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This post is about the best yoga and other forms of physical exercise for summer. It’s the seventh installment of our “Yoga and Ayurveda Summer Series.” We’re especially interested in the qualities of pitta dosha, described by Ayurveda as that which is hot, spreading, damp, strong-smelling and sharp. The purpose of our practice should be to bring balance to the body and mind. We do this by avoiding activities that will increase these qualities and doing more of the activities that will diminish these qualities.
Therefore, the summer exercise routine should stress moderation. Exercising outside is great but avoid the hottest parts of the day; dawn and dusk are the best times to exercise outside. Since we get so hot and sweaty this time of year we might not realize we’re not hydrating enough; drink water to ½ your weight in ounces (e.g., 150 lbs = 75 oz or 9.5 cups of water). If you need more hydration because of heavy sweating, turn to electrolyte drinks. Coconut water, cucumber water and CCF tea are natural options. (CCF tea is equal parts Cumin, Coriander and Fennel seeds steeped in hot water for 5-7 minutes. Strain and drink hot, warm or room temperature, never cold. Add honey or maple syrup as natural sweeteners.)
Ayurveda teaches that summer yoga reduces pitta dosha by releasing heat from the small intestine and central abdomen, cooling the blood and liver. Yoga practice should be cooling, relaxing, surrendering and forgiving. Two styles of yoga that are perfect for the summer are restorative yoga and yin yoga. But traditional yoga postures fit in really well too:
• Choose Moon Salutations and save the Sun Salutations for cooler weather.
• All standing hip opening poses will release heat from the hips, e.g., Tree, Half Moon, Warriors, Triangle, Crescent Lunge. Hold them for 3-5 breaths and avoid moving too quickly from one pose to the next.
• All twisting poses, standing, seated and lying down, e.g., Revolved Triangle, Shiva Twist, Half Lord of the Fishes, Sage’s twist, Lying spinal twist. Hold them until you feel the heat rising out of the abdomen.
• All forward bending poses, standing, seated and lying down, e.g., Standing forward bend leaning against the wall, Head to knee pose, Child pose, Wind-relieving pose. Hold them for as long as you like.
• Inversions like headstand, shoulder stand and legs up the wall will stop the heat from rising into the head. This will calm the mind.
• Savasana and other restorative poses for 20 minutes every day.
When we balance effort with rest, we discover that while it’s awesome to work hard, it’s beneficial to make time for quiet and stillness too.
Therefore, the summer exercise routine should stress moderation. Exercising outside is great but avoid the hottest parts of the day; dawn and dusk are the best times to exercise outside. Since we get so hot and sweaty this time of year we might not realize we’re not hydrating enough; drink water to ½ your weight in ounces (e.g., 150 lbs = 75 oz or 9.5 cups of water). If you need more hydration because of heavy sweating, turn to electrolyte drinks. Coconut water, cucumber water and CCF tea are natural options. (CCF tea is equal parts Cumin, Coriander and Fennel seeds steeped in hot water for 5-7 minutes. Strain and drink hot, warm or room temperature, never cold. Add honey or maple syrup as natural sweeteners.)
Ayurveda teaches that summer yoga reduces pitta dosha by releasing heat from the small intestine and central abdomen, cooling the blood and liver. Yoga practice should be cooling, relaxing, surrendering and forgiving. Two styles of yoga that are perfect for the summer are restorative yoga and yin yoga. But traditional yoga postures fit in really well too:
• Choose Moon Salutations and save the Sun Salutations for cooler weather.
• All standing hip opening poses will release heat from the hips, e.g., Tree, Half Moon, Warriors, Triangle, Crescent Lunge. Hold them for 3-5 breaths and avoid moving too quickly from one pose to the next.
• All twisting poses, standing, seated and lying down, e.g., Revolved Triangle, Shiva Twist, Half Lord of the Fishes, Sage’s twist, Lying spinal twist. Hold them until you feel the heat rising out of the abdomen.
• All forward bending poses, standing, seated and lying down, e.g., Standing forward bend leaning against the wall, Head to knee pose, Child pose, Wind-relieving pose. Hold them for as long as you like.
• Inversions like headstand, shoulder stand and legs up the wall will stop the heat from rising into the head. This will calm the mind.
• Savasana and other restorative poses for 20 minutes every day.
When we balance effort with rest, we discover that while it’s awesome to work hard, it’s beneficial to make time for quiet and stillness too.
