekend feeling a little like the outcast…you know, the “sciencey” person, who was seen as giving primacy to thoughts over feelings.  I wasn’t sure how I would fit in, or how I would merge my analytical tendencies with the art of yoga.  But my experience wasn’t anything like that—yes, I had to swallow my dissatisfaction at not having questions like “why are we here?” or “what is our purpose” answered in concrete terms when we discussed the Yoga Sutras (which, by the way, was so refreshing).  But you know what, finding the answer to those questions wasn’t what I came to training for.

I came to teacher training to learn about teaching yoga asana.  And I got precisely that, in a way that fed my analytical tendencies.  My teachers had a well-rounded understanding of yoga asana and sequencing. There was always some type of logic behind a sequence. I also loved that my teachers did not see a yoga class as limited to just the sequence.  Part of the answer to why yoga made me feel good, I learned, is that there is a strong psychosomatic component to yoga asana; and needless to say, I really enjoyed learning about ways to add to student experience, beyond asana.

So that fear that I came into training with—that I would be an outcast—ended up easing away as the training progressed.  I found that when I opened my horizons to topics that were important to my teachers (but often foreign to me), they opened themselves to mine—and we were able to arrive at intersecting grounds.  This was the component of the training that made it personally meaningful to me, because it gave me space to develop a voice, as a teacher, that was sincere and unique to me.  And my appetite for asking questions?  It was satiated and made more hungry at the same time.  Sure, I got answers to a lot of the questions I entered training with, but I also developed a whole new set of questions that are sure to keep me moving along this beautiful journey called yoga.

Namaste.

Yasmin Pourkazemi

Categories Reflections
by Flow, January 25th, 2012

It’s National Oatmeal Month so we thought we’d share our favorite recipe!

No matter what form it takes, oats are a superfood whose health-promoting powers are truly impressive. Plus they’re delicious and great fuel for your morning yoga practice.

Megan asked her dad, Vince Griffith, to share his famous, no-fat-added granola recipe with the Flow Yoga community. Many a morning, the entire Griffith family has been welcomed into the kitchen by this incredibly satisfying and healthy treat.  Take it away, Mr. G!

I wanted my granola to be enjoyed, but did not want excessive oil, salt or sugar. This is the one that many people have enjoyed, and it could be added to in so many ways. I use Costco products as they are of the highest quality and very cost effective.

4  cups of old fashioned oats…..NOT INSTANT!

1  tsp cinnamon

zest of an orange… this really is best, but orange extract can be a substitute

1 cup of pecans chopped, not minced

5 or 6 oz honey

1 tsp vanilla

Thence: In a bowl

add oats

add cinnamon, and stir

add zest, and stir

Add pecans…the reason I delay this is to distribute the cinnamon and zest and not have them collect in the crevices of the pecans

At this point I have the honey and vanilla in a pyrex 2-cup, and use a whisk to mix them. Add the honey mix to the oats, and spend a bit of time mixing them so that they are incorporated. I use the spoonula Rubbermaid makes. It will be a glutinous mix. Spoon it into a 10×14 pan with sides, as you will stir it/flip it in a while.

I have settled on a 250-degree oven, and checking after 30 minutes. When checking you are looking to see whether it is overcooking on the edges. If it is, then use a spatula and move the edges towards the center and continue cooking until everything is approximately the same color. You want it to be golden or darker, but not burnt. 40 to 45 minutes seems a suitable cooking time to most of us.

I have tried substituting maple syrup for some of the honey, and it has a demonstrable effect, in that it doubles the price, but not the flavor! But you could try it. I’ll often double this recipe because it keeps and takes so long to make.

After you try it out, all of the amounts may be changed, but reducing the honey would be a mistake as it adds the perfect amount of flavor. (Once you add fruit, you would not want it sweeter.)  We put different additions out and let people add what appeals to them. We highly recommend Costco’s dried cherries. This great granola recipe can be eaten as is, or with yogurt, or milk but hurry, hurry, hurry, as crisp is best.

 

Categories Yoga Diet & Nutrition
by Flow, January 15th, 2012

Written by Lisa Lermitte

Along with the holidays come cold and flu season, and as we all know in Northern VA, something is always going around.  We all know to wash hands frequently, but here are some other natural tips that will build up the immune system to be more resilient to the virus, and work to prevent colds or flu.

