Pinatas, Ahimsa, and Charity

I take a small departure from the purely yogic world to talk about something that came up for me at my son's 6th birthday party yesterday.

Instead of a traditional candy filled pinata, we filled one with 720 ping pong balls, and told the kids that when the goodies fell out of the pinata, they were to collect whatever they wanted, and then put them in any of six boxes around the party site - 2 each for charities that Eli picked out. Ever ball was worth five cents toward that chartiy. Children were welcome to take some home as well. Though Eli thought the kids would be upset there was no candy, then scramble to shove ping pong balls into pockets and shirts and hands and pants seemed to entertain them well enough, as well as playing "basketball" tossing the balls into the boxes.

I was pleased with my cool new idea, saving quite a bit of money by not buying candy, and sparing parents and kids the sugar hang-over as well as reducing the "gimme more candy" scramble the invariably leaves some kids crying.

But it turns out my new "trend" isn't so new... at some point in history, pinatas were used to help children learn religious lessons, with one of them being Charity. From the interwebs ""Finally the piñata symbolized ‘Caridad’, Charity. With its eventual breaking, everyone shared in the divine blessings and gifts." (see http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/459-history-of-the-pi%C3%B1ata).

Which brings me to my point. With these sweet and celebratory roots of the tradition, it pains me to see children elbowing one another to get at the candy. Which is why did the HUGE quantity of ping pong balls AND made the kids use a wiffle bat (so that more kids had a chance to play, and EVERYONE would get prizes).

But I started to question the practice in general when I saw that children that were having a difficult time NOT punching and hitting the pinata long before we were playing the game because they KNEW (well, assumed) that there was a ton of candy inside. I heard them say they "couldn't wait" and "I really want to SMASH it" That bothered me. A Lot. I mean, it's just a little game that sometimes gets you some candy - why was it jacking them up so damn much?

When the game started it was innocent enough. But some kids were so riled up, they tried to use the bat to tear the pinata from its hangar, tried to punch through the bottom and stab at it with the bat. Then when the first gifts fell from our pinata, a few grabbed at it and started to aggressively tear the panels open so they could dump out the contents. And then it got ugly (uglier) - kids on the ground having fun picking up the ping pong balls, but what I was drawn to watching were the few that tore the darn thing down from the tree, using hands, feet and the bad to beat it into submission, to absolutely dismember it. When the ball gathering had completed, the (battle) ground was littered with little yellow streamer paper and shreads of cardboard, dirtied and damp, he whole thing discarded and dismissed, as they all went on the enjoy the party.

I'm being a bit (ok, a lot) dramatic here, but what I felt when I watched this take place was a complete oxymoron of emotions. One the one hand, the charity experiment was WORKING - kids were loving the game, parents were loving the game, and there was much joy as balls rolled all over the grass so kids were spread out and NOT climbing on top of one another.

On the other hand, I felt a sinking failure as a parent: that my son and his sweet friends would participate in a mob that was bent on destroying something innocent. That platiutdes like "oh kids will be kids" and "they need to get their aggression out on something" were running through my mind and uttered by others. That I created a scenario that encouraged aggression and unregulated release of it through destruction. That I had tried to teach Tzedakah (charity) and Tikkum Olum (healing the world) but Ahimsa (kindness/non harming) had been lost - or at least misinterpreted.

I should have said "please do NOT get all Lord of the Flies on the pinata - once it opens we'll get the goodies out but we will NOT be tearing the thing apart limb from limb." I should have, but I didn't. I didn't want to be that parent that ran into a feverish group of children yelling "STOP" and (probably) not being heard, because, well, "everyone does this."

When did this trend to "grab the goods and then tear that thing limb from limb" start? And why do we... why did *I* ....let it continue?

Studies show that even young children can be easily led to participate in mob mentality (https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=mob+mentality+children+studies&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart&sa=X&ved=0CBwQgQMwAGoVChMIiamBvP33xwIVgtSACh1YjQxP)

And as adults we engage in it all the time in SEEMINGLY harmless ways: sporting events, rock concerts, piolitcal rallies. How often do WE just let our "spiritedness" out in what might be a less than savory manner - how often to we show our children it's ok to act out, to lash out, to lose self control, as long as (you think) it's not harming anyone, or if there is a reward (candy?).

Anyway, I'm more than pleased that in the end, a few kids really really liked the message, as did my friends. And i know that it's just a pinata, really I do. But the issue of "what do we teach when we aren't paying (enough) attention" seems to be something to which I'll certainly (try to )be paying more attention.

