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Greetings~
During my recent excursion to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, I was overcome with appreciation for rain, solitude, and a chance for renewed perspective. As I walked around the quiet town of Manteo, relieved as I watched all the yellow pine pollen muck drain in to the gutters, I noticed the bulbs of flowers and trees beginning their journey toward the sun, witnessing their boldness and vibrancy. I could feel the Earth starting to awaken, to pulse to a new rhythm. How I wish I could always have that resilience, that unwavering perspective toward light and love!
But at some point during my stay on the coast, the rain helped my body and mind let go of the anxiety so common to us all (fear of missing out, fear of scarcity, fear of illness, etc.) that can permeate our beings, and I was able to see from a new lens. We are usually primarily running on and living in one of two states of consciousness: fear or love. When I find myself frozen or wound up or worried, I know it's fear.
If this happens to you, rather than diving into all the reasons why and how, and analyzing it to pieces, shift your focus to something completely different. Try something that holds value for you. You never see a flower wondering why the thunder and lightening won't stop or why it happened in the first place. It simply accepts with openness and waits for the sun to return, knowing that each element is a piece in its journey to wholeness.
Some activities can turn the coin back to the face of love for me. "Getting out of town" is one of my favorites. It can be one of the best ways to see my life from a new angle, to find the acceptance within a challenge, and to appreciate what I have. And the delight of Spring makes it so much easier to see Love and Beauty everywhere!
Sometimes the "yellow muck" is all we can see. The pollen of hardship and inadequacy rules the ship. Then the rain comes to clear our souls, reshape the wind, and direct our ship to a new light. And the beauty is revealed, our magnificence shines, and we step in to a new space, bold like the tulips.
Namaste,
Anisha
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Create space with mountain retreat
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Speaking of creating space and getting away, our Spring Mountain Retreat is the perfect solution. Enjoy yoga, qi gong, meditation, rejuvenation, and friendship. There is still time to register!
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Restorative Yoga focuses on ease
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April 6, May 11, and June 15 at blue lotus
When the body is fully supported, it naturally relaxes, releasing deeply held tensions. Restorative yoga is the yoga of non-doing, and focuses on effortlessness and ease, using well placed blankets, bolsters, yoga straps, and chairs to safely support the body in various postures. This process invokes a natural state of balance, replenishment, and healing rest.
 Anisha recently completed a restorative yoga teacher training at the Kripalu School of Yoga, during which she learned how to guide students through a set of restorative postures, complemented with gentle stretching, breathing, and meditation.
"Through direct experience, practice teaching, and feedback, I realized I had underestimated the power of restorative yoga practice," she reflected. "In some ways I believe it is the real foundation of yoga. I felt my body slowly 'unwind' from months of tension, allowing myself to come back to my true Self. Being swept up in the day-to-day, I hadn't realized how far I had traveled away from that Self."
Join Anisha for Restorative Yoga, and invite your body and mind to unwind. The practice is also great for those new to yoga or those recovering from injury.
Restorative Yoga with Anisha at blue lotus
6:30 - 8:00 pm, Fridays April 6, May 11, June 15 |
Acupuncture for allergies
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Approach addresses the root of the allergyMany of us welcome the bright sights and sounds of spring with open arms, but for many others, spring means an unwelcome "hello" to allergy season. The blossoming trees are accompanied by pollens, followed by grass and weed pollen later in the season. Relief from allergy symptoms is found generally in over-the-counter (OTC) remedies from the local drug store. Antihistamines inhibit the allergic response, while steroids and decongestants act on the nervous system. However, side effects from OTC remedies can be not-so-pleasing: drowsiness, suppression of the immune system, and relying too much on the meds.
There is another option. More and more people are turning to an acupuncturist for advice and treatment when it comes to managing their allergies. The difference in approach is that Chinese medicine believes in addressing the causes of allergies with a focus on balancing the immune system for long-term health.An acupuncturist looks for deeply rooted signs in each patient in order to treat the whole person. According to Chinese medicine, people with chronic allergies often show signs of deficiency in kidney or spleen, as well as lung ailments. An acupuncturist can develop a plan to provide relief to the patient's acute symptoms while also addressing the underlying immune system imbalance at the root of the allergies. These treatment plans often include modifying the diet and using specific herbal formulas, as well as acupuncture.Once allergy symptoms are managed effectively, the acupuncturist can address a longer-range plan to modify the patient's response to his or her environment, over time reducing the frequency and severity of allergic responses. |
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Sit quietly,
doing nothing,
spring comes,
and the grass grows by itself.
~ Zen saying
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