  1. Relax -  Stress is our reaction to any life event and if not addressed, throws our bodies out of balance and into a state of dis-ease – not only physically but emotionally and spiritually. Stress also reduces the immune system’s effectiveness. So breathe, take a yoga class and really enjoy your savasana, or find just 10 minutes a day to sit quietly and meditate.
  2. Open your Heart – poses that open your heart, such as Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) and Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose) stimulate blood flow to the thymus, an organ nestled behind the breastbone that is instrumental in the growth of T-cells, the immune system’s frontline. According to Hema Sundaram, an integrative physician in Washington, D.C.  practice these asanas once daily for prevention, and twice daily if you feel a cold or flu creeping on.
  3. Neti Pot – Cold viruses can enter through the nose’s mucous membranes. Using a neti pot is a natural and easy way to flush excess mucus and other airborne allergens such as pollen or dust from the nasal cavity.  It is actually very easy to use.  I have found that the proper angle of your head tilt and warm water are the key. It can also help to clear a congested nose.  In Ayurveda, this is a daily morning routine to help keep one balanced.
  4. Eat healthy -  Eating healthy is one important step to take any time of the year. We are what we eat and eating healthier will lead to a healthier body and stronger immune system. Skip the junk foods and reduce sugar consumption. As little as 1 teaspoon of sugar (from any source) can suppress the immune system for up to 4 hours. Reduce your meat consumption, your body has to work harder to digest meats. Vegetables and fruits are nutritional powerhouses, and with citrus coming into season in the winter, eating lots of oranges is a cheap way to support your immune system and boost your vitamin C.  Both garlic and onion have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties which will help fight infection and strengthen the immune system.
  5. Skin Brushing – Our skin is our barrier to the outside world and skin brushing is a great way to cleanse and promote a healthy lymphatic system, vital for our immune system and general well-being. It has numerous benefits such as helping with detoxification, removing dead skin (exfoliation) to open the pores, stimulating circulation, cleaning the lymph system and increasing cell renewal. You can use a natural bristle brush or the finer side of a pumice stone (not as rough) which is what I use in the shower since it has to be wet. Simply use long strokes towards the heart. It feels like a massage for your skin and is better than any exfoliator!
  6. Water – Of course! Water is on just about any health tip list because it is vital for the proper functioning of all our body systems . Stay hydrated with filtered water, herbal teas are also a good addition.

 

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2012.

Namaste,

Lisa

Categories Yoga Diet & Nutrition
by admin, January 7th, 2012

The first time I heard the name Andrey Lappa, I was studying with Shiva Rea and we were learning the “Andrey Lappa shoulder opener”. Belly down with arms spread out to the sides, palms down, then rolling over to one side creating an amazing opening in the shoulder. As an athlete and a kayaker, it was a delicious release for a chronically tight muscle group. The gravity and weight of my body doing the work allowed my muscles to relax and the opening to deepen. I wondered who this mysterious yoga master was as I heard his name again over the last couple years. Imagine my excitement when I heard Andrey Lappa would be coming to teach at Flow. Our little studio? In our little town of Leesburg, Virginia? Wow.

I knew at once that I would take a much needed vacation from a stressful 9 to 5 job to dedicate some time to myself and my practice.
I must say I had some yogi jitters as the training approached. Too many hours at work, not enough time in the studio. Am I even going to be able to make it through 6 days of asana practice? Stop. Breathe. Relax. It will be alright. And it was. Actually it was more than alright, it was fabulous.
The lecture portion of the Universal Yoga training was fascinating and informative, punctuated with historical context and amazing stories of Tibetan monks, B.K.S. Iyengar, and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. I found myself hanging on every word, enthralled . . . . . and laughing. Andrey Lappa is a veritable encyclopedia of yoga knowledge, an organized and methodical teacher, with a great sense of humor.

Having studied yoga extensively over the last 5 years, I thought I had a relatively in-depth understanding of some of the more prominent limbs of yoga, like pranayama for example. But I was truly delighted at the level to which my understanding was increased through Andrey Lappa’s lectures. Aside from discussing pranayama in detail, we practiced some basic exercises, compared the different pranayamas, and examined the patterns of breath and their effects on both body and mind. Andrey Lappa’s approach to teaching yoga removes the mysticism and focuses on the science, the “why” and the “how” that truly allows us to understand the underlying methods and goals of the entire system of yoga.

After feeding the intellect in the mornings, the afternoons were for nourishing the body. For me, a not-so-flexible yogi, with a host of old injuries, I was amazed at my body’s response to the Universal Yoga asana practice. There was no soreness, no fatigue, only release. The practice was accessible even with my stiffness and as the days went by I noticed my body opening like the gentle bloom of the lotus. On the last day, I reached a depth in paschimottanasana (seated forward fold) that I didn’t even think possible.

This is the beauty of Universal Yoga. Andrey Lappa has distilled his vast knowledge of yoga into a scientific system, focusing on asanas which maximize opening and joint mobility. Of course, that is only the beginning. Universal Yoga is so much more than asana. It is the pathway to unification of balance, control, and creativity, across all layers of our being.

Andrey Lappa returns for another 6 days on Friday and I feel a frenzy of excitement and anticipation. Stop. Breathe. Relax. Enjoy.
Om Shanti,
Erica

Categories Events, Reflections
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