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I have been teaching yoga for many years and
practicing even longer. The only thing, which relates
to the body, that I haven’t been able to at least 90%
help students with, is a migraine. It is one of the
hardest changes in the body to work with but it is
not impossible. This is because there is very little
known about what causes migraines in individuals.
Physicians do believe that it is genetic, that it
affects more women then men, that there is a
possible link to abnormalities of the neurotransmitter
seratonin or seratonin receptors on brain cells, and
that they usually initially strike after puberty but
before age 40. There is some evidence as well that
shows migraines subside with age either in frequency
or intensity. It is believed, from studies of
individuals, that there are specific triggers for
migraines as well, that are not brain based. Some of
these triggers are fatigue, changes in weather, bright
light, loud noises, menstruation, birth control pills and
insufficient sleep. There are also dietary triggers,
which include: wine, peanuts, chocolate, aged
cheese, artificial sweeteners, and caffeine. It has
also been studied that the onset of a migraine is
common during periods of relaxation after a stressful
day. From by personal teaching experience, I believe
that along with stress, the tension held in the
shoulders and neck play an important role in the
onset of a migraine.
There are five distinct stages of a classic migraine;
prodrome, aura, headache, termination, and
postdrome. Someone may experience more than one
stage but not necessarily all of them.
Prodrome stage: This stage occurs hours to days before a migraine. Prior to a migraine, about 60% of migraine sufferers experience preliminary symptoms such as, depression or extreme happiness, heightened sensitivity to light, fatigue, loss of appetite, etc. Aura Stage: This stage immediately precedes or accompanies an attack. About 20% of sufferers experience visual disturbances, such as, flashing lights in a herringbone pattern or bright lights in geometric patterns, difficulty speaking, and some experience this aura stage without the migraine. Headache stage: This is the full-blown migraine stage with throbbing and shooting pain in the head. This stage typically lasts one whole day but can last up to three days! In 90% of individuals, nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite accompanies the headache stage. Other symptoms include blurred vision, nasal stiffness, diarrhea, neck stiffness, and difficulty concentrating. Termination stage: In this stage the pain finally begins to decrease. Postdrome stage: This is the stage after the pain subsides. Many migraine sufferers feel drained and irritable during this stage. Komaroff MD, Anthony (2005). Harvard Medical School, Family Health Guide. NY, NY: Free Press.br> Treatment options There are no diagnostic tests for migraines, just symptoms to study. Doctors treat migraines in two ways. They either give you medicines that help secondary symptoms of a migraine, which possibly help to cut the migraine short, or they give neurological medicines, which help lessen the number of migraines the patient is having. All in all, it is some help but it also causes other side affects in individuals. And eventually, the medicines stop working because your immune system, as it does with all medicines, begins to lose its efficacy. There are alternative ways to treat migraines that have been very successful for many sufferers. Biofeedback, acupuncture, and relaxation techniques (yoga and meditation) are quite helpful. Combine these treatments with avoidance of the triggers listed above and you are on the right path to freedom. Neck and shoulder pain can be worked on as well with your yoga instructor and a chiropractor. There are other food-based ideas that can possibly help when you combine them with the alternative treatments. In a recent Yoga Bean newsletter I spoke about pumpkin being used for migraine relief. I have included the application instructions below. Pumpkins for migraines: Scraped pulp of a fresh pumpkin can be applied to the forehead and temples. There are also herbs that have been known to help migraine sufferers. One of these herbs is Feverfew (a close botanical relative of Chamomile). In the 17th Century, English’s John Parkinson described feverfew as “very effective for all pains in the head.” More than 100 years later, John Hill wrote, “In the worst headache, this herb exceeds whatever else is known.” In the 1970’s Dr. E. Stewart Johnson of the City of London Migraine Clinic gave 270 of his migraine patients feverfew. 70% of the migraine patients reported significant relief- and for many of them, standard medical treatment has done nothing at all. Dr. Johnson has performed several major studies since then, all with the outcome that feverfew significantly outperformed the pacebos. How to take feverfew: Chew two fresh (or freeze-dried) leaves a day or take a pill or capsule containing 85 milligrams of whole-leaf material. Feverfew is quite bitter so most people opt for the capsule. If you are pregnant or under 2 years old it is not recommended to take this herb. Castleman, Michael (2002). The New Healing Herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press. |
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Hot Power Yoga: What is it and where did it
come from?