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It’s a hot summer, there’s no doubt about it! In yoga class and in my writings I’ve been offering yogic guidance for cooling down. My best suggestions have been 1) eat cooling foods, 2) practice shitali pranayama, or cooling breath, and 3) do yoga twists around the mid-section of the body. This is an excellent three-part strategy to cool down.
In my studies this week, however, I learned that while these strategies are helpful, they also tend to heat the body. And this makes sense when you think about—for each of these activities, you have to use effort to do them, kind of like trying to cool your face by using your hand as a fan. This extra effort can diminish the cooling effects.
Here’s my best tip for staying cool this summer: Take time to rest. In yoga class we call this shavasana, corpse pose. Or we can do any of the wonderful restorative yoga postures where we use lots of props to support the body in a restful pose. Resting postures work because they activate the parasympathetic response of the nervous system.
When the parasympathetic system is activated, blood moves away from the surface of the skin toward the internal organs. As a result, the organs are nicely supported and happily begin to gurgle, activating what is also called the “rest and digest” response. At the same time, the hands and feet get chilly, which makes the body cool down quickly.
So on these hot days, do continue to eat cooling foods, practice shitali and twists to release heat from the midsection of the body. But also make time each day for 20 minutes or more of still, dark, quiet rest. Resting really does make you cool—in more ways than one.
In my studies this week, however, I learned that while these strategies are helpful, they also tend to heat the body. And this makes sense when you think about—for each of these activities, you have to use effort to do them, kind of like trying to cool your face by using your hand as a fan. This extra effort can diminish the cooling effects.
Here’s my best tip for staying cool this summer: Take time to rest. In yoga class we call this shavasana, corpse pose. Or we can do any of the wonderful restorative yoga postures where we use lots of props to support the body in a restful pose. Resting postures work because they activate the parasympathetic response of the nervous system.
When the parasympathetic system is activated, blood moves away from the surface of the skin toward the internal organs. As a result, the organs are nicely supported and happily begin to gurgle, activating what is also called the “rest and digest” response. At the same time, the hands and feet get chilly, which makes the body cool down quickly.
So on these hot days, do continue to eat cooling foods, practice shitali and twists to release heat from the midsection of the body. But also make time each day for 20 minutes or more of still, dark, quiet rest. Resting really does make you cool—in more ways than one.
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We’ve reached the fifth installment of our “Yoga and Ayurveda Summer Series.” In this post we look at practical ways to cool down during this extended summer heat.
Remember that in Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine), summer is considered a Pitta dominant season. Pitta is the dosha made up of fire and water and, when the two are combined, we experience the heat and humidity of summer. Too much pitta and it’s said that our pitta is aggravated. Aggravated pitta is known by its symptoms: feeling overheated, profuse sweating, a stinky smell, burning indigestion, loose stools, inflammation such as acne and rashes, sensitive eyes, and hot emotions like frustration and anger.
Ayurveda teaches that in order to return to balance, we should do things that will cool the heat of pitta. Unfortunately, many of the things we typically do in the summer tend to aggravate pitta and make our symptoms worse. Often we sit outside under the hot sun for long periods of time leading to sunburn and bug bites. We eat heavy and greasy foods like barbecued meat which don’t digest well. We drink alcohol which is both overheating and mind altering.
If we want to feel more comfortable and balanced this summer it can be helpful to practice what Ayurveda calls “opposite therapy.” Here are some suggestions:
• Eat foods that are sweet, bitter and astringent. Examples include all sweet fruits, astringent fruits (green banana, cranberries, pomegranate), leafy greens (especially kale, collards, dandelion greens), beets, carrots, eggplant, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, green beans, cucumbers, most beans, almonds, cashews and coconut.
• Add cooling herbs to our foods, such as, coriander, cilantro, fennel, cardamom, basil, mint, dill, nutmeg, saffron, oregano, parsley, rosemary and turmeric.
• Dairy is cooling if you digest it well. Summer is the best time of the year for ice cream!
• Exercise should be moderate, never overheating, so avoid the hottest time of the day. Yoga, swimming and biking are excellent choices.
• Be aware of the things that tend to stress you out and make a plan to take breaks as needed. Bring calming influences into your environment, such as a companion animal, a peaceful walk in nature, the scent of fresh flowers or diffused essential oils, and cooling colors of light blue and green.
With just a few tweaks to your routine, you can be happy and healthy inside, no matter how hot it gets outside.
