Using Breath to Relax & Balance

You don't need to be in the Alps to create a sense of serenity. Any time you are having trouble to sleep or feel off-balance or disturbed. Try Anuloma Viloma (sounds like ANNA LOMA VILOMA).

A type of Pranayama, or Yoga Breathing technique.

Anuloma Viloma is alternatite nostril breathing. When we breathe, we do not breathe through both our nostril (the left and right nasal passage) concurrently.

As a result, lack of balance or agitation can occur. This breathing technique has us alternate between each nostril's air passage.

The cycle goes like this:

From the Left nostril, exhale for a count of 7
From the Left nostril, inhale for a count of 4

Hold Both nostrils closed for a count of 4

Switch

From the Right nostril, exhale for a count of 7
From the Right nostril, inhale for a count of 4

Hold Both nostrils closed, for a count of 4

Switch

And Repeat

When you are finished cycling though as many times as you like. End, like you began, on the Left side. And KEEP BREATHING :)

Your nose may run. This is normal.

The traditional Yoga teachings, relate Anuloma Viloma to the concept of Nadis, channels of consciousness. All the more reason to practise this breathing technique.

Some behind the scenes pictures from my video shoot in at the base of Chamonoix, near Monte Blanco/Mont Blanc

Hangover Yoga

Can alcohol and Yoga mix? Absolutely. Just not at the same time. Can Yoga cure your Hangover? Yes it can!

In general, I advise students not to eat for at least an hour before his or her Yoga practise. An empty stomach allows you to pay attention to the positions and breathing techniques without being distracted by digesting something you ate. Many of the postures involve twisting, laying on the stomach, and constricting the abdominals -  so being on an empty stomach makes for better comfort in general.

Last week one of my students asked me if he can be a Yogi and drink alcohol. Apparently some schools of Yoga do not advocate drinking alcohol at all. If this is your decision, awesome. But, I do not advocate purism in any form. So, to answer this question, I repeat something one of my Yoga teachers once said: Yoga may interfere with drinking. But the two are not mutually exclusive.

As we often find ourselves in circumstances that involve an alcoholic beverage or three, be it a dinner party, a vacation, or relaxing at home. Do not panic. Just because you have had a glass or two of something, does not mean you can not practise Yoga.

While I do not advise bringing a beer into the Yoga studio. It is perfectly acceptable to have said beer, wait an hour, then practise.

A Yoga class after a glass of wine = Advanced Yoga (insert laughter here).

As an extension to this line of thinking. Here we present Hangover Yoga. Relevant this weekend  after dinner at Alan Wong's in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Sake was really good.

My first advice to cure a hangover is simple:  drink 2 litres of water and consume some protein (in this case macadamia nuts). If you have a cold ocean or shower nearby, get wet.

Afterwards, even though your body does not want to work out. Do it.

I have a Chiropractor friend in Calgary, Canada who swears by sprinting off his hangovers. You may not achieve record time, but you will rebound to normalcy.

Sprinting is really hard on your body. Therefor, I recommend trying a little Yoga practise that emphasises standing postures. Standing postures require balance. Your balance, after a cocktail or an evening with a bottle of Sake, is off. Finding balance when you feel off is an amazing challenge. The act of trying =  succeeding.

Wobble fearlessly my friends!

For your amusement here is my "Hangover Yoga."

Whether or not you were getting into the Sake, whenever your life seems to lack in stability -  create balance through a standing Yoga practise.

xoxo
Laaila
The Yoga Bunny

Yogi Glow - Homemade Facials

Our skin is our biggest organ. We should all want radiant skin. As someone who's suffered from terrible skin incidents all her life (rashes, mild eczema, zits, redness, dryness, etc) I have spent a lot of time and energy researching different ways to achieve and maintain nice skin.

If you're interested in some of the NOT TO DOS here are the top ones that come to mind:

-picking at your skin

-getting sun burnt

-leaving a chemical/acid peel on for too long

-drinking alcohol or using medication

Our skin actually mirrors our liver. So, if you're skin looks nasty, it's safe to assume that your liver may need a cleanse.

The practise of Yoga can help, aesthetically, on several levels. First of all, Yoga reduces stress. Stress causes bad skin and wrinkles. Yoga also helps you to get better sleep. Lack of sleep = general ugliness.

