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Mind Body Messenger
Issue #34, April 2006
Keeping Up With Heather…
Greetings Friends! After a one-month hiatus from the Mind Body Messenger,
I return to you with lots of GREAT NEWS!
YTT Wrap Up
Our first one-month residential Yoga
Teacher Training program finished just a few days ago and was a
great success. All of our teacher trainees graduated to become Registered
Yoga Instructors. We had such an amazing group of teacher trainees
with ages ranging from 18 to 58. Our students’ yoga experience
varied too, with some of our students having already completed Teacher
Training in other yoga styles, while other students had taken just
a few classes! We had a mini United Nations, with a teacher from
Canada, students from England and Germany, and many from throughout
Australia. And, after a fun filled month of learning, all of our
fantastic graduates are now making their plans to begin their own
teaching practices! Congratulations to you all, may we continue
to share this journey together!
Next on the Schedule
After a many requests for another
Yoga Teacher Training for Australia, we are going ahead with plans
to run another program in Byron Bay this July. Stay posted for more
details on this second offering of the Trinity program.
Weekend Away in Moruya
We are also scheduling a weekend retreat for to introduce and/or
guide students into deepening their experience of the Yogic Lifestyle.
This program will include 4 yoga classes, nature walks, great vegetarian
meals, and workshops on meditation, the yogic diet, and “taking
the yogic lifestyle home”. If you have been keen to understand
and experience the benefits of the yogic lifestyle please express
your interest in joining us in this unique workshop by emailing
this workshop will give you a great foundation!
Coming Home Soon…
These new additions to the schedule mean that Heather and Chris
will be delaying their return to Canada for just a few weeks, but
will be in Ontario from mid-August through mid-December offering
Yoga Teacher Training, workshops, private consultations and classes,
and of course catching up with all our Canadian friends and colleagues.
Rising to a New Level
I have been honoured to receive from the International Association
of Fitness Professionals (IDEA) the designation of Master Level
Fitness Trainer. I am really excited to have achieved this, the
highest level of recognition in the industry, and plan to do much
more to contribute to this fantastic industry that “Inspires
the World to Fitness”.
Amma – The Mother
For those of who lucky enough to be enjoying autumn in Australia,
a quick note to let you know that Amma (the hugging saint) will
be in Oz from March 31-April 16. You can attend one of her inspiring
free public lectures in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne or Perth, or
for a deeper experience of Amma’s love and wisdom you can
attend her residential retreat on the Gold Coast. For information
visit www.ammaaustralia.org.au.
YTT Australia
Our second offering of the one-month residential Yoga Teacher Training
Program in Australia will be held in Mullimbimby, just outside of Byron
Bay from July 8-August 6, 2006. We are really excited to have the opportunity
to offer a second program after a successful first run, and hope that
you will join us to deepen your yoga practice, attain a greater state
of health and wellbeing through the yogic lifestyle, and become a Registered
Yoga Instructor. For more information on the program, please write to
heather@yogatrinity.com
YTT Canada
Level V Fitness at College and Euclid in Toronto will be hosting our
Yoga Teacher Training Program this year in Canada. We are planning a 9
weekend non-residential program to be held during the months of September,
October and November. Space will be limited in this program, so to voice
your interest please write to heather@yogatrinity.com
and you will be kept updated on all developments in this exciting program.
Did You Know?
Vegetarian hamburgers can be found in just about every grocery store
throughout the Western World? Made of soy, chickpeas, lentils or tempeh,
all natural Veggie Burgers are a delicious, low fat, safe and healthful
alternative to the traditional ground beef burger.
Recently I compared a store-bought high end frozen hamburger patty with
one of my favorite veggie varieties (Yyves Veggie Cuisine) and found that
the soyburger had only 92 calories (with only 6% fat) while the beef burger
was 402 calories with more than 60% fat. With more protein and less fat
per ounce, veggie burgers will make a great addition to your healthy diet.
For soy alternatives like veggie burgers, veggie dogs, and veggie deli
slices visit www.vegan.org or check out the Nutrition Action Healthletter
for more.
5 Minute Spa…DIY
Has stress got your forehead wrinkling, your jaw clenching and your shoulders
perpetually shrugged to your ears? Chronic stress does more than deepen
worry lines and tighten tense shoulders. Chronic stress is a main contributor
to issues like overweight and obesity, emotional eating, sleep disorders
and social anxiety. As well, chronic stress is a contributor in serious
illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, depression, and hypertension.
A regular stress reduction program including yoga, and meditation certainly
help…but what techniques can you bring into your daily life to
help to overcome the chronic and acute stresses that you face every day?
These simple exercises are a Do It Yourself Spa and take just 5 minutes.