Yoga, Sciatica, Neck pain

I receive a lot of queries concerning how to utilize yoga to relieve certains pains/tensions, specifically sciatica nerve pain, and neck tension/stiffness. I am not a doctor, nor a chiropractor nor a PT (but I have visited them all many many many many many times). That being said, below is a selection of links that I have found useful for my own self-care practice and perhaps they can benefit you.

Know that here is a plethoria of (good and bad) information out there, but first and foremost you have to see a doctor if the pain is chronic OR severe (indicating injury or damage).

There are yoga poses to strengthen muscles to help with joint problems like arthritis and stenosis, but remember that range of motion may be limited so you have to be VERY aware of your own body and not push (but also know WHEN to give a little more effort).

There are yoga poses to stretch the muscles around the sore area (if there is an issue with tight and/or overused muscles).

And there are poses that do a little bit of both.

There needs to be some good body awareness for any of the remedies to help: for neck issues posture can be a huge component. Notice, do you thrust your chin out when sitting at a desk or driving or walking? Do you walk hunched over with rounded shoulders and head hanging? Small postural adjustments will do you a world of good but you need to be aware of the issues first and be willing to make conscious corrections until the good habits take over for bad.

As for sciatica, the terms usually refers to pain along the sciatic nerve. This nerve runs out of the spine and down along the back of the pelvis to the back/side of the leg. It can go under, over or sometimes through the piriformis muscle, which means when that muscle contracts, it can press on the nerve.

Walking with the feet face out ("duck footed") is common when we lose our good posture and walking technique because the legs rotate OUT and this contracts the piriformis. Extreme sway back positions (lordosis) can strain the low spine and cause nerve discomfort. On the opposite note, the tail tucked under from squeeing the glutes can also compress the pirifomis.

Learning better techniques for posture, for standing, and especially walking properly, with the hips leading rather than the feet, or the chin, or shoulders, can help relieve strain on the neck, the low back and piriformis.

There are great stretches for the outer hips and low back too, but please know if your piriformis runs through the muscle rather than around it, some of the stretches might cause increased pain. For chronic pain and MRI might be helpful to determine appropriate course of action.

So, what is the bottom line? See a doctor if necessary - try different things, do really intentional self care, be aware of small changes, practice good posture, experiment a bit and don't give up. You'll find what works.

Good luck!

http://www.yogaoutlet.com/guides/how-to-do-mountain-pose-in-yoga
http://yogaworldtips.com/best-yoga-poses-to-soothe-sciatica/
http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/pain-in-the-neck-do-yoga/
http://www.yogajournal.com/article/practice-section/primer-on-the-piriformis/
http://yogaworldtips.com/video-eliminate-chest-and-shoulder-tension-in-15-minutes/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4Mxw_7h8v8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDFYH2a1Lvw
http://www.yogajournal.com/article/yoga-101/anatomy-101-understand-your-hips-to-build-stability/

Intention Setting - excerpted from Elephant Journal (link below)

5 Steps to Intention Setting During Your Yoga Practice

see more at http://yoganonymous.com/5-steps-to-intention-setting-during-your-yoga-practice#sthash.RmRkZM8X.dpuf

Attitude of Gratitude: 

When you arrive for your practice start to shift into a state of gratitude. Take a moment to be grateful for this moment and the time you have on your mat that you have set aside for yourself. Practicing gratitude is a great tool that will help you a lot in becoming more open and more receptive.

Assess the Situation:

The first thing I ask my students to do in my classes when class begins is assess the state of their body, the rhythm of their breath and then, the state of their mind. Chuck Miller, one of the founders of Yogaworks in Santa Monica, used to say that before you start you first have to stop.

Create an Offering:

After their assessment, I ask my students to take a moment to offer their practice to someone they love or to the Universe. This small gesture can be felt immediately. Just by dedicating your practice to someone else or offering it to the Universe you feel yourself opening up a little, becoming a little more receptive.

You're Already There:

When you are setting your intention it’s important to feel the intention already working on you.  Imagine that it has already happened. You’ve already reached your destination.  See yourself already having made this shift in your life.  It’s already done. Try to see who is there with you.