Furthermore, the postures of Yoga help your blood to circulate. On the level of the organs, this is detoxifying and also nourishing. On the level of what you can see on the outside, the general appearance of cellulite diminishes. Plus you build toned muscles.

If you don't believe me, then simply take a look at a group of Yogis after they practise, you will notice a group of glowing people! Just make sure you're not assessing those who've practised in a HOT class....these people often look beet red and 3 degrees short of a minor heart attack. This is another topic all together. And one we won't get into.

Instead, let's explore the concept of taking the practise of yoga and the yoga diet one step further -and consider at-home skin care / spa treatments.

A Yogi diet involves using healthy oils and drinking plenty of chemical-free water. So, your kitchen already contains several key-items that can be used to make exfoliates, masks, and cleansers. 

If you are sceptical about using food on your skin. Simply look at the products used by top spas around the world. You will typically see many food-based treatments and ingredients. Even my girlfriend said to me today how amazed she was by the natural ingredients used at the spa she visited recently in Vietnam. Ingredients like honey, milk, and oatmeal were  making their way off the breakfast table and into her treatment room.

 

One doesn't even have to travel to top-spas around the world  in order to treat themselves to a world-class skin-care regime.

Look no further than the kitchen!

AT HOME SKIN CARE INGREDIENTS

1. Sea Salt - this general exfoliant and antiseptic can be used as toothpaste or to slough away dead skin from your face / body. Use with water or add to a natural soap / oil.

2. Oil - Can be used as hair serum, skin / facial moisturiser, lip-gloss, or makeup-replacement.

Can be applied to wet or dry skin / hair.

Different oils have different properties. For example, Coconut Oil is considered to be cooling. Which makes it great to use in the summertime. Oils like Walnut Oil are considered to warming. Try this one in the winter-time or if you generally feel cold.

I like to have an array of oils to choose from. Moroccan Argan Oil is absolutely amazing for the hair. And if you're undecided on which oil to start with for your body, I recommend Olive Oil because it's easy to find and neutral smelling.

3. Avocado - good at breakfast and good as a moisturising face mask.

4. Cacao - A mild exfoliant and helps with oil-control.

5. Eggs - Oil control

6. Oatmeal - Mild oil control and exfoliant

7. Coffee - Medium exfoliant, enhances blood circulation, can have a bronzing effect.

8. Wine -  Detoxifying and nourishing. Add some to your bath while enjoying a glass.

9. Pomegranate Juice - natural lip or cheek stain

10. Lemon - Antiseptic and exfoliant

11 Jasmine Oil - An exotic and floral natural perfume

Happy skin-care and at-home spahhhhing everyone :)

Reconnect with Nature - A Vacation from Electronics

Cell phones, iPads, microwaves, cameras, the Internet, WiFi, watches, alarm clocks, television, washing machines, laptops and other electronics interfere with our body's natural cycles.

Ask yourself. When is the last time I took a vacation? Not a retreat towards the sun. A real vacation, living without electronics or unnatural influence.

The ancient writings of Hatha Yoga describe Shat Karma, or bodily purification. There are six basic practises (of Kriyas) which include

1. Neti - Irrigation of the Nasal Passages/Sinus

2. Dhauti & 3. Basti - Cleaning the digestive tract through Colonic, Enema, Tongue Scraping etc

4. Nauli - Breathing Exercise to Manipulate the Abdominals

5. Kapalabhati - Breathing Exercise of rapid, abdominal (diaphragmatic) breath.

6. Tratak - Cleaning of the tear ducts / Candle Meditation

What the ancient Yogis missed (due to the fact that in ancient India there were no cell phone) is a 7th form of Purification - Cleansing from Electronics.

Recently, I went cell-phone-less for a month. It was amazing because life went on. If I needed to make plans, I did so in advance using the Internet. If making plans in advance did not work then I defaulted to option:

b) pay phone

c) using someone elses phone

d) leaving all meetings to chance. 

To many of my friends, not having a cell phone required an apology. But it was an amazing experience. One I invite all of you to try. Start by putting your phone away at nighttime, then for an entire evening, then an entire day.