Remember that in Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine), summer is considered a Pitta dominant season. Pitta is the dosha made up of fire and water and, when the two are combined, we experience the heat and humidity of summer. Too much pitta and it’s said that our pitta is aggravated. Aggravated pitta is known by its symptoms: feeling overheated, profuse sweating, a stinky smell, burning indigestion, loose stools, inflammation such as acne and rashes, sensitive eyes, and hot emotions like frustration and anger.
Ayurveda teaches that in order to return to balance, we should do things that will cool the heat of pitta. Unfortunately, many of the things we typically do in the summer tend to aggravate pitta and make our symptoms worse. Often we sit outside under the hot sun for long periods of time leading to sunburn and bug bites. We eat heavy and greasy foods like barbecued meat which don’t digest well. We drink alcohol which is both overheating and mind altering.
If we want to feel more comfortable and balanced this summer it can be helpful to practice what Ayurveda calls “opposite therapy.” Here are some suggestions:
• Eat foods that are sweet, bitter and astringent. Examples include all sweet fruits, astringent fruits (green banana, cranberries, pomegranate), leafy greens (especially kale, collards, dandelion greens), beets, carrots, eggplant, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, green beans, cucumbers, most beans, almonds, cashews and coconut.
• Add cooling herbs to our foods, such as, coriander, cilantro, fennel, cardamom, basil, mint, dill, nutmeg, saffron, oregano, parsley, rosemary and turmeric.
• Dairy is cooling if you digest it well. Summer is the best time of the year for ice cream!
• Exercise should be moderate, never overheating, so avoid the hottest time of the day. Yoga, swimming and biking are excellent choices.
• Be aware of the things that tend to stress you out and make a plan to take breaks as needed. Bring calming influences into your environment, such as a companion animal, a peaceful walk in nature, the scent of fresh flowers or diffused essential oils, and cooling colors of light blue and green.
With just a few tweaks to your routine, you can be happy and healthy inside, no matter how hot it gets outside.
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What does the liver have to do with the eyes?, you may ask. Well, these are two of the hot organs in the body, so they are greatly affected by hot weather this time of year. As part of our “Yoga and Ayurveda Summer Series,” the fourth installment so far, we’re enquiring into the nature of these hot organs.
Ayurveda classifies the hot season as Pitta dominant with qualities hot, wet, sharp, mobile, oily and smelly. This same heat and humidity exists inside of our body too, primarily in the digestive organs and body temperature, as well as our ability to think and comprehend. When we get overly hot in the summer we can have challenging symptoms like sunburns, rashes, bug bites, acid indigestion, diarrhea, frustration and anger.
Certain organs of the body are especially susceptible to the fluctuations of pitta dosha, such as the liver and the eyes.
The liver is situated on the right side of the body just under the diaphragm. In the Yoga tradition the liver is the physical and energetic location of anger in the body. Here are a couple of ways to take care of your liver this summer:
1) Drink a cup of water—warm or room temperature—with the juice of ¼ - ½ fresh lemon juice first thing in the morning. Yes, before you drink anything else. This special drink jump starts the whole digestive tract preparing it for a day of healthy eating and assimilation of nutrients. And the lemon is especially helpful for detoxifying the liver.
2) Practice twisting poses standing, sitting or lying down. In a twist we take our upper body and lower body in opposite directions, turning from the navel. All of the digestive organs are affected, but we can really address the liver by twisting the upper body to the right side.
The eyes are also a pitta dominant organ. When we have a pitta-oriented disease, the eyes often show it first through inflammation, dryness or weariness. The hot summer sun can be especially hard on the eyes. Here are a couple of ways to take care of your eyes this summer:
1) Refresh the eyes with rosewater. Look for organic, edible rosewater, the type that is used for cooking. Saturate two cotton rounds with the rosewater and place one round over each eye. Lie down and rest for 10-15 minutes. It’s better than eye drops!
2) Look at the sun early in the morning. This is the only time of the day when the sun emits red rays. Significant research has been done on how our body utilizes the red rays of the early morning sun. Not only do these rays have a healing effect on the body, but they also reset our circadian rhythm making it possible for us to sleep better at night. Gazing at the sun is only safe right after sunrise. Never look at the sun as it gets higher in the sky as this can severely injure the eyes. Instead, wear a pair of sunglasses with 100% UV-A and UV-B protection.
If you like, join me tomorrow morning, drinking some lemon water and gazing at the rising sun. Your liver and your eyes with thank you.
