Kids writing wish lists to Santa, adults writing new-year’s resolutions. Decorations adorn houses, and celebrations are in full swing. Thank you to all our students and teachers for your ongoing support. Your progressive insights through yoga inspire us. It’s been an honor to be part of your lives. We look forward to sharing yoga with you again in 2015.
Contents:
Christmas Holiday Class Times
Video of the Month – Sculpting Human Kind part 1
Article of the Month – Food For Thought over Christmas
Question of the Month – When making food choices should I listen to my body?
Patanjali Yoga Sutra of the month
Quote of the Month
Tuscany & Bali Retreats 2015
Previous newsletters
Christmas Holiday Class Times
There will be a class at 9:30am every day (except public holidays) from the 24th December to the 4th January. Classes as per the regular timetable will resume on Monday 5th January.
We look forward to seeing you at the 9:30am classes.
Please Note: No 6am classes till 2015 due to the Summer Yoga Intensive and Holiday timetable.
Yoga YouTube video of the month – Sculpting Human Kind part 1
This year marks the death of BKS Iyengar, but his legacy lives on. I love this comment he makes in the video:
“See that you never put out the light that guides you from the inside. ”
Click here to see this amazing demonstration on YouTube.
Article of the Month – Food For Thought over Christmas
Daniela Casotti
Eat, drink and be merry- the mantra often used over the Christmas season. Interestingly- ayurveda, one of the oldest systems of health, says- any food eaten when happy and relaxed is more nourishing than healthy foods eaten when depressed and tense. But before you run riot, keep in mind the purpose of food. Essentially, eating is to sustain and develop body and mind, compensate for bodily wear and tear, produce energy and agility, and increase resistance against disease.
The yogic diet is based on ayurveda. It stipulates that food choices are essential for the health of body, mind, emotions, and soul. Known as the science of life, ayerveda looks at the bigger picture. It doesn’t just look at the ingredients of the food that go into our body- it looks at the ingredients that makeup our body.
Space, air, fire, water and earth are the cosmic ‘ingredients’ that go into the creation process. Combinations and permeations of these ingredients give rise to Infinite possibilities. Ayerveda streamlines these into three categories known as Doshas. They are:
1. Vata, composed of space and air
2. Pita composed of fire and water, and
3. Kapha composed of water and earth
According to ayerveda, we are composed of a unique blend of these three doshas. One body may have 60% vata, 35% Pita and 25% kapha, another body may have 70% percent kapha, 15% vata, 15% pitta etc. Doshas form patterns of energy that mature into distinctive structural, emotional, and mental characteristics. One thing we all have in common, though, is that we all have one dominant dosha. Choosing foods that support that dosha gives you the key to good health.
With over 5000 years of research under its belt, ayerveda provides a detailed list of foods that can either benefit your doshas, or harm them. It explains why some people are effected by a certain food (even if it’s supposed to be ‘healthy’), while others can happily eat it. The more you understand about your doshas, not just the dominant one, the more informed choices you can make about your health.
Summary of How Foods effect the Different Doshas
Vata
Warm cooked foods, soups, stews and casseroles that contain a fresh supply of oil, butter or ghee are most beneficial. Astringent foods and raw vegies are detrimental. Avoid nightshade. Dairy products, and fresh meats are suitable. Legumes should be consumed in limited quantities- making sure they are well cooked and oily. Eat three or four meals a day. Spices are ok in limited quantities. Nuts and seeds are suitable. Coffee, tobacco and sugar should be avoided. Vata people are creative and imaginative, but if imbalanced they may experience fear and anxiety.
Pita
Vegetarianism is best for pitta people. Meat, salty foods and dairy products can create imbalances. Sweet, cooling and bitter foods are advantageous. Lots of Salads and raw vegies are valuable, as well as barley, rice, oats and wheat. With the exception of coconut, olives, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, nuts and seeds should be avoided. Spicy foods are detrimental, as is coffee, alcohol and tobacco. Pitta people are intelligent and insightful. If imbalanced, they can experience anger and jealousy.
Kapha
Limited eating, and foods that invigorate the mind are most beneficial. Dairy products and fatty foods are harmful. Buckwheat, millet, corn, barley and rice are suitable. Vegetables, especially leafy greens, are vital. Steer away from meat. Protein is best gained from legumes and small amounts of nuts. Spices are ok, especially ginger. Avoid sweeteners. Kapha people have good memories and are generous, but if imbalanced can experience depression and attachment.
Alternative Ways to Add Nutrition to Food
• Eat only when hungry.
• Don’t eat when you feel emotionally unstable.
• Cook with love.
• Give thanks to the source of the food, and the people who prepared it.
• To curb self-indulgence, offer food to another living being before eating, be it a person, plant or animal.
• For better digestion, ensure the right nostril is functioning.
• Limit distractions.
• Chew food well before swallowing. The saliva produced helps digestion.
• Beware of restaurants. They need to make a profit. Quality of ingredients may be compromised.
Question of the Month – When making food choices should I listen to my body?
Daniela Casotti
There’s a lot of evidence that proves the body will tell you what it needs. However, if it’s telling you it needs lots of chocolate cake and coffee, it may be worthwhile questioning it.
According to yoga and ayurveda, you should listen to your body. The problem, however, lies in how you interpret it. To understand what it’s saying, you need to learn its language. The doshas – vata, pita and kapha – can be seen as the different languages of the body. Study your dominant dosha- the type of food it thrives on, the way different foods affect it, and the environment that best suits it.
Then you need to understand the Prakruti / Vikruti paradigm. Prakruti refers to the doshas you were born with in their original state. Vikruti refers to the current state of your doshas affected by life, age, environment, diet, relationships, trauma, etc. Balance relates to Prakruti, imbalance relates to Vikruti.
When the body is trying to restore its balance, it will send you messages of what it needs, which may be in the form of cravings. However, because the mind and emotions are also effected by the imbalances, it’s easy to convince yourself that you need a food, when in reality you just like the food- the comfort, taste, or quick high it gives you.
If you find your body constantly telling you to have more and more of a particular food, ask yourself: What is my current diet? What effects are my relationships having on me? How am I being influenced by my environment? What emotions are predominant? From there you can decide whether the craving is legitimate, or whether your mind is playing tricks on you.
Always go back to the drawing board- Prakruti- the dominant dosha you were born with in its original state. It will tell you what it needs to restore its balance. Sometimes, if you can’t work it out, it’s useful to go and see a well-trained ayurvedic practitioner. But do your homework first!
Patanjali Yoga Sutra of the month
The yama ‘apaigraha’- non-grasping- is worth reflecting on. Freedom from wanting more and more is a hard sell at this time of year. Consider, though, what brings freedom, grasping or not grasping?.
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Chapter 2 Verse 39
aparigrahasthairye janmakathant?sambodha?||39||
“• Knowledge of past and future lives unfolds when one is free from greed for possessions.”
BKS Iyengar. Light on the yoga sutras of Patanjali Pg 144.
Quote of the month
“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more! ”
Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
2015 Tuscany and Bali Yoga Retreats
Our retreat early-bird prices expire at the end of the month! Bali and Tuscany Retreats are both happening in June 2015. So if you’re thinking about coming on either of these retreats, let us know so we can save you a space. Click on the pictures below for details.
Daniela and Maurice
Yoga Room Burleigh Heads
www.yogaroom.com.au
info@yogaroom.com.au
+61 438 837 244