Use them at the office, in-flight, or at home to help relax, rejuvenate,
and become more proactive rather than reactive to the circumstances in
life.
So, just take a moment right now…yes…why not now? And take
a few deep breaths, and just follow these simple exercises to bring a
little rest and relaxation to your day.
Shoulder Shrugs
Take a moment to sit comfortably in your chair. Shrug your
shoulders up to your ears, and then roll then down and back, sending your
shoulders deep down into your body. Practice a few shrugs and circles
up and down to warm and release tight muscles.
Neck Massage
With the first three fingers of your right hand, find the large
muscle on the left side of your neck just under the ear. Gently massage
down that muscle (find that it runs down into your collarbone) and then
massage along the top of your shoulders all the way to the point of the
shoulder. Imagine that you are gathering up in your fingers all your tension,
tightness and pressure, and when you reach the end of the shoulder simply
“flick” the tension out of your fingers and let it dissolve.
Practice three times on each side.
Instant Facial
To release tight facial muscles, place the first three fingers
of each hand on the inner edge of each eyebrow. With the same technique
as above, gently massage across the eyebrow, down through the temples,
across the jaw all the way to the point of the chin. “Flick”
the tension from your fingers and move back to the eyebrows, this time
a little above the point where you first began. Repeat 3 or 4 times, massaging
up the forehead with each repetition.
Eye Palming
Computer work, fluorescent lighting and lack of sleep can all
cause tiredness and soreness in the eyes. To relax tired or strained eyes
rub your hands briskly together to generate heat between the hands. Place
your warmed palms over your eyes and feel the healing heat energy penetrate
into your eyes and your mind, soothing tiredness and strain. Repeat 2-3
times if you like.
Grounding Breath
Often the hectic pace of the workplace can make us feel “ungrounded”
and anxious. Taking a few moments to calm the mind and the nervous system
some simple deep breathing can be all it takes to relax, refocus, and
achieve a clarity of mind that can make you more productive, proactive,
and pro-health! Simply close your eyes, place your hand on your belly
and take a few deep breaths, drawing the breath down into your hand. This
will relax the tension in the chest and solar plexus, relax the digestive
system, and increase the flow of oxygen throughout the body and mind.
Thoughts On…
Here is another email-forward that you may have already seen, but it
is worth a read, and some reflection on what you are building in your
life. Best news is, read it or don’t, pass it on or not…your
luck will remain unchanged!
The Carpenter
An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor
of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely
life with his wife enjoying his extended family.
He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.
The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could
build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes,
but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He
resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an
unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.
When the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the
house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your
house," he said, "My gift to you!"
The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was
building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.
So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting
less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we
have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we'd
do it much differently. But we cannot go back.
You are the carpenter.
Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. "Life
is a do-it-yourself project," someone has said. Your attitudes and
the choices you make today, build the "house" you live in tomorrow.
Build wisely!
Remember....
Work like you don't need the money
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody is watching.
Check It Out!
Check out this month’s issue of GLOW Magazine Canada for my column
outlining an outdoor fitness program that will help you get fit, distress,
and enjoy the beautiful sunshine and fresh breezes that the coming spring
promises.
Yoga For Mind and Body
Part of an ongoing series offering yoga postures for men, women, and
children to practice at home, school, on the road or in the office. With
special thanks to Ross Pottinger of Wink Photo Design in Brisbane, Australia
for the photos and the support in this project. And many thanks to Louisa
Dick for taking part in the project. Do check with your health care practitioner
before beginning a yoga practice. Many postures and techniques are not
suitable for pregnant women, people with joint replacements, those with
hypertension or other medical conditions. If you have a posture that you
would like to see in this column, I welcome your suggestions.
Namaste, H
Also called the “negative” or “relaxing breath”,
this exercise magnetizes and cools the body and mind. Practice before
going to bed, or at any time of day when you need to relax, clear the
mind, or “cool off”. Use this breath for greater serenity
and calm. Begin in any comfortable position, but preferably lying down
in a dimly lit space with little or no distractions. Inhale for a count
of 4 through the nostrils. Exhale for a count of 4 through the nostrils.
Finally, retain the breath out of the body for a count of four. This is
one round. Ensure that you are not struggling or straining in this exercise,
and remember that the next breath is right there when you need it. As
you grow more proficient in this exercise, you may like to extend the
length of the count to 8 or even 12.
After completing the exercise for at least 20 rounds, return to your
normal breathing for a few moments and take some time to observe how your
body and mind have responded to the technique. Do you feel calmer and
more clear of mind? Does your body feel more grounded and relaxed? Does
this technique help you to relax and refocus? If so, why not add it to
your “toolbox” of techniques for better health in every
day life? |
