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Musings: authenticity

In an earlier post, I referred to the yogic process of character building using the yamas and niyamas. I find myself thinking again and again about this matter.

If you want to be authentic, lead an authentic life.
When no one else is looking is the time to do right
I want to be more like the ocean
No talking and all action.

I wrote those lines some ten years ago.  Well, the last two are from the Jane’s Addiction song “Ocean Song”.  I have been contemplating this issue for a long time, it seems.  Perhaps this is because I am a person who has struggled to harmonize my inner and outer lives. I think that we all have difficulty, from time to time, being who we really are, all of the time.  Actually, our society often frowns upon honesty.  Artifice is the order of the day, as is syncophancy.  Although we also swing wildly to the other side, with the trend of unhinged cyber-bullying seeing billious backhanders being left all over blogland.
I think that authenticity is saying what you mean, honestly, but not hurtfully.  Treading the middle path between necessary truth and painful reality.  Not mincing words, but never lying either.  I always enjoy Rob Breszny’s Horoscopes, and this week’s was no exception:

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): *Sant* is a Hindi word that comes from a
Sanskrit verb meaning “to be good” and “to be real.” Personally, I know a
lot of people who are either real or good. But few are both. The good
ones tend to be overly polite, and the real ones don’t put a high priority
on being nice. So here’s your assignment, Gemini: to be good and real; to
have compassionate intentions even as you conduct yourself with a high
degree of authenticity; to bestow blessings everywhere you go while at
the same time being honest and clear and deep. According to my reading
of the astrological omens, you have the power to pull off this strenuous
feat.

To be good and real.  To be good AND real.  To be GOOD and REAL.  Challenging, eh?  I trend towards real and not very nice.  My critical mind and built-in idealism keep me constantly disappointed.  ha!  There, I said it. I like to think that I keep standards up – I certainly keep people on their toes, as all critical people do.  But, sometimes it’s not very comfortable to be constantly on one’s toes!  But, my critical mind interjects, comfort zones are dangerous places!  We need to work our boundaries in order to grow.  Yes, replies my tolerant, nice mind, but not everyone wants to grow.  But!  interjects critical mind again, they’re just lazy then!  ARRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHH!  You see, the internal dialogue continues.
I believe that I should just follow another one of my Rachelistic proverbs “Stop judging, start loving.”  But, perhaps it is better to amend that and say “Judge lovingly, critique gently. “
Authenticity and honesty don’t need to preclude kindness.  In fact, the message is much more likely to be heard when delivered with soft words that don’t wound.  Maybe it’s pride and hurry that makes it come out harshly.  Maybe it’s my own emotional attachment to the idea of changing the world.  Change comes slowly and is already in progress.

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Well woman massage

I have spent the past 11 years of my life as a professional massage therapist, and 8 of those dedicating myself to the gentle art of Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD).  MLD is a very gentle and highly specific massage technique that is used in cancer rehabilitation.  Many who opt for allopathic cancer treatments such as radiotherapy and surgery are left with impaired lymphatic drainage in the affected area.  This manifests as swelling known as lymphedema (sometimes lymphoedema).
In massage training, touching of the breast is generally verboten.  In MLD it is an integral part of the treatment, especially in women who have had lumpectomies, mastectomies, radiotherapy, reconstruction (implant or TRAM).  I consider myself an expert in the treatment of breast conditions.
Drawing from my massage training, I have always emphasized the importance of the abdominal massage.  Deep abdominal massage is used in many healing modalities including, but not limited to, Tui-Na, Mayan massage, modern Osteopathy, Ayurvedic massage,  and Swedish massage.  MLD includes very important abdominal work, but the touch is light, as it is in all aspects of the technique.
In hatha yoga, we learn and teach techniques to release the diaphragm muscle, deepen the breath and connect with the muscles of the pelvic floor.
I propose to you a Well Woman Massage: 

  • Hatha yoga to stretch the body and deepen the breath, connecting with the perineum and diaphragm.  
  • Deep abdominal massage, back massage (lest we forget that the abdominal obliques and the hip flexors originate in the spine)
  • MLD for abdomen and breast. 

Women have special physical needs not seen in men – hormones and hot flashes and pregnancy and childbirth and breastfeeding and, and, and…If you feel it’s time to care for yourself the way you’ve always wanted to, please feel free to drop me a line.  Treatments available in Altea, Benidorm and Teulada.  For treatments booked in April 2013, I offer a 5% discount on the normal price of €60.  This is a two-hour program.