Give Thanks: 

Offer thanks for everyone who has helped you along the way on your journey. If it’s hard for you to visualize then practice repeating your intention to yourself over and over again.
- See more at: http://yoganonymous.com/5-steps-to-intention-setting-during-your-yoga-practice#sthash.RmRkZM8X.dpuf

Special Yoga for Silver Sages!

Silver Sage Yoga for Bone Health and Balance

with Carolyn Boline

Saturday 9/12/2015  2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

$35.00 Early Bird, $40.00 at the door

This 2 hour workshop will include :
-moderate strength and weight-bearing poses to build and maintain bone density
-develop balance with stabilization poses
-props, including chairs, will be available to modify poses when needed for stabilization
-take home Yoga for Bone Health & Balance sequences for at home practice
-provide ample time for rest and integration for practices over 30 minutes
-lecture on benefits of Yoga with handouts

https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/home?studioid=245196

Create what you believe in; believe in what you create.

In prenatal yoga we often do svasana or pranayama with one hand on the heart and one on the navel center, connecting our hearts with those of the children, helping us hone in to the soul to soul connection between mother and child, facilitate transfer of energy and draw awareness and calm into the body.

I like the symbolism behind connecting the heart center to the creative center, but I also tend to add in the power center to the mix - the anahata chakra is the heart, the svadisthana chakra is the sacral center, and the manipura is the navel center or solar plexus. All three are connected with our hands spread across our chest and bellies.

It's a drawing together all the energy of the torso, circling it around to energize and purify the organs, stimulate awareness of all the vital workings of our bodies, and facilitate us feeling the breath move throughout the entire abdomen. In and of itself this is a great mind/body connection meditation.

But you can extrapolate this to an off-the-mat lesson by considering the idea of creating something that not just comes from the mind, but the heart, the instinct, and out of your own personal strength and willingness to move forward. As well, devoting time and energy and focus into the things that you have lovingly created. Why create something that isn't worthy of your utmost attention, and why devote attention to something that you don't truly want to create?

Food for thought. Go forward and be awesome.

On Success

Do you undermine your own success by distracting yourself with things that aren't relevant in your life or underestimating your own strength to overcome adversity? You need to trust yourself and your instincts and do right by you.

5 Steps To Lose Weight With Kefir

 “I've had periods in my life when I try different types of pills, weight loss programs and exercise. Some were good, some bad, and most really really bad, but what I am now, I would recommend to everyone without thinking. I regularly consume kefir. Since then my health has improved tremendously and weakening turned out to be a wonderful plus. But officially, to clarify it, drinking kefir helped me lose weight.”

Almond Peach Kefir Smoothie

  This conversation with my dear friend that I had not seen her in a while intrigued me and made me do a deeper study of this I am free to call miraculous drink which you can read below. 

 

  To start I am sure my curious readers will have several questions like what is kefir? What are its health benefits? How itcan help with weightloss?

  Kefiroriginated in theCaucasus Mountains ofcenturies ago. The word "kefir" derives from the Turkish word "keif",which literallytranslates as "good feeling" after a cup!

  So what exactly is it?Kefir is a complex symbiosis ofmore than 30microflora, which form grainstructure of proteins, lipids and sugars.
  Kefir is a drink with acreamy and slightly bittertaste of yoghurt,which is in fact thefermented milkcontains calcium, protein, phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamins A, B2, B12,C andE. But the most important thing it containand that I think is very importantare enzymes and "probiotics" that relate to microbesthat are "beneficial for life."

  Probiotics arelive and cultivated bacteria that help clean theintestinal tract, strengthening the immunesystem and improve the overall balanceof health. Kefiris much healthier than your favorite yogurtbecause yogurthas only one or two types ofprobiotics, while casual drink from kefirhas 10 or more.  

 Probioticswill not only keep you healthy,but will also help youlose weight.

Strawberry Milk Kefir

  While mostpeople think that if you reduceyour intake of milkdaily it can reduce your weight,a study conducted by the University of Tennessee  argues thatthe daily consumption of 3 to 4servings of dairyproducts can actually help youlose some weight. Kefiris a fermentedmilk with added calcium as one of his content.According to the survey, more calcium from foodhave inyour cells, the more fat is burnedthan stored and kept.

So the 5 stepsthat show you how toloseweight withkefir are...

First, switch to a healthy kefir dietwhich will not only reduceweight butalso will improve your health. Drinkkefir every morning for breakfast.Use kefir as yourregular milk and so you canmix some fruits -banana, peaches, mango or melon- withmilk from kefir to make a smoothie.