In order for me to answer this question I have to give you the definition of two types of yoga that actually make up the Westernized version of “Hot Power Yoga.” These two yoga styles are Ashtanga and Bikram. Ashtanga Yoga: Also known as Power Yoga, this style of yoga is light on meditation and heavy on developing strength and stamina. This is why it is the preferred yoga for athletes. The postures are more difficult than other styles of yoga. Students move quickly from one pose to another, using the breath to keep the flow even. A special breathing technique is used to keep the muscles warm. This technique is called Ujjayi (pronounced ooo-jah-yeee or ooo-jah-yeea). Some people call it “Darth Vader breathing.” The sound of Ujjayi is created by gently constricting the opening of the throat to create some resistance to the passage of air. Some say it sounds like the ocean when it is done correctly. Bikram Yoga: Also knows as Hot Yoga, this
style of yoga is practiced in a hot room of 95-110
degrees F, replicating the temperature of yoga’s
birthplace, India. Bikram yoga focuses on 26
postures that are performed in a certain order. When
combined with heat, this is a tough workout.
Because of the intense heat, this style of yoga is the
strongest for detoxing the body. The series of 26
postures help warm and strengthen muscles,
ligaments and tendons. The postures are not done
quickly, as in Ashtanga yoga, but very deliberately.
If you combine Ashtanga Yoga’s fast paced postures and breathing method with the heat of Bikram Yoga you will have successfully found yourself practicing “Hot Power Yoga.” Essentially, in the West, this style of yoga was created from two very strong yoga practices to make an even stronger and much more vigorous one. Warning: Unless you are very familiar with the Classical or Ashtanga Yoga postures and you are comfortable in excessive heat and humidity, you should not attempt to take a hot power yoga class. It is not only dangerous for beginners but it is extremely rigorous on the body. Only individuals in very good physical health should attempt this aggressive style of yoga. And if you do try it, remember to bring a water bottle, a couple of hand towels, and a newly cleaned or very sticky yoga mat. If you are interested in trying yoga for the first time or want to try it again after many years, try Hatha or Iyengar Yoga. They are two great styles of yoga that will acquaint you with the classical postures, strengthen your muscles, increase flexibility, and help you relax and release tension through the diaphragmatic breathing method. After you are comfortable with many of the classical postures of yoga you can explore the hundreds of other styles available to you. Enjoy! |
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‘Tis the season to localize your diet.
The healthiest group of people in the world are the Hunzas of the Kulu Valley. They are a tribe occupying a small valley in the border area between India and Tibet (The Wheel of Health, G.T. Wrench). Wrench concludes in this book that diseases only attack those whose outer circumstances, particularly food, are faulty. Antiseptics, medications, inoculations, and operations evade the real problem. Disease is the censor pointing out the humans, animals and plants that are imperfectly nourished. Good food should be grown on whole soil, be eaten whole, unprocessed and garden fresh. Any modification at all is likely to reduce the nutritive value of a whole food. Now a days we seldom get our food in its natural state. Not only do we not see the food in its natural state but the natural state of many foods is being altered! Begin to think outside the shopping
cart:
1) Food travels 1500 miles or more, on average, from farm to table. Food travels 30 miles on average when you buy locally. 2) Only 1 of 10 children ages 6-11 eats the recommended five daily servings of fruit or vegetables. 3) Since the turn of the century, 97% of fruit and vegetable varieties have become unavailable commercially, replaced by only a few uniform varieties. CSAs (Community Supported Agricultural farms) are extremely diverse and allows you to be much more creative with your cooking. 4) Conventional farmers receive less than 25% of your consumer food dollar on average. CSA farmers receive 100% of your dollar and helps keep small, family farms in business. Commercial farmers often realize very little, if any, profit. Where does all the money go when you buy, for instance, a red pepper at $3.00 per pound? Well, 80 cents of every dollar is used to process, package, transport, and market the product to us. This is called the ‘marketing bill.’ In 2000, the total marketing bill for domestically produced food reached $538 billion dollars, up 716% from 1970. When you buy food locally, at a CSA or local farmer’s market, you are cutting all the marketing out and allowing the farmer to reap the benefits of all their hard work. Not only do commercial farmers get the unfavorable percentage of profit but the produce that they worked hard to grow is being nutritionally destroyed in processing and packaging in order to meet the demand. Food processors and packers in the US are using several hundred chemicals to color, flavor, and preserve foods. Most fruits and many leafy vegetables are sprayed and dusted with arsenic, mercury, copper, sulphur and other materials intended to kill fungus and insect pests. These sprays and dusts penetrate the fruit or vegetable and increase its toxicity. Studies show that these toxins, in animal experimentation over an extended period of time and exposure, can develop cancer. There are many short term effects as well, such as; headaches, emotional instability, stomach aches, drowsiness, overall fatigue of the body, and many, many more. So why go to the store and load up on all of the chemical-ridden fruits and veggies. Why not try a local farmer’s market or CSA near you. You will be saving the farmer, the environment and your health! It’s worth a try. For more information on CSAs, please read the section called “Support.” Madison Area CSA Coalition (2003). From Asparagus to Zucchini. Madison, WI: MACSAC. Nearing, Helen and Scott (1989). The Good Life. NY, NY: Schocken Books |
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THE PARSNIP (Pastinaca sativa) –
A parsnip resembles an anemic carrot! Ironically it is one of the most nourishing vegetables in the entire carrot family, topping carrots for Vitamin C content. And similar to a carrot, in a plastic bag, a parsnip can keep for nearly one month in the refrigerator. Parsnips were heavily cultivated during medieval times. More popular than carrots and as staple a starch as potatoes are now, parsnips were a favorite. Sugary varieties were commonly fermented into wine. Introduced to North America in the 17th century, parsnips have, unfortunately, never caught on and are only a minor crop of very few farmers. Fatique Fighter and Cleansing Agent for the body! Other than potatoes, parsnips are the next best veggie that is loaded with food energy. Food energy is any food that contains a high vegetable protein count and/or is high in starch, which helps bring energy to the body. This type of ‘good’ energy helps fight fatigue, hypoglycemia, and people recently recovering from a serious illness or surgery. Parsnips are a natural diuretic as well! This strong diuretic helps remove toxins from the body when eaten on a regular basis (lunch/dinner) for one week. It can also help get rid of kidney and bladder stones. Here’s how: Fight stones with parsnips! Save the juice that is leftover from boiling parsnips. Drink a glass in the morning and at night for one month or until the stone passes through and out of your system. This is an old recipe of Colonial America. Thinking about planting a garden this season? Why
not include parsnips. They are very easy to grow.
Plant parsnip seeds right into the garden dirt about ½
inch deep and about 4 inches apart. The best time
to plant the seeds is late February or early March.
Then water regularly and watch them grow! For an
even sweeter taste, plant them late in the season
and let them grow through the frosty months,
harvesting them in early Spring!
Heinerman, J. (1995). New Encyclopedia of Fruits and Vegetables. Paramus, NJ: Parker Publishing Comp. RECIPES: Recently I went to a wonderful holiday dinner that was thrown by quite a remarkable woman and friend of the family, Mrs. Burchfield. She made a scrumptious dinner, which included, a gorgeous mixed green salad with nuts and dried fruits. For the main course, thinly sliced pieces of filet mignon (I don’t eat red meat, but she received many accolades for its flavor), asparagus with a delicate cream sauce, and the most amazing vegetable medley. I haven’t made this vegetable medley in many years and it reminded me of how good and easy it is to make. I call it a root bake. A root bake is essentially what it sounds like. You take all the winter rooted vegetables that you can find, pour a caramelizing sauce over them and bake them until they are fully cooked. In Ayervedic nutrition, a root bake helps “ground” a person when they are feeling as though they cant keep focus, cant feel relaxed, or when you are constantly on the go. It is a wonderful remedy for winter blues as well as it is a very healthy comfort food. Try it for yourself. It is also a great side