You will be amazed at how much more PRESENT you feel.

Small steps like this are how to start a lifestyle that includes Shatkarma or bodily purification.

Step 1: Since some of the Yoga Shatkarma practises are advanced, I do not recommend trying them.

As always, do some research and talk to your Yoga Teacher for guidance.

Step 2: Otherwise, dive in and experiment. Depending on your lifestyle and environment some of these activities will serve you better than others. For example, if you are sensitive and live in a polluted city (or even a dusty apartment) try cleaning your nasal passage/sinus once a week. The result is delightful.

Step 3: Treat yourself to a colonic irrigation. Through talking to friends or referencing a directory find a professional colon hydrotherapist in your city.

He or she will provide a safe, clean, and informative environment to learn how to take water into your colon. 

Step 4: Laugh

Step 5: Once you are comfortable with the notion of cleaning your colon, go buy an Enema and use it.

By cleansing the body we improve our health and create a lightness. One day you may find yourself living more simplistically.

Recently, I took my practise to the next level and went totally natural for 7 days: No makeup, no suitcase/closet of clothes, no watch, no phone, no Internet, no camera, and no commitments. If I was tired I slept. If I needed to cry, I cried. If something was interesting, I went for a look.

What happened during these 7 days was amazing. I reconnected with nature and reconnected with my body's natural cycles. At certain points it was as if I was hearing things and seeing things for the first time. My surroundings became sensational. A natural high.

Even better. The quality of sleep I experienced was the deepest, most tranquil and invigorating sleep of my life. During the night on a few occasions I had dreams - vivid ones - where I revisited troubling and stressful events. During the dream there was dialogue and observation and a letting go. I often woke up crying. But it was as if I was crying to say goodbye. I know that certain things that once haunted me, will no longer affect me. Countless weight and stale emotion has left my being.

In my opinion, this is a REAL vacation. This is how you decompress from city living and re-charge your battery. By going without electronics and living moment-to-moment one can re-set for real life. Because real life includes public transit, arguments, annoyances, relationship drama, alarm clocks, and computers. Real life is hard.

So, as you plan your next vacation, your next day off, or start a lifestyle that involves Shat Karma (Yoga bodily purification). Try the 7th Practise: Vacation from Electronics. You may really like what you discover.

Raw Yellow Curry

Eating raw in the summer or on vacation is a good idea. It's a good idea in general, but in cooler climates the body often craves that food be warm or cooked. So for all of you in the latter category, keep cooking. However, I happen to be eating 75% raw following last week's 7-day detox cleanse.

So, after an afternoon on the beach, back in my hotel with a few simple ingredients, dinner is served.

Raw Vegetarian Yellow Curry

Ingredients:

Creamed young coconut flesh
seasoned with yellow curry spices, turmeric, small red chilli pepper, and sea salt

Mix in chopped Veggies and Herbs

-carrot
-young zucchini
-tomato
-granny smith apple
-cilantro
-dill

Beachside Yoga & Walking in Thailand

Ending Yoga Class in Tree Pose (Vrksasana)

Tree Pose (Vrksasana)

This pose strengthens your legs, opens your hip flexors, and grounds you.




Steps to practise Tree on Right Leg:

1. Stand up strait, on two legs, feet are slightly less than pelvis width apart

2. Relax your mind

3. Place your hands on your hips

4. Shift your weight into your left foot

5. Slowly place your right foot on the inside of your calf, lightly by the knee, or the upper thigh

6. Fix your gaze on a focal point, a drishti, for balance and to silence your mind

7. Extend arms strait above your head

8. Prress your palms together over your head, keeping a gentlen bend in your elbows

9. Relax your shoulders

10. And Breathe

Steps to practise Tree on Left Leg:

1. Stand up strait, on two legs, feet are slightly less than pelvis width apart

2. Relax your mind

3. Place your hands on your hips

4. Shift your weight into your right foot

5. Slowly place your left foot on the inside of your calf, lightly by the knee, or the upper thigh

6. Fix your gaze on a focal point, a drishti, for balance and to silence your mind

7. Extend your arms strait above your head

8. Press your palms together, keeping a gentle bend in your elbows

9. Relax your shoulders

10. And Breathe