Ayurveda classifies the hot season as Pitta dominant with qualities hot, wet, sharp, mobile, oily and smelly. This same heat and humidity exists inside of our body too, primarily in the digestive organs and body temperature, as well as our ability to think and comprehend. When we get overly hot in the summer we can have challenging symptoms like sunburns, rashes, bug bites, acid indigestion, diarrhea, frustration and anger.
Certain organs of the body are especially susceptible to the fluctuations of pitta dosha, such as the liver and the eyes.
The liver is situated on the right side of the body just under the diaphragm. In the Yoga tradition the liver is the physical and energetic location of anger in the body. Here are a couple of ways to take care of your liver this summer:
1) Drink a cup of water—warm or room temperature—with the juice of ¼ - ½ fresh lemon juice first thing in the morning. Yes, before you drink anything else. This special drink jump starts the whole digestive tract preparing it for a day of healthy eating and assimilation of nutrients. And the lemon is especially helpful for detoxifying the liver.
2) Practice twisting poses standing, sitting or lying down. In a twist we take our upper body and lower body in opposite directions, turning from the navel. All of the digestive organs are affected, but we can really address the liver by twisting the upper body to the right side.
The eyes are also a pitta dominant organ. When we have a pitta-oriented disease, the eyes often show it first through inflammation, dryness or weariness. The hot summer sun can be especially hard on the eyes. Here are a couple of ways to take care of your eyes this summer:
1) Refresh the eyes with rosewater. Look for organic, edible rosewater, the type that is used for cooking. Saturate two cotton rounds with the rosewater and place one round over each eye. Lie down and rest for 10-15 minutes. It’s better than eye drops!
2) Look at the sun early in the morning. This is the only time of the day when the sun emits red rays. Significant research has been done on how our body utilizes the red rays of the early morning sun. Not only do these rays have a healing effect on the body, but they also reset our circadian rhythm making it possible for us to sleep better at night. Gazing at the sun is only safe right after sunrise. Never look at the sun as it gets higher in the sky as this can severely injure the eyes. Instead, wear a pair of sunglasses with 100% UV-A and UV-B protection.
If you like, join me tomorrow morning, drinking some lemon water and gazing at the rising sun. Your liver and your eyes with thank you.
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This is the third in our “Yoga and Ayurveda for Summer Series.” Why did we wait so long to talk about food?! It’s one of the best parts about summer, all the fresh easy-to-eat foods available to us this time of year. We are looking at food through the lens of Ayurveda, India’s science of diet and lifestyle medicine. Ayurveda teaches that we are part of Nature, and so we are happiest and healthiest when we honor the cycles of Nature. And that includes what we eat.
Because summer is hot and humid here in Oklahoma, Ayurveda recommends eating to balance these qualities. The best tastes for the season are sweet, bitter and astringent. Here are some great summer choices:
Sweet foods: sweet fruits, especially berries; sweet vegetables; whole wheat bread and pasta; rice; organic whole milk and dairy products; if you need a sweetener, use honey, maple syrup or stevia. Avoid white flour and sugar.
Ice cream: I know it’s not a food group, but it should be! Summer is the only season where Ayurveda recommends ice cream, so eat it. That’s an order!
Bitter foods: Green leafy vegetables, green and yellow vegetables, kale, celery, broccoli, cabbage, sprouts, beets
Astringent foods: Lentils, beans, green apples, pears, cucumber, cauliflower, cabbage, pomegranates, tea
Hydrate: Drink plenty of water or herbal teas every day, at least one-half of your body weight in ounces (e.g., 150 lbs = 75 oz or 9.5 cups). All drinks should be cool, room temperature or warmer because ice interferes with digestion.
Our digestion is weakest in the summer, so eating the freshest produce lightly cooked with cooling spices (fennel, coriander, cumin, saffron, mint) will keep us happy and healthy all summer long.
Because summer is hot and humid here in Oklahoma, Ayurveda recommends eating to balance these qualities. The best tastes for the season are sweet, bitter and astringent. Here are some great summer choices:
Sweet foods: sweet fruits, especially berries; sweet vegetables; whole wheat bread and pasta; rice; organic whole milk and dairy products; if you need a sweetener, use honey, maple syrup or stevia. Avoid white flour and sugar.
Ice cream: I know it’s not a food group, but it should be! Summer is the only season where Ayurveda recommends ice cream, so eat it. That’s an order!