Second, when you make salad, create your own mixby simply buyingdry ingredients todecorate the salad, thenuse the kefirinstead of yourdaily milk.Consume healthysalad of kefirfor lunch and dinner.In other words, use kefirinstead of milkwhenever possible.

  How often should youeat kefir salad or anyfoods withkefir? And how from the drinkyou should consumedaily? Well, for sure you should not consult your doctor toknow how much you should drink kefirdaily, becausekefir isan organic healthydrink, not a dietary supplement for weight loss. This excludes nearlyall possible side effects.Just buykefir withlow-fat or fat-free.

Low Fat Orange Kefir

  There are different types of kefir that can be purchased at health food stores: plain kefir, fat-free, kefir from cow or goat milk and so on. You also can buy only kefir grains, so you can make your own power drink for home consumption or drink with your favorite fruit or taste. 

 There are two types of kefir grains, milk and water kefir grains. You can make healthy kefir drinks using water kefir grains, which are also called tibicos, California bees (called by many people) or Japanese water crystals.

Third,since kefiris really healthy drink, you still need to watch how many caloriesyou enter withkefir. When trying to reducesome weight usingany type of drink or nutritioussmoothie, you still needto watch thecalorie intake and regular exercise. Purchasethe correct type of kefir for the intendedpurpose, such as to loseweight. There are about 87calories in 3/4 cupof kefir. A glass kefirmay contain 110calories.

  You might also want to know how many carbohydrates are necessary with kefir. A serving of 240 grams should contain only about 12 grams of carbohydrates, 11 grams of protein and 2 grams of fat.

  I know, counting calories is like a taboo for a normal person (like me), so I would like to paraphrase something that would sound normal... "Controlled serving." That's how you should know when it's enough to control yourself. Import and export of calories is obvious theory, but it acts on me (and for millions of other people in the world), so I do not regret it. 

 

  Apply HiiT (High-intensity interval training) an exercise strategy alternating short periods of intense anaerobic exercisewith less-intense recovery periods. So we have cardio + a little weight lifting + diet –Perfect solution.

  The preparation ofwater kefiris alsoa healthy alternativeas a dietary supplementfor weight loss. Simply add waterkefir grains in a jaror pitcher. Place differentkinds of aromas and flavors thatyou want, such as lemon, pineapple orginger. If you want to sweetenthe mix, be careful how muchsugar you add. Usesoluble sugar, not honey. Never use honey becausehoney can damage waterkefir grains.

Water Kefir Soda

  Smart Move is to drink milk kefir and water kefir interchangeably. Both have the same effects on health and weight loss, but with different tastes, textures and needs. Milk kefir is similar to yogurt, and water kefir is like baking (and it is almost as if the beer is brewed). 

  But how many caloriesthere are infact in a water kefir? There is no correct answer, because it depends on howthe grains are fermented. However, it is safe tosay thatthe caloriecontent is very low, almost no ormuch less than what is in the milkkefir.

 Fourth, for those reallyserious who want to lose weightor want to losea considerable amount of weight, replace one or twomeals a day with a glass of fruitsmoothie withkefir? If this is too much, turn cheese and breadfor breakfast,vegetables for lunch,fruit for snacks and smallpieces of cookedfish and vegetables for dinner.

Finally, probiotics foundin kefircan help you lose weight, reduce cholesterol, purify your inner eco-system and improves intestinalmovement. Loss of weight andhaving a nice body isprimarily an overall discipline. Be careful what you eat, reduce your alcohol intake, sleepis, avoid stress and exercise regularly.

Blueberry Water Kefir

In addition, I will give you all Benefits of Kefir

- Produce of own antibiotics

- Eliminate "bad" bacteria

- Having rebalanced of intestinal flora and stomach acid

- Regulates metabolism by improving digestion

- Improves blood circulation and normal blood pressure

- Producing an anti-cancer compounds and prevent metastases

- Has antifungal properties to improve the treatment of various skin diseases

- Has a positive effect on the nervous system

- Reduces anxiety and depression

- Increases energy and elevates mood

- Studies have shown that milk, cultured 24 hours with live kefir grains can lower cholesterol up to 63%.

- Of 200 subjects with type 2 diabetes, heavy 85% of them have reached a normal glucose level after a month after drinking 3 cups kefir day.

- Many useful enzymes and bacteria in kefir helps in digestion of lactose.

Kefir is often called as "miracle milk" because of its optimal health benefits.