dish for your children that can’t sit still and wont eat veggies. They wont even realize what’s in there! ROOT BAKE 6 Red Bliss Potatoes 10 Garlic cloves 2 large onions chopped up into cubes 1 head of broccoli 2 parsnips 3 beets 2 large carrots 2 turnips any other root veggie you would like. You can mix and match as you please. Marinade Salt & Pepper 1/3 cup of balsamic vinegar Olive oil Brown Sugar A few pats of butter or soy butter (optional) Chopped up rosemary, oregano and sage *Sometimes I add Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce to give it a stronger, tangier taste. *Add red pepper flakes to spice it up a little. Cut all of the veggies into cubes, mix the above marinade together first then pour over vegetables that are in a roasting pan. Roast veggies at 375 degrees until all vegetables are cooked to your liking. Since this is “Soup Month” I thought an appropriate soup recipe would sound good. THE ULTIMATE ROOT VEGETABLE SOUP 3-4 pounds of Chicken ½ cup peeled, sliced celery root (celeriac)- Look in the store for these next to the beets usually. 2 medium onions, sliced 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced 1 large parsnip, peeled and sliced 1 turnip, peeled and sliced 1 parsley root, peeled and sliced (or fresh parsley if you cant find this) salt and pepper Cooked rice or noodles Arrange chicken and veggies in stockpot or other large pot. Cover with water, heat to boiling; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered 2-3 hours. Add more water if necessary to cover chicken and veggies as they cook. Skim foam that forms on top. Season with salt and pepper to taste during the last half hour of cooking. Refrigerate about an hour in the pot. Strain into a clean pot. Remove chicken from bones and add to stock. Cut up or puree cooked veggies and add to stock. Taste to adjust seasonings. Refrigerate, covered, at least 8 hours so flavors mix together. Reheat and serve with cooked rice or noodles. If you have any great recipes with your favorite foods, please send them to me and I will include them in this section of an upcoming issue. Just email me at tina@yogabean.net. Thanks! |
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It’s my favorite time of year. It’s that time of year
when CSA’s are looking for individuals and families to
buy shares of their harvest from May through the end
of November. If you love organic produce because
you know that it tastes far better than anything you
can buy in the store and you want to support your
local farmers, than CSA is the way to go.
CSA- Community Supported Agriculture A CSA is a partnership between agricultural producers and consumers. Consumers, otherwise known as members or shareholders, provide enough money in late Winter/early Spring to meet a farmer’s operating expenses for the upcoming year. In exchange, the members receive a portion (or a share) of the farm’s produce each week throughout the season. Members experience and learn to eat what is in season. There are always risks with crops facing too much rain, a drought or any number of things. These are risks that are shared by both the farmer and consumer. It is a learning experience and an exciting and surprising adventure. CSA first came into practice in the early 1960s in Germany, Switzerland and Japan as a response to food safely and urbanization of agricultural land issues. It wasn’t until 1986 when the idea reached the East coast of the US. There are now approximately 1700 CSA farms in the United States. Many farmers utilize a number of farming methods, including succession planting of cool season and warm season vegetables, the use of season- extending green houses, and root cellars for storage, to provide produce for up to ten months out of the year. Madison Area CSA Coalition (2003). From Asparagus to Zucchini. Madison, WI: MACSAC. Want to find a CSA near you?
Go to their website (see below) and type in your zip code. It will give you a list of all the farms in your area. Most CSA memberships range from $300-$700 per share. The share consists of a large amount of vegetables (usually feeding four) each week for approximately 16-18 weeks. So you are averaging about $30 per week of all organic fruits, vegetables, and flowers. If you were to price out what you would have to pay for the same organic food in the grocery store, you would realize you are saving money, helping your local farmer and the environment. Remember, “Think globally, act locally.” CSA WEBSITE: http://www.localharvest.org/csa/ MORE INFO ON CSA: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/csa .shtml |
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Do you have that evergreen glow?