Bitter foods: Green leafy vegetables, green and yellow vegetables, kale, celery, broccoli, cabbage, sprouts, beets
Astringent foods: Lentils, beans, green apples, pears, cucumber, cauliflower, cabbage, pomegranates, tea
Hydrate: Drink plenty of water or herbal teas every day, at least one-half of your body weight in ounces (e.g., 150 lbs = 75 oz or 9.5 cups). All drinks should be cool, room temperature or warmer because ice interferes with digestion.
Our digestion is weakest in the summer, so eating the freshest produce lightly cooked with cooling spices (fennel, coriander, cumin, saffron, mint) will keep us happy and healthy all summer long.
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This is the second installment of “Yoga and Ayurveda Summer Series,” with a focus on first aid for summer ailments, all of which are either available in your own home or easy to obtain. All natural without using chemicals and medications! My Ayurveda teacher Dr. Vasant Lad calls this your “kitchen pharmacy.”
Here are home remedies for common summer conditions:
Bug bites: While there is a strict rule that we should never use essential oils straight from the bottle because they are so concentrated, there is an exception. And this exception is amazing! Place one drop of these three essential oils—peppermint, tea tree and lavender—in the palm of your hand. Dab the mixture on each bug bite. The itch will stop immediately and, in many cases, the redness will disappear in a few hours. Please wash your hands with an oil-based cleanser to avoid getting the oils in your eyes.
Heartburn: Into 1 cup of water add 10 drops of lime juice, ½ teaspoon sugar, and ¼ teaspoon baking soda. Add the baking soda last for an effervescent effect. Drink immediately. Works every time!
Diarrhea: Peel an apple. Cook the pulp with 1 teaspoon of ghee, pinch of nutmeg and pinch of sugar. Eat this 2-3 times during the day.
Pitta type headaches start in the temples and radiate into the center of the head. They are characterized by shooting, burning, piercing pain that is made worse by bright lights, high temperatures and eating sour or spicy foods. Often accompanied by nausea and irritability. Take 2 Tablespoons of aloe vera gel three times a day. OR Eat something sweet like a piece of fruit or ice cream.
Fatigue: Rest. There’s a reason why every image we have of summer includes having your feet up with a cool drink in one hand and a book in the other. Oh yeah, and sunglasses to complete the look.
Here are home remedies for common summer conditions:
Bug bites: While there is a strict rule that we should never use essential oils straight from the bottle because they are so concentrated, there is an exception. And this exception is amazing! Place one drop of these three essential oils—peppermint, tea tree and lavender—in the palm of your hand. Dab the mixture on each bug bite. The itch will stop immediately and, in many cases, the redness will disappear in a few hours. Please wash your hands with an oil-based cleanser to avoid getting the oils in your eyes.
Heartburn: Into 1 cup of water add 10 drops of lime juice, ½ teaspoon sugar, and ¼ teaspoon baking soda. Add the baking soda last for an effervescent effect. Drink immediately. Works every time!
Diarrhea: Peel an apple. Cook the pulp with 1 teaspoon of ghee, pinch of nutmeg and pinch of sugar. Eat this 2-3 times during the day.
Pitta type headaches start in the temples and radiate into the center of the head. They are characterized by shooting, burning, piercing pain that is made worse by bright lights, high temperatures and eating sour or spicy foods. Often accompanied by nausea and irritability. Take 2 Tablespoons of aloe vera gel three times a day. OR Eat something sweet like a piece of fruit or ice cream.
Fatigue: Rest. There’s a reason why every image we have of summer includes having your feet up with a cool drink in one hand and a book in the other. Oh yeah, and sunglasses to complete the look.
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This is the first week of my new “Yoga and Ayurveda Summer Series.”
Most of us are familiar with Yoga, but Ayurveda may be unfamiliar and mysterious. Yoga and Ayurveda grew together in India and have both been around for at least 8000 years, maybe more. Yoga focuses on physical movement, breathing and meditation while Ayurveda is concerned with diet, plant-based medicine and overall healthy lifestyle. Each week we’ll cover a different topic related to this season that Yoga and Ayurveda calls “pitta.”
In Ayurveda, Pitta is made up of water and fire elements, so its qualities are hot, oily, spreading and smelly. Sounds like a hot, humid Oklahoma day to me! Summer is here and we’re all feeling the heat.
Pitta affects us physically and mentally. Physically, we feel hot and sweaty, ready to hop in a pool or enjoy cool watermelon. Due to the heat of pitta, though, we may also have skin inflammations, sensitive eyes and loose stools. Mentally, we can become very focused and determined, as when we’re having a sports competition with friends. The overheating of pitta, however, can lead to frustration, even anger, making it difficult to keep a lid on our emotions.