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Oranges – to juice or not to juice

Oranges have always posed a juicing problem for me.  I don’t find that they mix very well with greens – not as well as apple or pear, that’s for sure.  I find even the sweetest oranges probably prefer to be on their own, or mixed with carrot, lemon or another sweet fruit like mango or peach.  I just don’t get orange and celery or orange and chard.  And my stomach doesn’t, either.
The Macrobiotic diet is staunchly against citrus.  I don’t agree with most of their philosophy, and here there’s no exception.  I mean, what does some Japanese guy know about a Valencia orange, in season and in it’s own land?  Nuthin.
Ayurvedic diets include seasonal fruits and orange is no exception.  Again, seasonal is the key here.
I read once about a high-profile raw foodist who decided to de-bulk his muscular body and used an orange mono-diet to do so, with no ill effects.  He lives in Southern California, though, so again we see “seasonal” and “local” pop up.
As a kid in Canada, I remember those wooden boxes of Christmas clementines with great fondness.  My mum told me that, in Yorkshire after the War, children would be given a single orange in their Christmas stocking.  And perhaps a banana.  How times have changed, eh?
So, to juice or not to juice oranges?  My conclusion is that OJ is best drunk solo and on an empty stomach.  If you want green juice, avoid sweet fruits anyway, all but a little apple or pomegranate or pear.

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Se llama voluntad, cariño

El otro día, tuve un discurso interesante con una clienta mía. Es ua persona que conlleva tantos enfermedades crónicas que casi ya no se distingue la persona de su traje de síntomas.
La hablaba del hecho que las síntomas son nada más ni menos que los mensajes del cuerpo.  Sus dolores y debilidades son gritos de ayuda.  ¿Escuchamos los gritos, o los ignoramos? La elección clave es si la mente decide oír el cuerpo, ó no.
Me dijó, ¿pero como se puede hacer eso?
Mi respuesta:  Se llama voluntad, cariño.  La voluntad es lo que nos permite seguir el buen camino sin desviarnos hacía vicio y la pereza.  Aplicando la voluntad, permitimos que pasan los cambios fisiológicos necesarios para limpiar el organismo.  Es decir, “si me puedo quedar seis días sin comer tarta, ó comiendo una gran ensalada al mediodía o tomando té verde en vez de café, mi cuerpo tiene posibilidad de desintoxificarse.”  Queremos llegar a un punto donde el cuerpo está realmente limpio y fuerte.
El mundo moderno del consumismo está construido para quitarnos la voluntad.  La tentación está de todos lados.  Los anuncios son tentaciones puras y duras.  Requiere mucha voluntad resister la llamada del mundo del consumismo.  Me refiero en particular aqui al consumo excesivo de comida basura.  El problema es que nosotros no tenemos la voluntad para resistir los gran arcos dorados del peligroso payaso vendiendonos sus venenos.
Os digo, entonces, aplicad vuestras voluntades hacia la salud, la plenitud y la felicidad. Pregunta  constantamente -¿eso de verdad me hace bien?  Tampoco seais egoistas.  Se puede aprender a gozar tanto en la felicidad de los demás como en nuestra própria felicidad.
Elecciones sanos nos conllevan a otras más elecciones sanas.  Buenas decisiones traen otras buenas decisiones y además, buen auto-estima.  Cuando valoramos a nosotros mismos, somos más capaces de regalarnos los mejores auto- cuidados y mimos.
Se llama voluntad, cariño.  Pruebalo.
Os deseo la mejor salud.

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The Healing Crisis.

A fundamental tenet of Naturopathic Cure is the healing crisis.

The philosophy of naturopathy asserts that all symptoms of dis-ease are the body’s sincere efforts to rid itself of substances that offend it.  These substances may be foreign (dust, chemicals residues, micro-organisms) or come from the body itself, thus endogenous (organic acids, hormone residue).  When the body is strong enough to rid itself of the noxious substance, it mounts a defence and sends it out via the nearest elimination route. The routes of elimination are urine, feces, sweat, skin shedding, hair shedding, and pus/mucus.

What provokes a healing crisis?

Naturopathy aims to avoid healing crises.  But, sometimes they are unavoidable.  Some people have a high tendency to mount strong healing crises.  With these people, we have to be careful that their therapy is gentle, keeping them as comfortable as possible.  Other bodies need a good, hard shove, and can tolerate stronger therapeutic regimes.  Magnesium is a strongly detoxing mineral whose administration can cause strong but bearable reactions such as muscle and joint pain, low grade fever, sweating and fatigue.  Don’t worry, this is just your body doing its work!  Vitamin B3 (Niacin) is also strongly detoxing, causing flushing through the skin, redness and heat.
Of course, healing crises can be provoked by other modalities.  A good, strong chiropractic adjustment can certainly throw things off for a few days as the body adjust to its new position and the eyes and ears rebalance.  A deep massage can also release acids left behind in tired muscles, leaving us achey and stiff for a day or two afterwards.  Again, this is only healing and should not be taken as alarming.
Yoga is a long term ally in the restoration of good health.  But, we do have to set goals and keep our practice current in order to really shift from one state to another.   Lately, I have been working the post Eka Pada Rajakapotâsana .  It is a powerful pose because not only do the hips and pelvis have to be fully opened and rotated, the spine is in full extension with the arms held above the head and grasping one foot behind.
I was able to enter the pose twice last weekend and it felt great.  But, it left my hips rather raw.  Not in a scary way, just in a “I know this is good for me, but…” kind of way.  Well, today my little pelvis could take no more and sent me to bed for rest.  I have had a day of classic healing crisis:  fatigue, aching joints and sore muscles.