Conifers: Cone-bearing seed plants with vascular tissue. The majority of conifers are trees: firs, spruce, juniper, redwoods, cedar, etc. Evergreens, otherwise known as conifers, are one of the only pieces of color in the wintry months, wherever you may live. Not only do conifers bring beauty to our world but they also indulge us with a wonderful, woody aroma, which is uniquely their own. What you may not have known is that they are also medicinal as well. It was back in the 10th century that a Benedictine monk compiled a list of over 200 plants and trees of medicinal value. Several conifers were on this list. Now we know of hundreds of plants and trees that carry medicinal value. For more information on the medicinal value of plants
and trees that you may have in your backyard, check
out this website: http://www.pfaf.org/index.html
Below you will find some interesting things you can do with conifers that are probably in your backyard or not far away. Evergreen Tea: Pick a generous teaspoon full of fresh pine or fir needles (the newest growth is best) for each 8oz cup. Pour boiling water over the needles in the cup, stir, and cover with a saucer to keep in the volatile oils. Let steep for 5-7 minutes, or for a stronger cup, 10-15 minutes. Strain and drink. You can add maple syrup or honey for more flavor. Drink a few cups of this tea a day and it will help loosen phlegm and ease congestion, coughs, and sore throats. Evergreen Steam: For asthma, sore throats, and coughs, simmer a handful or two of fresh needles and twigs (clipped cleanly from the tree) in a covered pan for 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat. Sit close to the pan and drape a towel over your head, forming a tent to hold in the vapors. Lean over the pan and deeply inhale the vapors. Repeat for about 5 minutes, several times a day if needed. The compounds in the steam will help open the lungs, sinuses, and throat. Cedar Salve: Use the outermost twig growth from the previous spring, pruning a little of that cleanly off the tree and then clipping away the needles or leaves. Cut up the pieces of twig with garden shears and cook them over very low heat in extra virgin olive oil for 20 minutes. Cover, then remove the saucepan from heat and let sit for an hour or two, still covered. Strain out the vegetable matter; then return the olive oil to the pan. Add beeswax and melt over a low flame (1 part beeswax to 3 or 4 parts oil). Remove mixture from the heat. Add vitamin E as a preservative (one 400 IU capsule). Stir mixture and pour into containers. Let the mixture cool and congeal before capping. This salve has anti- bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal qualities. It can treat all kinds of rashes, burns, warts, and fungus. The Herb Quarterly (Winter 2006). Fremont, CA: The Herb Quarterly. |
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Dharma Tourists - by Yoga Bean's
Correspondent
on Pilgrimage
When you are greeted with palms clasped together at the chest, under a gently bowed head smilingly murmuring 'Ayubowan' ("May you have long life"), you are in Sri Lanka, be it anywhere from the cosmopolitan capital of Colombo, the traditional Kandy, a charming country village, or even facing the cashier at the checkout counter of the upscale Food City chain supermarkets. Any Yogi knows that 'yogi' does not actually refer to the one who contorts his body into fantastic positions, but to the one who takes on a practice leading towards a balanced and equanimous mind. The balance and suppleness of our asanas (postures), while being highly beneficial in its own right, is in fact geared towards developing the strong mind, able to remain tranquil and balanced even in the face of de-equilibrating disturbances. This is the spiritual teaching of Yoga, known also as the path of Dharma. In Asia, meditators staying in a Buddhist meditation center will also be called Yogis just as Buddha also used the word 'yoga' in his teachings ("From yoga comes wisdom"- Dhammapada - Sayings of the Buddha). Here, the original word 'yoga' used by Buddha refers, again, not to a series of postures but to the practice of disciplining the mind. In most English translations of the Dhammapada, however, this same word is translated as 'meditation,' the ancient sense of yoga having already lost its full depth of meaning. The true roots and essence of yoga, can, therefore, be explored in its well-known, popularized home of India as well in all its host lands of the ancient Buddhist countries. The profound meaning of yoga may be delightfully experienced in its host culture of Sri Lanka, where meditation and yoga, historic and scenic sight-seeing, succulent beaches and extraordinarily warm and welcoming local people all blend together into a fantastic and dreamy holiday. The first Sinhalese people came from north India around the fifth or sixth centuries BC, quickly overpowering the original inhabitants of the island, the Veddahs. Historically, Sri Lanka's ancient Sinhalese civilization witnessed stupendous feats of architecture, technology and arts, and numerous stunning sites remain from these times. The first ancient capitol city of Anuradhapura was established in 380 BC, later followed by the great Sigiriya fortress and Polonnaruwa city in an