Ayurveda teaches that like increases like and opposites heal. We can INCREASE Pitta and its unpleasant symptoms by eating spicy food, getting overheated, and bottling up our negative emotions until they boil over. We can DECREASE Pitta by eating cooling foods, slowing down a little bit, being outside in Nature at dusk and dawn, and facing our emotions with maturity and clarity.
By far, the best lesson Pitta teaches us is to LET GO.
Let go of one thing on your schedule this week so you can sit under a tree.
Let go of hard workouts so you can balance heat and cool in your body.
Let go of regrets from the past and fears about the future so you can be fully alive in the present moment.
Let go of repeating thoughts and emotions so you are free to act skillfully and with wisdom.
Most of us are familiar with Yoga, but Ayurveda may be unfamiliar and mysterious. Yoga and Ayurveda grew together in India and have both been around for at least 8000 years, maybe more. Yoga focuses on physical movement, breathing and meditation while Ayurveda is concerned with diet, plant-based medicine and overall healthy lifestyle. Each week we’ll cover a different topic related to this season that Yoga and Ayurveda calls “pitta.”
In Ayurveda, Pitta is made up of water and fire elements, so its qualities are hot, oily, spreading and smelly. Sounds like a hot, humid Oklahoma day to me! Summer is here and we’re all feeling the heat.
Pitta affects us physically and mentally. Physically, we feel hot and sweaty, ready to hop in a pool or enjoy cool watermelon. Due to the heat of pitta, though, we may also have skin inflammations, sensitive eyes and loose stools. Mentally, we can become very focused and determined, as when we’re having a sports competition with friends. The overheating of pitta, however, can lead to frustration, even anger, making it difficult to keep a lid on our emotions.
Ayurveda teaches that like increases like and opposites heal. We can INCREASE Pitta and its unpleasant symptoms by eating spicy food, getting overheated, and bottling up our negative emotions until they boil over. We can DECREASE Pitta by eating cooling foods, slowing down a little bit, being outside in Nature at dusk and dawn, and facing our emotions with maturity and clarity.
By far, the best lesson Pitta teaches us is to LET GO.
Let go of one thing on your schedule this week so you can sit under a tree.
Let go of hard workouts so you can balance heat and cool in your body.
Let go of regrets from the past and fears about the future so you can be fully alive in the present moment.
Let go of repeating thoughts and emotions so you are free to act skillfully and with wisdom.
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Over the past seven weeks I’ve written about the seven main chakras on the blog. We’ve moved from the root to the crown, activating the energy centers that run parallel to the physical spine. For those who attend my classes in Tulsa, you’ve also had the opportunity to experience a specialized yoga session each week to coincide with the blog post. This week we will integrate all seven chakras in a yoga class in the studio. And here is a relaxation practice you can try at home:
Lie down in Savasana, corpse pose. Use pillows, blankets, or yoga bolsters to create a very comfortable position. Set your timer for 20 minutes. Place an eye covering or soft wash cloth over your eyes.
You’ll be placing your hands on the six chakras. As you hold your hands there, take at least 10 breaths while contemplating the relationship between the two chakras.
Place one hand over the pubic bone and the other hand on your forehead. You are balancing your physical needs with your spiritual needs. You are cultivating trust in your Higher Power to always provide for you.
Place one hand on your pelvis/lower abdomen and the other hand on your throat. You are balancing your innate abilities to be a creator and your need to express what you have created. How do you want to show up in the world?
Place one hand just below your ribcage and the other hand on your heart center. You are balancing your personal will with your impulse to reach out in love and care to others. May you be wise in how you share compassion in the world.
Let your arms rest at your sides. Let your body and mind rest in the energetic support of the chakras.
Namaste
Lie down in Savasana, corpse pose. Use pillows, blankets, or yoga bolsters to create a very comfortable position. Set your timer for 20 minutes. Place an eye covering or soft wash cloth over your eyes.
You’ll be placing your hands on the six chakras. As you hold your hands there, take at least 10 breaths while contemplating the relationship between the two chakras.
Place one hand over the pubic bone and the other hand on your forehead. You are balancing your physical needs with your spiritual needs. You are cultivating trust in your Higher Power to always provide for you.
Place one hand on your pelvis/lower abdomen and the other hand on your throat. You are balancing your innate abilities to be a creator and your need to express what you have created. How do you want to show up in the world?
