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The Inner Voice
A weekly newsletter from Debbie Jensen-Grubb, RYT500
November 19, 2012 - Issue 15
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The Daily Yoga Poses Poster |  FREE!!! For all who receive this newsletter my first ever poster to download and print out! Thank you for joining The Inner Voice newsletter! (You need to open it in another window and print it from there.) |
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This weeks reading can be seen here at The Daily OM:
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| Greetings! |  In America this week we celebrate my most favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. It has no religious connotations or certain group affiliations attached to it. It is just about being thankful...and eating...OK and maybe about football too! ha
Mostly though it is about taking one day off from our busy schedules and stopping long enough to say thanks! To send a thank you from our heart to all of the people in our life, both past and present, who have gifted us with their presence. To remember the events in our life that have brought us to now and made us who we are. To just be thankful for life itself with all of its ups and downs.
In this age we rarely slow down yet this holiday allows us that; to stop, review, remember, and be thankful. It is in this attitude of gratitude that I send out a big, heartfelt THANK YOU, to all of those that read and accept my newsletter each week into your email boxes. I do so appreciate you and wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!
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| Mantra | |
A mantra is a sound or phrase that aids in the concentration of meditation. It is a Sanskrit term and literally means 'instrument of thought'. Here you will find a suggested mantra to use during the week (from Louise Hay's 'Heal Your Body'). Just repeat it whenever you need a lift.
I am at peace with my own feelings. I am safe where I am. I create my own security. I love and approve of myself. |
| Rib-Tickler of the Week - hee hee | |
"What we are really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday in November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?"
Erma Bombeck
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| Seated Sun Salutation | 
In trying to think of a pose that reflected thankfulness I immediately thought of the Seated Sun Salutation.
The action of reaching out and up as though gathering all of the goodness that surrounds you and holding onto it as you bow forward to honor all of the blessings you have received in life, is a spontaneous, natural way of expressing a "Thank You" to something that is greater than yourself and of which you are a part.
It is an action which brings hope, reverence, and, all the more, it might even make you smile. Try it first thing in the morning. What better way to start your day?
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| Nutrition Prescription - Baking Soda | |
When you think of baking soda generally you think of baked goods like cookies and cakes. The humble baking soda, though, has a host of other uses that you can apply to every room in your house and even towards your own health (see * below).
Here are some of the top uses for it:
- You can use it to freshen your mouth by using it as mouthwash or as toothpaste.
- Put it under your arms as a deodorant.
- Scrub your face and body to remove dead skin cells.
- Make a paste and apply it to itchy skin, especially bug bites.
- You can use baking soda on just about anything to clean, degrease, remove stains, etc.
- Add some to your laundry to balance the pH for fresher, brighter, cleaner clothes.
- It can be used to deodorize a host of things from diaper pail to refrigerators, cat litter boxes to sneakers.
- It puts out fires.
- Clean vegetables and fruit with baking soda.
- You can even make baking powder with it by mixing 2 parts Cream of Tartar, 1 part baking soda, and 1 part cornstarch.
- Relieve acid indigestion with a 1/2 teaspoon baking soda in 4 oz. of water.
- Repel rain from the windshield by rubbing it with gobs of baking soda on a dampened cloth. Rub both inside and outside of window.
As you can see there are multiple uses for baking soda. One of the biggest may be the news that is floating around the internet currently, that baking soda can help fight cancer (see ** below). It might be worth a try if you are facing this illness. Do the research and make your own decision.
Do be careful if taking baking soda internally. It can alkalize your bodies system. In fact it is used for this reason in emergency rooms worldwide and can be administered intravenously. Just because it is natural though you still must use caution. If you take too much it can lead to metabolic alkalosis (see *** below).
When used properly baking soda can be a bonus for a myriad of uses around the house, personal care, and your health. It is one of the most inexpensive and safe health tools around, so it makes sense to learn all you can about the many, many uses of baking soda.
**Yahoo: Using Baking Soda to Cure Cancer
***Cautions When Using Baking Soda |
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| Ponderings - Bowing and Namaste |  In yoga we begin each class by bringing our hands together in front of our hearts and bowing our head. It is in this tradition that we honor ourselves, each other, and our connection with our soul. It is a time in which we can pause and sense the deepest recesses within our heart and give gratitude for all that is good in life.
Since civilization first began we have bowed, there are even different meanings to different ways of bowing (*see below). It can mean hello, goodbye, or thank you. It can be used as an acknowledgement, in deference or reverence, or as a simple courtesy. Many bow their heads when in thought. A simple nod of your head is the most common way to bow.
Slowing down the whole action of a bow one can analyze the anatomy of it:
1. When we first incline the head it can be seen as a way of reflecting, of getting in touch with that which we aspire to give; like courage, gentleness, friendship, strength, gratitude, or lovingkindness. In this way we reach inside and find the enduring goodness that is our humanity and lives within our hearts.
2. Next we complete the bow (or nod) which can be seen as the giving of that quality that we found, of gifting it to the intended recipient(s).
3. Finally we bring the head back up joyful and refreshed for having shared a bond and an energetic bestowal to another.
This can be accomplished in a long, deep gesture or it can happen within an instant, so fast that you don't even realize what has just transpired, yet the feeling is still there.
In yoga we also end each class with a bow and say "Namaste". Namaste comes from the Sanskrit language and is derived from two words 'Namah' and 'te'. 'Namah' means 'bow', 'obeisance', 'reverential salutation', or 'adoration' and 'te' means 'to you'. Therefore, Namaste literally (and simply) means 'I bow to you'.
The gesture of anjali mudra, or bringing the hands together, is also done when saying Namaste; sometimes this gesture alone implies the meaning. Where the hands are placed also has meaning. The higher the hands on the body the more reverence is offered the person or symbol. For example when two friends are greeting each other the hands are brought in front of the heart, for worship the hands are brought to the front of the forehead, and to give the utmost reverence and respect the hands are placed on top of the head.
There are many supplementary meanings put to Namaste, though the one that I like the best is this one and the one I offer to all of you during this week of Thanksgiving:
'I salute to the divinity in you. I salute that part of you that is at peace with yourself and the world. Because when you are at that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are one.'
Yoga Journal: The meaning of Namaste
*Wikipedia: Bowing
About.com: Interpretations of Namaste |
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There are many that are struggling at this time in our nation and in our town. You are fortunate if you have the basics of home, food, a job, and transportation. If you can be with your loved ones, have your health, and have enough money to pay your bills you are blessed. As you enjoy this Thanksgiving holiday, remember to send out a prayer, a blessing to those that are less fortunate.
What are you grateful for? Being thankful is individual to everyone. When life gives you 100 reasons to cry, show life you have 1,000 reasons to smile. Carve out some time during the rush of this Thanksgiving holiday to stop for a moment, bow your head, and truly give thanks.
I wish you all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!
Namaste,
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The next workshop is:
Yoga Nidra
Monday, December 31st
New Year's Eve!
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
This workshop fills up fast so please make your reservations early.
You can register at 410-720-4340 or online at www.columbiayoga.com
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The lovely lady in the picture at the beginning of the newsletter is my mother-in-law, Josie.
Doesn't this picture just make you smile?
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