era which continued from the 4th century BC through to the 12th century. In the third century BC, King Ashoka of north India, converted Buddhist and great propagator of Buddhism, sent his son, monk Ven. Mahinda, to bring the Buddha's Dharma, or spiritual teachings, to Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan king, overcome by the beauty of Ven. Mahinda's teaching, became an ardent Buddhist, remaking his whole kingdom into Buddhist lands. Large monasteries, immense Buddha statues, and meditation caves carved into rocks and mountainsides still evoke the past glory of the rise of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka boasts the oldest living branch of the original Sri Maha Bodhi tree under which Buddha became enlightened in Bodh Gaya, India. A sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi tree, sent as a gift to Sri Lanka by King Ashoka and brought over by his daughter, Nun Sangamitta, was planted in Anuradhapura, where the very same tree has been venerated and protected until today, over 2000 years. (The original Sri Maha Bodhi in Bodh Gaya was later destroyed, and is now symbolically represented by a new Bodhi tree.) Enthusiasts of Buddhist philosophy will be intrigued by the rock monastery of Aluvihara, where meditation caves were carved out of huge boulders strewn over the mountainside. The ancient and renowned Buddhist monk-scholar Buddhagosa is said to have spent several years in a cave at this monastery. It is also believed to be the location of the first recording of the Buddha's doctrines in Pali language, around the 1st century BC. In landscape as well, Sri Lanka is unique in the wide variety of rich scenery it offers, from beautiful serene coasts, to fertile paddy-field plains, to towering mountains of tea plantations. Several nature reserves carry on a Buddhist tradition passed down since the ancient kings, who set aside wide protected areas of nature to allow wildlife to roam unharmed. For its rich diversity of greenery, Sri Lanka has been nicknamed 'The Emerald Isle.' Arriving to Colombo, you might let Sunil take charge of you as well as of any practical or logistical arrangements you may have. (www.sunilj.com) Besides being a thoughtful, honest and extremely helpful and knowledgeable guide who can arrange any details or plans for you anywhere in the country, Sunil has also a multitude of other talents and skills, so don't hesitate to contact him with any questions. He will even invite you to your first Sri Lankan home, his very own. Sri Lanka revolves around traditional family life, and no trip is complete without drinking tea in the warm bosom of a Sri Lankan family. For fitness in Sri Lanka, nothing can beat Lifestyle wellness center in Colombo (www.colombol ifestyle.com) where you can be guided by top fitness trainers, work your muscles alongside the Colombo elite, take yoga and various innovative fitness classes, and indulge in massage or physiotherapy treatment from Colombo's top fitness trainers, physiologists, and therapists. The great juice bar and health snacks -including the best oatmeal cookies I've ever tasted!- are already a great reason to drop by, and Lifestyle's new Elements health food café continues the same tasty trend. Check the desk for any special activities going on, and make sure to check out Lifestyle's luxury beach camps, running from one to two weeks, which bring spectacular beach camping to a new level of comfort and blend it with yoga, massage, water sport kite- boarding, healthy food and great company. Groups are limited to no more than 12 people to ensure maximum personal attention. Check out these fantastic wellness beach camps directly at www.elements.lk, and book quickly for your preferred time period! If you are eager to start meditating, some of the country's well-known meditation centers are right in the capital. These include International Vipassana Meditation Centre at Wijerama Mawatha, in Colombo 7, and the Pagoda Meditation Centre, Nugegoda, Pagoda Rd, 1st Cross St. 49/2. This center is run by Venerable Olande Ananda from Holland, find more information at www.olandeana nda.com. Forty-five minutes by car from Colombo, direction Kandy, is the International Centre for Buddhist Meditation Training, (where these particular pilgrims have spent much time), which functions as part of the larger Kandubodha Monastery. The monastery offers basic lodgings as well as a totally authentic experience of the Buddhist layman experience. Find Kandubodha Meditation Centre online at www. metta.lk/temples/kandubodha. The Principal Meditation Instructor, Venerable Upali, has also recently opened a new international meditation center, with new, comfortable lodging and a relaxed atmosphere, near Chilaw, about one hour north of Colombo along the coast and 10 km inland, in the village of Kokkavila. In all traditional meditation centers, unless specified otherwise, all payment is by donation only, which may be given upon leaving. As a meditator, you may be living alongside the bhikksus and bhikksunis- monks and nuns- of the monastery. For the Westerner, it is quite an experience to live amongst the Buddhist Sangha- monkhood, considered holy, or worthy of veneration, in the Sri Lankan culture, for their choice to put on the robes of renunciation and take the vows to live by the Dharma. It is habitual for the layperson to bow down at the feet of the monk or nun. Anyone who may happen to see a nun crossing the path of a monk will witness one of the ancient rules laid down by Buddha as a condition of women being accepted into the monastic order- that any Nun, no matter how many years already ordained, must bow down to any Monk, no matter he may be just that day ordained. This relic of ancient culture makes for the strange sight of an elderly Nun bowing down to a mere boy of a Monk, a sight quite incongruous with today's world to Western eyes, yet a practice still kept faithfully by the Buddhist Sangha. Apart from the robed monks and nuns, Sri Lankan
