Hi everyone! Today we are going to talk about liquid intake. This is an important factor for hydrating oneself appropriately for practicing Bikram (hot!) yoga. It is also a very important factor in the Macrobiotic approach to healing and maintaining healthy kidneys. It would be so easy if both camps were telling us the same thing but this is not always the case, here is why and what to do about it:

When most of us begin to practice Bikram, or any yoga practiced in a heated room, the mind reacts very strongly. The only distraction we are allowed is to drink water. And drink we do. Guzzling here and there as the mind demands, we stop focusing on our selves and our practice. To bring the Mind under conscious control is the goal of yoga. Supple, limber bodies are a sweet bonus.

Some yoga teachers say drink “plenty” of water thirty minutes before class. And drink much more after. In fear of dehydrating or becoming too hot, we guzzle. However, guzzling and drinking too much water or any liquid all at once taxes the kidneys greatly and leads to problems down the line.

Here is the Macrobiotic perspective quoted directly from George Oshawa (the great Japanese teacher who brought Macrobiotics to the West after WW2):

“The drink-as-much-as-you-can system is a simpleminded invention because the originator of such a theory completely ignored the marvelous mechanism of kidney metabolism. He erred in conceiving the kidney to be similar in structure and function to a mechanical sewage system. Large quantities of liquid will flush out and clear a clay or cast iron pipe. The kidney, however, is not a cast iron pipe. It contains tissue that must be flexible and porous so that the process of filtration, diffusion and reabsorption can take place. If liquid is taken in large quantities, the minute openings in the semi-permeable kidney tissue decrease in size (these openings are surrounded by tissue that is sponge-like, that soaks up the liquid and swells) and little or no liquid can pass through! For all practical purposes, the kidneys are blocked. The net result is a complete reversal of what the drink-as-much-as-you-can system intended. Help your tired, overworked kidneys: DRINK LESS.”

The hot room is not the real cause for us wanting to take in so much water. The real problem lies in our diet and our absent thought on the matter. The modern theory which prescribes the drinking of much liquid was born out of necessity. It is important indeed for the meat eater to drink great quantities of liquid in order to wash down that which can pollute the system. If you eat processed food, meat and flour products, you will need to drink the water that would otherwise come in natural form. For example, cooked rice is 60% water. Fruits and vegetables are mostly water. Soups, and other whole grains boiled or pressure cooked are mostly water. The greatest cause for overheating and exaggerated thirst in the hot room is eating meat, drinking coffee and alcohol (all heating in the body) and not eating enough water-rich foods. Small amounts of liquid should be sufficient for those who do not make meat their main food and coffee their main drink. Don’t take my word for it, EXPERIMENT on yourself and discover the Truth for yourself!

Learning to drink less is much more difficult than learning to eat wisely and simply. And in the hot conditions of Bikram yoga it is a subtle, yet profound practice of choosing when and how much to drink. Observe yourself – your mind - honestly. Most of the time, a sip will do, if any water is required at all. The stronger your practice, the less and less water you will need. And if you think George is harsh, I will end with a quote from another great Macrobiotic author, Naboru Muramoto, who says, “The theory of flushing out the body with water is very widely observed, but it leaves man everything but free. His pathological desires run his life and he is forced to submit to their consequences. To summarize, drinking should not be a perfunctory action involving no decision of mind or body. Excess drinking harms the digestive process, prevents one from chewing properly and dulls the thinking. It is advisable to sip liquids rather than gulp them down. That improvement alone will prevent much trouble.”

Blessings on your path,

Tannis 

Spring caught up to us quickly this year, so to help with the transition here are some spring Ayurvedic tips!

The doshas are not just dynamic energy in the body, they are influenced by the seasonal changes as well. During spring there is a predominance of kapha dosha in the atmosphere. Kapha nourishes, nurtures, protects, builds and creates, giving bounty and beauty to all of the surrounding nature and us!

The warmth of spring starts melting the accumulated snow from winter. Likewise, accumulated kapha starts liquefying and running out of the body. This is why people tend to get spring colds. At the same time, blooming flowers shed their pollen, which can also aggravate kapha types or people with accumulated kapha, creating hay fever and allergies. So our diet and lifestyle should be designed to balance this energy.

Diet should be comprised of food and drinks, with hot, dry and light qualities to counter the cool, moist, and heavy qualities of Kapha.

Eat more baked, broiled or grilled warm foods.  Avoid cheeses, ice creams and yogurts.

Add pungent spices. Eat more vegetables. Cut down on sweets.  Sweet, salty and sour tastes aggravate Kapha, so they should be avoided. Pungent, astringent and bitter tastes reduce Kapha and should be added.

Drinks should be made with ginger, calamus, cloves, and cinnamon. Drink lots of warm water and herbal teas.

Yoga practices such as Bhasrica Pranayama and sun salutations, shoulder stand, boat, bow, lion and camel pose can be practiced.