What to do about a healing crisis?

I cannot stress enough that you should avoid anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicines if at all possible.  Let your body do its thing and your won’t prolong your suffering, nor send it deeper. All will be well within about 48 hours.  And, of course, don’t ignore symptoms if they become more acute.  Doctors are there for a reason.
Rest, take liquid, don’t worry.  If you have plans, break all but the most essential.  Be honest, people who don’t respect your need to rest and recovery are probably most in need of it themselves and will thank you for being brave enough to set the example.  I am not saying “shirk off” by any means.  I am a very reliable person who is not afraid to admit it when I need some downtime.
I wish you the very best health.
 
 

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Yoga and the Fire

One of books I constantly refer to is “Yoga and the Sacred Fire” by Pandit Dr. David Frawley.  Frawley is an American Vedic scholar and a very worthy writer.  I bought the book in India – Pondicherry or Mysore, perhaps? – and posted it home.  It is a crappy Indian binding, but the information contained within is the only thing of importance.
Frawley discusses in depth the role of Agni (fire) in the practice of yoga.  Fire is central to many parts of yogic/ayurvedic thought.  First of all, it is one of the main five Elements (Bhutas) of which the entire universe is formed.  Secondly, it is one the three main doshas, or characteristics, in the classification of body types.  Fire is the transformative element, that which allows creativity to manifest, food to digest, minds to change and the old to give way the the new.  Too much fire burns us up, too little leaves us sluggish.  As ever, the yogic path is the middle path, the joyful and harmonious seeking of balance.
At my seminar this weekend, my teacher commented on my ability to eat and digest salad in early Springtime.  I have a good digestive fire, and my creative fires also burn brightly.  This wasn’t always so.  Like many women, I tend to retain water in the thighs and often used to find myself dragging from one thing to another, making it through the day, yet exhausted.
I have spent the past few years learning about then cultivating my own inner fire.  Part of this process has been the tending of the home fires.  In October last year (2012), as winter began to make itself felt, I began trying to light the fire.  I found it so incredibly difficult to get it going!  I often found myself spending 45 minutes in front of the grate, blowing uselessly on burning twigs.  I even bitched about it on Facebook, and got the expected comments about making a tee-pee and using small stuff at the bottom.  Thanks, I knew that part already.
Nowadays, I’ll have you know, I am a one-match girl.  I can get that fire lit in about five minutes and the house warm in an hour.  I also find myself with much more spirit, a crackling, happy sort of energy, not brittle at all.  Here, I leave you with a short clip of last night’s merry fire.  I hope it brings you warmth and joy.  https://vimeo.com/62053010

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Musings on Meditation

In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the path of yoga is very clearly laid out.  Book 1 talks about the kind of person who undertakes to stay on the path, and the pitfalls that may arise whilst there.  Book 2 talks about the practical part of yoga.  It is here that you will find the first mention of hatha yoga – the postural part that we are now familiar with – and the other 7 branches of Astanga Yoga (there are eight limbs in total).
We start with character-building, as Swami Radha calls it in her brilliant book “Kundalini Yoga for the West”.  These are the yamas and niyamas.  Once this is established, the yogi can then confidently practice asana  (postures) and pranayama, (breathwork) leading to pratyahara, or retraction of the senses. I found the concept of pratyahara difficult to understand before directly experiencing its effects. Your path and my path of yoga are each distinct and unique, so I won’t elaborate too much here.  But, in my case, pratyahara meant a softening of the impact of external influences – loud noises make me jump less, bright lights don’t annoy, strong smells…well strong smells still bug me.  Okay, but you might get the point.
The next limb of Astanga Yoga is dharana, or concentration.  This is not, note, meditation, which is dhyana. Dharana is the ability to focus the mind on a single object for increasingly long periods of time.   Eventually, one become “one” with the object, and enters into samana with it.  This is the beginning of Book 3 of the sutras.  The object can be something external like an icon or candle, or it can be more subtle, like the breath or the heartbeat.
Still, the point I want to make here is that dharana, and eventually dhyana, are the fruits of previous practice.  I was a terribly meditator.  For years I fidgeted on my zafu, wondering where all the mental peace was.  Well, the answer is it’s coming…be patient.  Practice and all is coming, said Sri Pattabhi Jois.   I use the spinal breathing method described in the book “Advanced Yoga Practices”.  (http://www.aypsite.org/)
My advice is:  don’t jump straight into meditation without toning the body and breath first.  Some people can – hey, we’re all different – but many people can’t.  And don’t give up.  Propel yourself forward on wings of faith.  Look up at the sky and realise that the Universe is boundless and you are a speck and rejoice in all the incredible freedom that gives you.  OM.