laypeople come to stay some days or weeks at the
monastery as meditators, or yogis, following the basic
precepts of the monks while they are residing at the
monastery, including not eating after noon. Food can
be provided in the evening however, upon request, if
necessary. All food at the monastery is brought by
local people as offerings to the Sangha and to the lay
meditators. The food is served to each monk and
meditator with great reverence, as any person taking
on the practice of meditation is considered worthy of
high respect. In Buddhist Asia, very much unlike the
West, the practice of meditation retreat and
disciplining of the mind is considered one of the
highest and most worthy pursuits. Being treated with
such respect and reverence for the fact of sitting in
meditation (and sometimes in daydreaming) can be
rather disconcerting for the Westerner, more used, in
the West, to being derided or ridiculed, rather than
venerated, for cross-legged meditation. Trying to
live up to this high respect shown by the local
population definitely helps to increase one's efforts to
advance in meditation (and avoid daydreaming!). All
Sri Lankan upasikas - lay meditators - in the Sri
Lankan monasteries and meditation centers dress
modestly and usually all in white. Plenty of simple and
light white cotton skirts and blouses can be found
here in Sri Lanka. The men usually wear white
sarongs, and white cotton pants may be something
of a scarcity, though any tailor could whip some up
for you, if you are not too bothered about exact
precision. For more cultural information regarding
Buddhist culture and visits to meditation centers and
monasteries, see www.buddhanet.net/sacred-island/hints-
for-pilgrims and for an extensive list of
meditation centers and monasteries in Sri Lanka, see
www.metta.lk,
temples and meditation centers.
As a man, any small Buddhist araniya - forest hermitage- might welcome you to stay, if you are adventurous, able to accept basic conditions and local food, and chatter with monks who may speak only ten words in English but accompanied by great big smiles to make up for any lack of linguistic understanding or coherency in the words they may throw out! Kandy, last stronghold of the Sinhalese kings, and city of the mountains and tea plantations, with its famous temples and scenic man-made lake, is a must for any visit in Sri Lanka. The famed Temple of the Tooth (Dalada Maligawa) holds the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, and all Kandy comes vibrantly alive in the Esala Perehara, a ten day festival of Kandyan drumming, dance and elaborate elephant procession in July-August in honor of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Stay two km outside the busy city center, in the quiet mountains with stunning views at Athula's family hotel, Geminn (www.geminn.com) . Athula's great cultural knowledge and insights of his country will give a rich perspective of real Sri Lanka and its changing society, while his friendliness will make you feel at home in the Kandy mountains. Superb meals can be enjoyed at his restaurant while taking in the beautiful landscape and mountain views. Hatha Yoga lessons are available in Kandy, as well as Ayurvedic treatments and massage; just ask Athula. Ask as well about his eco-lodge in the jungle, perfect for a 'jungle retreat'. The lodge, in the midst of unspoiled nature and wildlife, can accommodate several people. Food supplies can be brought for self-cooking or a cook can provide meals for the group, making for a perfect yoga and meditation retreat along with nature safari excursions. Just outside Kandy is the meditation centre Nilambe, well-known to foreigners, offering simple lodging and facilities, and meditation training and instruction. Nilambe has a fixed daily rate including all lodging, food and instruction. In the mountains it can be quite chilly; pick up a bunch of Samahan Ayurvedic herbal spice packets for 5 rupees each in any local store. An instant warming powder of cloves, pepper, ginger, cardamom and other local spices to ward off any coming cold, make sure to take a bunch home with you! Discover hands-on the secrets of Sri Lanka's treasure trove of Ayurvedic herbs and spices at Woodlands Institute in the scenic mountain town of Bandarawela, just a few kilometers away from the popular tourist town of Ella. As well as traditional Ayurvedic treatments and food, Woodlands also offers Ayurvedic cooking classes very popular for the in-depth instruction and knowledge they offer. (E- mail: info@woodlandsnetwork.org) Adam's