Place one hand just below your ribcage and the other hand on your heart center. You are balancing your personal will with your impulse to reach out in love and care to others. May you be wise in how you share compassion in the world.
Let your arms rest at your sides. Let your body and mind rest in the energetic support of the chakras.
Namaste
- Published on
We are continuing our journey through the seven main chakras finally reaching the end of the line at the top of the head. What we know as the crown chakra is not considered a chakra because it does not function the same way as the lower six chakras. This seventh entity is better described as the power source that energizes the six chakras below.
Sahasrara Chakra means “thousand-petaled” referring to the one-thousand-petaled lotus flower that is its symbol. Its theme is Unity, uniting opposites like masculine/feminine, spirit/matter and consciousness/creativity. But here’s the interesting thing: it’s not as if the Unity didn’t always exist, because it has; it’s just that now we are aware of the Unity that has always held everything together.
In the physical body, the Crown Chakra relates to the whole brain and the whole body. The endocrine gland associated with this chakra is the pituitary, known as the master gland. It’s located at the base of the brain. And although it’s very small—about the size of a pea—it has a powerful job: to control the functions of almost all the other endocrine glands. When you consider all the different types of hormones the glands release, and how they are being released at different times and for different purposes, you can see how important it is to have a healthy pituitary gland.
Here are some ways we can support our Crown Chakra and pituitary gland through Yoga:
• Skull shining breath: The name says it all, right? This is Kapala Bhati pranayama, a powerful breath practice that draws energy upward to the skull. It’s best practiced when the stomach is empty. Sit on the floor or on a chair with elongated spine. To prepare, breathe slowly in and out through the nose for five breaths. To practice, inhale through the nose with relaxed abdominal muscles, then exhale sharply through the nose while pulling the belly muscles in. Start with 20 repetitions gradually building up to 100 repetitions. Take your time to learn it well before trying to speed it up.
• Yoga postures that emphasize the head: Headstand, Rabbit pose, Shiva twist, Dancer pose, Cow face, Standing forward bend (legs together or apart) with head resting on a block or chair, Child pose with head resting on a block
• Aromatherapy: The best essential oils for this chakra are frankincense and sandalwood. They’re also the most expensive! More affordable alternatives are lavender, cedarwood, tulsi and palo santo. Always dilute in a carrier oil before you massage into your temples and back of the neck.
• Meditate with crystals: The best yoga practice to cultivate unity consciousness is meditation. Using crystals—energetic gifts from Nature—can create calm and focus. Three of the best choices are amethyst, clear quartz and howlite. Rinse them in cool water to clear away any negative energy. Charge them in the sun for a couple of hours. Hold them in your hands while you bring your focus upward. Set a timer for 5 minutes, gradually increasing to 20 minutes.
Sahasrara Chakra means “thousand-petaled” referring to the one-thousand-petaled lotus flower that is its symbol. Its theme is Unity, uniting opposites like masculine/feminine, spirit/matter and consciousness/creativity. But here’s the interesting thing: it’s not as if the Unity didn’t always exist, because it has; it’s just that now we are aware of the Unity that has always held everything together.
In the physical body, the Crown Chakra relates to the whole brain and the whole body. The endocrine gland associated with this chakra is the pituitary, known as the master gland. It’s located at the base of the brain. And although it’s very small—about the size of a pea—it has a powerful job: to control the functions of almost all the other endocrine glands. When you consider all the different types of hormones the glands release, and how they are being released at different times and for different purposes, you can see how important it is to have a healthy pituitary gland.
Here are some ways we can support our Crown Chakra and pituitary gland through Yoga:
• Skull shining breath: The name says it all, right? This is Kapala Bhati pranayama, a powerful breath practice that draws energy upward to the skull. It’s best practiced when the stomach is empty. Sit on the floor or on a chair with elongated spine. To prepare, breathe slowly in and out through the nose for five breaths. To practice, inhale through the nose with relaxed abdominal muscles, then exhale sharply through the nose while pulling the belly muscles in. Start with 20 repetitions gradually building up to 100 repetitions. Take your time to learn it well before trying to speed it up.
• Yoga postures that emphasize the head: Headstand, Rabbit pose, Shiva twist, Dancer pose, Cow face, Standing forward bend (legs together or apart) with head resting on a block or chair, Child pose with head resting on a block
• Aromatherapy: The best essential oils for this chakra are frankincense and sandalwood. They’re also the most expensive! More affordable alternatives are lavender, cedarwood, tulsi and palo santo. Always dilute in a carrier oil before you massage into your temples and back of the neck.
