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4/29/2019 0 Comments Spring Health Care TipsBy Ivy Xie-McIsaac, E-RYT200, YACEP
The liver corresponds to the element Wood and the season Spring. The liver regulates blood circulation and acts like a cleaner to clear the toxins out of the body. When we are resting or sleeping, the liver is filtering, detoxifying and storing the blood. When we are active, the liver exports the blood. Part of the functions of the liver include clearing harmful substances in the blood, resisting infections by producing immune factors and removing bacteria from the bloodstream. When the liver works well, we will have a clean internal environment. The free flow of Qi (life force) in the Liver meridian will ensure the free flow of blood. Sleeping too late (after 11pm) or getting up too early (before 3am) as well as alcohol use will over stimulate the functioning of the liver and cause severe imbalance in its function. An imbalance in liver function will cause a person to anger easily. For the body, spring is time to change a heavy diet to a lighter diet, by eating even more vegetables. Spring is also the best time to detox. Lemon juice plus honey helps to cleanse the inside of the body. We can also spend some time to clean the house to create a nice environment. Walking in nature or gardening helps us to be grounded. In Spring, the wind is the main cause of disease and known as the Evil wind(邪气) as the cold from winter is still in the air. A Chinese proverb tells us “In spring, it’s better to overdress rather than underdress even if the weather looks warm.” (春捂) A direct experience can give us improper perception. In the story of The Blind Men and an Elephant, all the blind men believe they know what they are touching, but they don’t know they are touching an elephant. Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasizes to look at the full picture and find the root of the disease instead of treating only where the symptoms appear. The liver’s opening is the eyes. An eye problem can be a liver problem manifested in the eyes. When we know the cause of the symptom then we can be healed faster. Wishingtree Yoga is offering a 50hr Yin Yoga Teacher Training starting June 10, 2019.
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by Ivy & Stewart
Yoga Nidrā is a guided relaxation which helps us to deep sleep. It is used for relaxation, which helps to reduce stress and decrease levels of anxiety. Also, allows the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) to work, which helps to improve digestive function. Śavāsana (Corpse Pose) is the best āsana to experience Yoga Nidrā. With the body like a corpse on the floor without any movement, the mind not working, we experience peace and calm. Our body has its own intelligence to heal. What we need to do is to give the body time to relax, to recover and heal. It has been 15 years since being initiated as a Sound Healer, by Jonathan Goldman and Company at the Healing Sounds Intensive. The effectiveness of this experience has not gone away, but has slowly, gradually cultivated as the years have passed. When sound healing energy is awakened in oneself, this awareness of sound, this awareness of healing, this awareness of energy can be shared with others. When one has experienced this transformative sound healing energy, this awareness can be expressed to others. With intent and love one illuminates healing energy with sacred sound. The radiant Inner Self aglow. Sound Healing Treatments could include: music, mantra, vocal toning, gong, bells, singing bowls, toning forks, shaking medicine, massage, and as a result, relaxation. Join Ivy and Stewart for a 90 minute Yoga Nidrā and Sound Healing on March 23, 2:30-4pm. By Ivy Xie-McIsaac, E-RYT200, YACEP
It has been more than 22 years since my first Yoga class in 1996. After I came back from Tibet in the summer, one of my colleagues gave me a book called “Lotus Fragrance”. The book introduces the great Tibetan Yogi Milarepa. That was the first time I encountered the word Yoga. Then in November of that year, my twin sister asked me if I would like to attend a Yoga class at the YWCA in Guangzhou, China, where we lived. Our teacher, Mr. Tan always started the class with a half-hour meditation. His approach was simple, play Yoga music. Music from a Bhakti Yoga band (Wai Lana). Even though I didn’t understand what they were singing, the affection that they expressed touched me. It only takes a few minutes to feel the calming effects of meditation with the power of sacred sound. Different forms of Yoga work on different fragments of the Self; some forms emphasize the body, some emphasize the mind and consciousness, and Bhakti Yoga directly works on the soul which is located in the heart. To fully understand Bhakti Yoga one needs extensive knowledge, but knowledge is not a must to practice Bhakti Yoga. A main form of practice with others is through Kīrtana. Kīrtana means “mentioning, repeating, saying, telling”. It uses sound vibration to glorify and describe the Absolute Truth. Anyone who is willing to share the love of the Divine and is willing to communicate by the heart can practice Bhakti Yoga together. Through Bhakti Yoga, the formless spirit can be seen, the heart-touching love can be felt, and the omnipresent Supreme God can be revealed in our own eyes. We will recognize that we are not a moving machine. We are a human being that has a soul in the heart. We are part of the Divine. What we need to do is participate, either sing along or listen quietly to the chanting. This is the way to connect with the Divine and gradually foster love of Divine Presence. |
AuthorIvy - A Yogi from China since 2006. A home-based Yoga Studio Co-founder in Kanata, ON, Canada. A Yoga book writer. A mom with a teen-age son. Archives
August 2019
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