Happy Holidays
DRINK, SLEEP, LOVE — Part 2 of 3
SLEEP
According to the National Sleep Foundation, most adults need at least 7-9 hours of sleep a night and adults over 65 require 7-8 hours. However, it is important to pay attention to your own needs by observing how you feel on different amounts of sleep.
Are you healthy and productive on 7 hours or do you need 9 hours of sleep to get you into gear? 
Scientific studies have shown that just a very small group of people require less sleep than mentioned above.
We sleep for many reasons:
- Enriches our ability to learn, memorize and make logical decisions
- Improves our psychological health. Dreaming also has benefits
- Supports our immune system and metabolic systems
- Fine tunes the balance of insulin and glucose
- Regulates our appetite and supports intestinal and cardiovascular health
- Lowers blood pressure
- Can prevent infection and ward off all kinds of illnesses
- Can lower cancer risk
DRINK, SLEEP, LOVE – Introduction (Part 1 of 3)
Providing chronic pain support is an important part of my services and education for you. I will be publishing a comprehensive series that addresses three of the tools that may ease chronic pain: drinking water, adequate and restful sleep, and deep love.
As we have discussed elsewhere, many of us suffer from chronic pain. For example, arthritis can cause stiffness and pain in the joints. Pain can result from various inflammatory conditions, post surgery, etc. Research tells us that the intensity of the pain can be reduced or modified in various non-pharmaceutical ways.
Pain is modified by taming the unpleasant feelings and thoughts associated with the pain. Some ways to accomplish this include a mindfulness practice, guided relaxation, healthy eating, gentle exercise, massage and yoga to name just a few. Continue reading “DRINK, SLEEP, LOVE – Introduction (Part 1 of 3)”
OPENING YOUR HEART: METTA MEDITATION
In the yogic tradition, breath is considered energy medicine. Conscious breathing balances our emotions and calms the mind.
Breathing deeply and mindfully helps stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system to trigger the relaxation response, which decreases blood pressure and slows the heart rate. In yoga we inhale to create length in the thoracic spine. This expands the lungs bringing oxygen (prana) to the respiratory organs. Continue reading “OPENING YOUR HEART: METTA MEDITATION”
The vow of Sankalpa
Many of us have broken our New Year’s resolutions already.
A Sankalpa is different; it is a positive, sustaining vow.
“When you say something with your whole being… it can change the world.” ~ Thich nhat Hanh
Sankalpa is a Sanskrit word meaning connecting to your heartfelt desire. San refers to connection with the highest truth and honoring the meaning of one’s life. Kalpa is a vow. Thus Sankalpa is a “vow and commitment we make to support our highest truth”. ~ Rod Stryker Continue reading “The vow of Sankalpa”
The virtue of Ahimsa
In ancient times, Patanjali, the codifier of Yoga formulated a set of ethical guidelines (yamas), the first being Ahimsa, which means “non harming”. The person practices the virtue of Ahimsa in thought, word and deed. This person will emit harmonious vibrations.
Globally, the practice of Ahimsa can foster world peace. In medicine, Ahimsa can be compared to the Hippocratic oath: “First do no harm.” Continue reading “The virtue of Ahimsa”
Happy Holidays from Peace Mountain Yoga
Photo of the Buddha in a store window in Great Barrington, MA
Winter Solstice
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Most cultures interpret this solar event as recognition of rebirth. As the sun enters the zodiacal sign of Capricorn, it is a victory of light over darkness and the rebirth of the sun. It is a time to renew and restore .
There are many holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza), festivals, celebrations and gatherings around this time. Continue reading “Winter Solstice”
Mindfulness Yoga
“ The Awakened Union of Breath, Body and Mind”
Yoga is an ancient science and philosophy developed in the east 5000 years ago. The word Yoga means joining, yoking or the connection of the breath, body and mind.
Hatha yoga is the most popular Yoga in the west. The esoteric meaning of hatha is “ha”which signifies the sun and “tha” which signifies the moon. Thus it is the yoga that unifies the power of the sun and the moon-male and female energies within all of us. Continue reading “Mindfulness Yoga”
Chakras: an introduction
Chakras are considered to be the loci of life’s energy or prana. (Shakti, qi or ki) They vitalize the physical body as they flow along the energy channels by integrating our emotional, physical and mental natures. They are associated with the many physiological functions of the body including the various organs and endocrine glands.
Chakras can be thought of as data bases (Carolyn Myss) where your life’s experience and emotions are filtered. Continue reading “Chakras: an introduction”