Happy Friday!

I started practicing yoga regularly less than a year ago. I am kind of allergic to planned exercise as in – I have to set my alarm to make this class – type exercise. However, yoga has proved to be worth it and I have stuck to it. I practice outside on the grass with positive people, work on my breath and stretch and fire my muscles. I am further hooked on yoga now that I have a better understanding of the practice, its many forms and its numerous health benefits. As it turns out, yoga is so much more than poses like downward facing dog. Speaking of dogs, Ella, my chihuahua mix, accompanies me to every class. She helps keep me and my fellow yoga practitioners mentally focused. We have truly practiced yoga in all its forms if we are able to ignore the face licks and paw taps from Ella.

the five points of yoga

• proper exercise
• proper breathing
• proper relaxation
• positive thinking and meditation
• proper diet

proper exercise

From the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres Five Points of Yoga post which I will be referencing often in this article, exercise should not be a chore. ‘Proper exercise should be pleasant to the practitioner while beneficial to the body, mind and spiritual life.’ That’s a relief. I do not like to suffer. Yoga exercises called asanas focus on the spine, which protects the nervous system. The asanas are also designed to help revitalize the internal organs and keep the endocrine system in proper working order. The endocrine system is super duper important as it regulates many bodily functions.

proper breath

In yoga, the breathing exercises are called Pranayama, which means to control the Prana or breath/vital life-force. From Five Points of Yoga, ‘By far the most important thing about good breathing is the Prana, or subtle energy of the vital breath. Control of the Prana leads to control of the mind.’

Many people unknowingly hold their breath. If we truly practice yoga in all its forms, then we can come to a better understanding of why we hold our breath, e.g. an imbalance is going on like stress. Yoga provides a medium to get us back to inhaling much needed oxygen and exhaling waste products in the form of carbon dioxide and water.

In addition to practicing asanas, consider adding the- Yoga 4-7-8 breath to your daily routine. Dr. Andrew Weil recommends that we do the 4-7-8 morning and night without fail to reap the benefits. This breath can also put you in peaceful place during a stressful time in a matter of minutes.

proper relaxation

The body requires proper relaxation in order to recharge itself. Relaxing is an art perfected with practice. If our mind is going in a million directions while trying to rest, we are continuing to expend energy. Complete relaxation means almost no energy is being used.

For yogis, perfect relation includes physical, mental and spiritual relaxation.

Physical relaxation can be achieved through autosuggestion while in the Savasana pose. You start by imagining your toes relaxing and move up through the body to completely relax every inch of you.

Mental relaxation is achieved in the absence of mental tension. When there is tension in the mind, breathing properly can bring the mind to a state of calmness.

Spiritual relaxation is probably the most important method of relaxation to achieve but also the most difficult one. To be truly spiritually relaxed one must completely separate the mind or ‘self’ from the body. This separation of oneself from the ego-consciousness is where the bliss happens.

Physical and mental relaxation can easily be obtained with a steady yoga practice. However, spiritual relaxation requires a more dedicated practice including positive thinking and meditation.

positive thinking and meditation

Part of the reason I enjoy my yoga class so much is because I am practicing with a wonderful, skilled, positive teacher and my dearest friend and positively positive person Pelican (PPPP). See them pictured on the right with Ella. Our thoughts influence our realities. By starting the day in this positive way, I notice a difference in the rest of my day. It’s literally the opposite of waking up on the wrong side of the bed.

Add meditation (quieting the mind) to your routine and you are on your way to becoming a true yogi.

“When the surface of a lake is still, one can see to the bottom very clearly. This is impossible when the surface is agitated by waves. In the same way, when the mind is still, with no thoughts or desires, you can see the “Self” this is called Yoga,” from the Five Points of Yoga post from Sivananda.org.

If you have difficulty quieting your mind (I do!), apps like Headspace and Smiling Mind can help you to achieve that inner calm. There are free trials for both so try them each before you buy.

proper diet

True yogis understand that the food we eat affects not just our physical body but also our state of mind. The ideal yogic diet consists of vegetarian food that is sourced straight from nature (preferably organic) and not processed, refined or over-cooked. Eating this way ensures better nutrition for body and ultimately, the mind.

I launched this blog one year ago tomorrow -7/15/16. Every recipe I include is without meat, dairy, eggs or fish. I don’t shout out ‘it’s vegan!’ but all my dishes are. After years of research on many subjects from health, beauty, vitality and longevity, it is overly apparent that a diet free of animal foods is the way to go not only for optimal mind/body health but also for the animals who suffer immensely. Plants over meat is certainly a wise choice for the health of Mother Earth as well. Plant-based eating is so satisfying if you have the right knowledge and ingredients. Check out the recipe section of my blog for easy, tasty recipes.

There is a great article in YOGALife Spring/Summer 2005 magazine pages 36-39 entitled “Vegetarianism – The Scientific Facts” by Prof. Dr. Claus Leitzmann that ends with this sentence, “Man and his forebears have been eating vegetarian food for a millennia. It is only since the end of World War II that people in the West have eaten food of animal origin on a daily basis with serious consequences to their health, to the environment and to our global future. Conclusions from many hundreds of studies show that vegetarianism can save lives and the environment and slowly health authorities around the world are beginning to recognize this.”

Eating more veg-based is not difficult when you have some help. Contact me if you are interested in cooking classes and/or health coaching.

I wish you a happy weekend. Namaste.

P.S. If you are interested in practicing yoga in Normandy Isle with Fiona, our classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 am – 9 am at the Golf Course. Drop me a line here if you plan to attend.

Thanks to my #1 yogi 

Thanks so much to Fiona, who sent me the links and articles used for this post and for helping me achieve a 4- minute headstand for the first time in my life!

Aside from being a yoga practitioner, Fiona is also a talented fine artist and vintage clothing designer. Find her handmade clothing line here on Etsy.

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