Starting off Clean

I just recently completed my first cleanse of 2010. I try to cleanse/fast twice yearly and often I will have people ask me questions about why I do this, how I feel when I am doing it and is it safe?
My answers sometimes vary depending on my mood at the moment, but the underlying reason I do it is because I feel it makes me a healthier person. When I cleanse I forgo solid food for a set period of time, during this time I am able to really focus on my body and mind. I journal and reflect upon my thoughts and feelings each day during the program and at the end I feel a great sense of peace and accomplishment at what I have done.
The way I feel during the period of cleansing/fasting really does depend on my thoughts. I feel better when I have prepared myself before hand for the fasting process. If I allow myself to dwell on the fact that I am not eating, then I allow myself to be uncomfortable and unhappy during the time. But if I focus on the positive of what I am doing - promoting a time for rest and healing within my body, clearing out build up from foods I eat daily and starting fresh - I feel pretty upbeat and excited about what I am doing.
The safety of a fasting/cleansing program varies for each individual person. This is something I feel each person has to meditate on for themselves, consult a trusted physician or health advisor and most importantly - listen to your own body. If you begin to feel weak, dizzy or tired maybe you have been too limiting or maybe you have been engaging in too much physical activity. Either way whatever the reason for you not feeling good is - accept what your body is telling you and do what is necessary to feel better.
I first got the inspiration when reading Dr. Andrew Weil's book "Natural Health, Natural Medicine" a few years back. "The digestive organs are the largest and bulkiest in the body, and their routine operations consume large amounts of energy. The simple act of not eating rests this system and frees up much of that energy for the body to use in healing" (Weil, 2004). I since then have researched and experimented with other fasting/cleansing programs. I have gotten ideas from colleagues and friends who have tried programs for themselves and liked the results they got from them.
At the end of the day this is a choice that should not be influenced by what you read or hear, it is something that you have to decide for yourself and go into with a positive attitude and excitement.
--Catie

Just Breathe

Breath is the tool that connects your mind to your body, your body to your spirit and back again. But so many of us do not properly use this tool to bring health, balance and peace into our beings. Like most other things in our lives today, we rush our breath cycle and this can actually do more harm than good. Shallow, rapid breathing sends alarm signals throughout our body.
Prana is a Sanskrit (used in Yoga) word that interchangeably defines Breath, Life Force and Vital Energy - these sound important, and they are!
Breathing happens every moment of our lives, whether we think of it or not. If you take a few minutes each day to put some thought into the act of breathing you will be amazed by the positive effects this will have on your physical, emotional and mental health.
My favorite breathing exercise is to sit comfortably with a straight back, close my eyes and listen to the silence. I begin with an inhale and focus on the air as it enters my nose, comes to the back of my throat, down into my chest and further still all the way down to my belly. I hold it here for a brief moment and as I begin to exhale I work to slowly bring the breath up from my belly, to my chest, through my throat and out my nose. The whole cycle should be thoughtful and rhythmic - if the inhale is a count of 3, the exhale should be as well.
When first starting I begin with a 3 count inhale, 2 count hold and 3 count exhale, I would do this for 3-5 cycles. Over time I grew into an 8 count inhale, 5 count hold and 8 count exhale for 5-8 cycles.
Breathing takes practice if you want to get the most out of it; practice doesn't have to make perfect, it just has to keep you coming back to 'practice' daily.

Yoga

Yoga is a practice - it is meant to be Personal, Powerful, Passionate, Peaceful, Patient - these things count.
Yoga is not meant to be Perfect - posture perfect, performance perfect - these things don't matter.
When we come to our mats it is a practice in getting in touch with who we are, accepting that person and growing into who we want to be.
When we focus on making yoga perfect, we lose sight of the journey and the tings that count are lost to us.
Today might be the day to ease into child's pose and look inward, it might be the day to come fully into headstand and celebrate, or perhaps it is the day to hold Warrior 3 for minutes on end.
Whatever today is for you, that is where you are supposed to be right now and that is perfect.
Forget about the person on the mat next to yours, Yogi and Yoginis who come to class and look like they were born doing yoga. I guarantee you 2 things:
1. They are NOT looking at you as much as you are looking at them
2. They find their own triumphs and victories in each class too.
I have yet to walk away from a yoga class saying "Boy that was the worst hour of my life" and even more I have yet to hear anyone else say that as they are leaving class either.
Pull up a mat, take a seat, bring your hands to your heart and close your eyes. Let the journey begin and Enjoy!