• Meditate with crystals: The best yoga practice to cultivate unity consciousness is meditation. Using crystals—energetic gifts from Nature—can create calm and focus. Three of the best choices are amethyst, clear quartz and howlite. Rinse them in cool water to clear away any negative energy. Charge them in the sun for a couple of hours. Hold them in your hands while you bring your focus upward. Set a timer for 5 minutes, gradually increasing to 20 minutes.
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As we continue our exploration of the endocrine system (hormones) through the chakras, we reach the third eye chakra, called Ajña Chakra in Sanskrit. It is located between and slightly above the eyebrows, and it physically lines up with the pineal gland, an endocrine gland located in the brain. Now this is interesting: the pineal gland secretes melatonin which helps regulate sleep cycles and one of the spiritual functions of the third eye chakra is to help us wake up from our mental sleep. It’s fun to consider how they work together!
People can really get stuck in third eye energy. Sometimes there is too much energy here which can result in being too much in the head, too intellectual and even impractical. For others, there is not enough energy here which makes it hard to see the big picture, hard to concentrate and lacking imagination of what is possible.
Fortunately, there are some powerful yoga practices that can help us balance this energy so that we benefit from healthy concentration and intuition as well as regulated sleep cycles.
• Alternate nostril breathing is effective because two powerful energy lines meet at the third eye. By breathing in through one nostril and breathing out through the other, alternating side-to-side, you encourage these two energy lines to work together to clear the mind and calm the body. It’s easy to do:
-Sit with a lengthened spine, either on the floor or in a chair with feet on the floor.
-In both hands, fold in the ring and pinky fingers and hold them down with the thumbs.
-Use the extended index and middle fingers to gently close the nostrils one at a time.
-To begin, inhale through both nostrils, close the right nostril with the right fingers, breathe out through the left nostril. Breathe in through the left nostril.
-Change the hands so that now you are closing the left nostril with the left fingers to breathe out through the right nostril. Breathe in through the right nostril.
-Continue to breathe this way for 5-10 minutes. As you become more adept at the practice, you can turn your eyes slightly upward to gaze at your third eye.
• Poses that place your forehead on or near the floor or a block, such as child pose or resting crocodile pose.
• Keeping the hands near the level of the forehead in standing poses like Tree, Eagle, Warrior 1, Warrior 2 and Triangle.
• Meditation on the third eye, either by visualizing the OM symbol at the forehead or imagining you could breathe in through the top of the head and breathe out through the third eye.
• Chant the mantra OM for 10 minutes. Sit in the silence and feel its vibration for another few minutes.
People can really get stuck in third eye energy. Sometimes there is too much energy here which can result in being too much in the head, too intellectual and even impractical. For others, there is not enough energy here which makes it hard to see the big picture, hard to concentrate and lacking imagination of what is possible.
Fortunately, there are some powerful yoga practices that can help us balance this energy so that we benefit from healthy concentration and intuition as well as regulated sleep cycles.
• Alternate nostril breathing is effective because two powerful energy lines meet at the third eye. By breathing in through one nostril and breathing out through the other, alternating side-to-side, you encourage these two energy lines to work together to clear the mind and calm the body. It’s easy to do:
-Sit with a lengthened spine, either on the floor or in a chair with feet on the floor.
-In both hands, fold in the ring and pinky fingers and hold them down with the thumbs.
-Use the extended index and middle fingers to gently close the nostrils one at a time.
-To begin, inhale through both nostrils, close the right nostril with the right fingers, breathe out through the left nostril. Breathe in through the left nostril.
-Change the hands so that now you are closing the left nostril with the left fingers to breathe out through the right nostril. Breathe in through the right nostril.
-Continue to breathe this way for 5-10 minutes. As you become more adept at the practice, you can turn your eyes slightly upward to gaze at your third eye.
• Poses that place your forehead on or near the floor or a block, such as child pose or resting crocodile pose.
• Keeping the hands near the level of the forehead in standing poses like Tree, Eagle, Warrior 1, Warrior 2 and Triangle.
• Meditation on the third eye, either by visualizing the OM symbol at the forehead or imagining you could breathe in through the top of the head and breathe out through the third eye.
• Chant the mantra OM for 10 minutes. Sit in the silence and feel its vibration for another few minutes.