Peak, or Sri Pada, sacred to Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Moslems, is the most famous pilgrimage of Sri Lanka, attracting masses of pilgrims of all religions during the traditional pilgrimage period between December and April. The footprint marked in stone at the top of the peak is said to be where Adam first set foot on earth, after being cast out of heaven. Alternately, the peak may hold the footprint of the Buddha, of the great Hindu god Shiva, or, according to others, the footprint of the Prophet Mohammed. No matter whose footprint it may be, the spectacular view and the climb shared by devotional throngs of all four religions is well worth the considerable effort of reaching the top! Sai Baba devotees might like to pop in Sai Ashram in Wellawaya (4 km down Ella road) a center running multiple farming, education, training and work programs for the rural poor. A Sri Ravi Shankar Children's School is being built on the premises to accommodate the country's poorest children. Heading towards the coast for some fresh sea breeze, stop first in Kataragama, one of the most important religious pilgrimage sites of Sri Lanka along with Adam's Peak, and again, sacred for Buddhists, Hindus and Moslems alike, its blessings are shared by the pilgrims of three major religions of the island. The shrine built to the Kataragama local deity dates to the 2nd century BC, and the Buddhist dagoba, to the 1st century BC. The Maha Devala Shrine is said to contain the lance of the six-faced and twelve-armed Hindu god of war, Skanda, also the resident deity of Kataragama. In a worthy example of religious cooperation, followers of all three religions make offerings in the same religious complex containing shrines of all three religions. Kataragama's famed Hindu festival lasts two weeks each July-August. Here devotees can be seen undergoing violent ritual masochisms such as piercing their tongues and pulling heavy weights from hooks embedded in their skin, among others. In the fire-walking ceremonies that take place, devotees in trance walk barefoot across red-hot beds of glowing embers- and if they are lucky, finish unharmed! Kataragama festival is in fact the ending festivities of a traditional Hindu pilgrimage march that begins 45 days earlier in Batticaloa in the north-east, traversing jungles and rivers all the way down to Kataragama. Though unfortunately this year the pilgrimage march could not take place due to fighting within the north-east region between the government forces and the Tamil LTTE, the more adventurous pilgrim of these two did complete this pilgrimage walk five years ago, and the experience of marching alongside exuberant devotees, as well as wading alongside a large crocodile during a river crossing, will not be forgotten. Kirinda is known for its ancient temple on top of a large rock, and is part of the traditional Sri Lankan pilgrimage route. Ask someone to point out to you the ancient inscriptions engraved on the rockside. There are only a few guest houses in Kirinda, but if you want to have a real 'Sri Lankan family' experience, ask for Janake, just entering town before the naval base, in Kirinda Gama. She may have rooms in her guest house for you, or she may put you up in her house, but what is certain, you will meet a lively and kind Sri Lankan family that will be happy to show you about. Ask them to show you the Buddhist temple with ancient meditation caves in the nearby Yala jungle, just a short walk away. No matter which direction you take, Sri Lanka's unique magic and people will charm you and win your heart. When you are greeted with palms clasped together at the chest, under a gently bowed head smilingly murmuring 'Ayubowan' ("May you have long life"), you are in Sri Lanka, be it cosmopolitan Colombo, traditional Kandy, a charming country village, or facing the cashier at the checkout counter of the upscale Food City chain supermarkets. A sense of Dharma pervades the country of Sri Lanka, in the righteousness, spirituality and devoutness of its people, be they Buddhist, Hindu, Christian or Moslem. Peculiarly enough, despite the strong faith and devoutness of the different religions, or perhaps because of it, the borders between these various religions often have blurred edges, with Buddhists going easily to Hindu temples, Hindus worshipping Buddha, Christians making offerings to Buddhist monks, and all sharing Ramadan feast with their Moslem neighbors- it sometimes seems that the gods in Sri Lanka are interchangeable. Doesn't that make some kind of sense, in the end? When you feel yourself melting into a mosaic of scintillating beaches, mountainous green carpets of tea, ancient ruined cities lost to the jungles, elephants roaming freely, blue sapphires dazzling in their brilliance, and delicious exotic fruits hanging tantalizingly within reach wherever you look up to the skies, you may wonder if you are really in Sri Lanka, or in the Garden of Eden itself. |
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Don't forget, please send this to your friends and family so that everyone can be a part of the Yoga Bean family. Talk to you next month!
Sincerely,
Tina LeMar
Yoga Bean
email:
tina@yogabean.net
phone:
610.805.6724
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