The Meaning of Ahimsa

Ahimsa- Non-violence, non-harming in word, thought or deed.  Many yogis refer to the word Ahimsa when talking about vegetarianism or veganism.  While it makes total sense that one would not want to harm any living thing, including animals which are consumed by the masses, there is more to the meaning of Ahimsa than thinking about going vegan.

 

Ahimsa is also about offering kindness to those around you.  Cultivating kindness on a daily basis paves the way for loving, compassionate, meaningful relationships.  When you are angry, you attract anger.  When you are kind, you attract kindness.  Even when someone is angry with you or with some life circumstance, when you respond with kindness, you can move mountains.

 

I love what Richard Freeman says about Ahimsa when we are faced with difficult situations:

Click Here to Find Out

Beautiful Display of Love

This is one of my all time favorites and although it has been seen before, it is worth showing over and over again. Kindness.  Love.  Compassion.  These are things that make life worth living.

 

Hand Dancing - A Different Kind of Spin

As much as I love Italy and everything about it, you might guess that I am posting this just for the Italian music which is fabulously happy.  But I'm not.  This is a really unique video that put a smile on my face today.  And as you know, I love to smile and laugh...

 

Daniel Vitalis on the Benefits of Collostrum

Is Collostrum Just For Babies???

You know how I love this health stuff, so I have to share.  Collostrum is usually associated with breast feeding and it is a crucial component to living a healthy life.  The good news is you don't have to be a newborn to get it.  Take a look at the benefits below.  Very Cool!  This guy puts out fabulous information and he's very down to earth.  I love that.

 

Funny Female Drivers - So Funny!

 

Normally I wouldn't show something so sexist, but I am a female and had to LOL at this one.  You know how I love the funnies! Hilarious.  Thank goodness no one was hurt.

 

 

Have you had a good laugh today?  Remember, laughing is good for the heart.

Free Cleaning Service For Cancer Patients

A friend passed this on to me a today and I thought I would share.  What a wonderfully useful service.

 

Cleaning for a Reason

If you know any woman currently undergoing chemotherapy, please pass the word to her that there is a cleaning service that provides FREE housecleaning - once per month for 4 months while she is in treatment. All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service. This organization serves the entire USA and currently has 547 partners to help these women. It's our job to pass the word and let them know that there are people out there that care. Be a blessing to someone and pass this information along.

http://www.cleaningforareason.org

Take Me To Capri...Italy that is.

One of my favorite places in the world is Capri, Italy.  I have been 8 times and each time find that I love it more and more.  It never gets tiring.  Its beauty is capable of knocking anyone off their feet.  Here's a very short clip taken from my farovite hotel in Ana Capri, the Caesar Augustus.

 

 

Stay tuned for more.  I will be hosting a yoga retreat in Capri, 2012.  It really is fabulous!

Richard Freeman on Breathing

I like the way Richard Freeman explains breathing.  He gives a nice mental picture and he can be kind of comical.  Either way, there is something to learn here.  Take a look:

 

 

With Love,

Donna

www.emotionalhealingthroughyoga.com

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Yoga Poses to Relieve Anxiety

 

Having suffered from anxiety for many many years, I am completely sympathetic to those of you who are still on the healing path.  I too, am on the healing path and have found some very soothing poses and techniques along the way to help calm the tightness in my chest, the pain in my neck and shoulders, and the worry and constant angst that accompanies the many symptoms of anxiety.  The following are my:

 

 10 Favorite Yoga Poses for Anxiety.

 

Click Here to See

 

1.  Breathing in and out of Left Nostril

2.  Lay on Right Side

3.  Childs Pose with a Bolster

4.  Goddess Pose with a Bolster

5.  Viparita Karani with a Bolster

6.  Seated Forward Bend with a Bolster

7.  Bridge Pose with a Bolster

8.  Savasana with a Bolster

9.  Plough Pose (For more advanced students)

10.  Headstand (For more advanced students)

Find out more about headstands

 

Click Here to See All Poses

Appreciation for the Boogie Woogie

Seen anything amazing today?  Watch this!

 

What is Hatha Yoga and How Can it Help Me?

I want to share a wonderful explanation of the benefits of Hatha Yoga taken out of Richard Freeman's book, "The Mirror of Yoga".  I just love it when an author makes a connection with his readers by using metaphores which are easily absorbed and digested:

 

"Hatha means "sun" (ha) and "moon" (tha), and it can be used to describe any yoga practice that unites opposite patterns within the nervous system in order to open up the core of the body for our observation.  A central component of hatha yoga is asana (yoga poses), the practice of yoga postures, in which we work the body; we turn it, stretch it, and explore its subtleties.  Another component is Pranayama (breathwork), in which we stretch, unfold, refine, and closely observe breathing.  Within these physical practices of hatha yoga we work the body like we knead dough when making bread, so that it becomes transformed from an amorphous lump of unconscious flesh and bones into something that is vital and full of life.  Through this work we find that both the body and the mind wake up; they begin to unite with each other and with our everday experience of life.  As we continue to practice we gradually begin to find that we can extract from the body all the juice of insight and consciousness that lies within it."

 

 Here's a little clip of Richard showing off his gymnastic like sequence...

If you're new to yoga, don't let this scare you off.  You don't have to be a pretzel or gymnast to enjoy the benefits.

Yoga Pose for Back Pain

Back Pain anyone?  Sitting in a chair too long, work-related back stress, menopause, andropause, injury...it doesn't really matter where it comes from.  We want relief! I know my back gets really stiff if I don't practice some gentle poses every day.  Something as simple as a seated twist can loosen up the back and has other benefits as well.  This pose just takes a few minutes and it can be practiced anywhere.

Take a look:

 

 

Benefits of seated twist (Sage Twist) are amazing:

Eases back pain

Strengthens your back and tones your abs, liver, spleen & intestine 

Promotes flexibility in shoulders and chest

Tips:

Make sure toes of bent leg are on the ground. 

Toes of straight let pointed upward.

Inhale before you twist, lifting your ribcage and relaxing your shoulders

Exhale as you twist and use your abs to twist.  Try not to pull on your bent knee to twist.  Use your muscles.

Yoga and Meditation for Menopause

Am I going Crazy???

That's a thought that's been running through my head over the last few years. I thought maybe I had a thryroid problem as it runs in my family.  So I went and had a hormone panel test and found out that, yes, I am being graced with the presence of menopause.  Not a little.  Full blown.  Thank God for yoga!  Some of my symtoms include insomnia, anxiety, jelly-belly, pain in my lower back, etc.  It is vital to exercise and eat well during menopause.  I find that lifting weights is helping a lot, thanks to the advice of a friend.  But yoga?  Yoga and meditation is incredibly beneficial.  Although the poses leave you feeling wonderful, the philosophy and lifestyle is what keeps my anxiety and insomnia at bay.  I will write more about this soon, but for now, here's a simple pose that can help relieve back pain and stiffness.

Benefits of Downward Dog Yoga Pose

Downward Dog anyone???

So simple yet sometimes so difficult, yet as with anything, the more we practice it, the more we crave it.

Did you know in addition to all the physical benefits Downward Dog can:

Help calm anxiety

Help alleviate insomnia

Relieve stress

 

Take a look:

 

http://wp.me/p19gTs-av

 

How's your downward dog today?