Sleep during the daytime should be avoided.

Dress in bright warm colours like gold and orange.

Kapha Balancing Tea

Ingredients

-       4 cups water

-       2 cinnamon sticks

-       ¼tsp turmeric powder

-       1 tsp. grated ginger

-       1 Tbsp. maple syrup

Procedure:

Heat water in a pot. Add slightly crushed cinnamon sticks and turmeric powder. Boil 3 minutes. Add maple syrup and grated ginger and boil for 2 more minutes. Strain and serve hot.

Enjoy!

A big thanks to all that came out to the Kickoff Event on Friday, it was so much fun! Hope to see you at the Open House this Sunday starting at 11am.

Namaste

Kalee 

Hello friends! There is wellness emerging in all of us on our journey to healthful Self-Realization. Coming soon, this spring, Amanda, Kalee Mund, myself, and other staff members will be teaming up to bring you the most inspiring Self-transformative month yet at SSYH. A fusion of Bikram yoga, Macrobiotics, Ayurveda, and other ancient art forms will help you balance, cleanse, de-toxify, beautify, and transform yourself in the spirit of dedication and discipline; pleasure and FUN! All natural and unique as YOU!

This blog is going to introduce you to the Macrobiotic Home Remedies that will be served to you fresh every Sunday as part of this transformative experience ~ I will include the ingredients and the medicinal effects that each remedy produces in the body. Let’s get started!

Beginning with the basic and daily macrobiotic beverage:

KUCKICHA or TWIG TEA ~

This tea made from the branches of the green tea plant, dried and roasted, helps bring balance and alkalize the acidic blood of modern day people (meat, processed food, alcohol, sugar, flour products, coffee, etc all acidify the blood, which to be healthy should maintain a 7.2 alkalinity on the PH scale). The tea also relieves fatigue.

ROASTED BARLEY TEA ~

Another basic and daily macrobiotic tea made from roasted barley is traditionally used more in hot weather or hot conditions, as it cools the body more that twig tea. Cooling and moistening for heat conditions (red face, tongue, high blood pressure, rashes, tightness, anger issues). This tea regulates and strengthens the stomach, spleen and pancreas.

LOTUS ROOT TEA ~

(Lotus root and a pinch of sea salt - optional dose of fresh ginger juice)

This gentle-flavored tea made from root of the lotus brings relief to respiratory problems (smokers congestion, lung cancer, excess mucus from colds and flu, emphysema, bronchitis and asthmas) It is also beneficial for the intestines.

UME-SHO-BANCHA-KUZU ~

(Twig tea, ume plums, kuzu powder, shoyu, optional fresh ginger juice)

This super deluxe blood alkalizer is the king remedy for all types of cancers, and the fastest way to recover from a food or alcohol hangover. It supplies salty electrolytes to a fatigued body and regulates all digestive problems. It soothes stomach lining and relieves intestinal problems, stimulates circulation and regulates heart rate. On top of all this, it relieves nausea and anxiety and fights infectious mico-organisms. Overall it increases vitality in the body and mind.

CARROT-DAIKON DRINK ~

(Carrot, white radish (daikon), twig tea and shoyu)

This interesting hot drink relaxes tension and tightness in the organs from too much meat, dairy and salt consumption. It removes peripheral and recent fats and lowers cholesterol. It is also beneficial for dissolving kidney stones and relieving swollen ankles and feet. Also helps in weight loss.

ADUKI-KOMBU TEA ~

(Aduki beans, kombu sea vegetable)

This hot drink enhances immunity, adds minerals to the body, thereby strengthening the blood. It is the primary remedy for kidney related problems as it regulates kidney function.

SWEET VEGETABLE DRINK  ~

(Onion, celery, carrot, squash, cabbage and daikon radish)

This hot drink regulates blood sugar levels (beneficial for spleen, pancreas and diabetic symptoms) Also beneficial for the thymus gland. It is an immune enhancer and it softens tightness caused by heavy animal food consumption.

AME-KUZU DRINK

(Unsweetened berry or apple juice/cider and kuzu powder)

This very soothing and sweeter hot beverage relaxes the mind and body. It is beneficial for stomach, intestinal problems and hypoglycemia. It relieves PMS and menstrual cramping and tension.

So, there you have it folks! Your introduction to macrobiotic home remedies! Looking forward to serving you through this transformative healing journey and getting to know you all personally. See you at Ume’s Kitchen for your remedy!

Blessings on your path,

Tannis 

Stafford Street Hot Yoga is hosting Open Houses once a month!

Kalee, Tannis and Amanda will be here to share information on the special healing arts of Ayurveda, Macrobiotics, and of course Bikram Yoga!

If you missed our first one, the next one is Sunday, March 25th  from 11am-3pm.

Why come to one?
Free workshops! Complimentary tea & snacks! Meet new people! What more could you want?!

Workshop Schedule:
11-11:30am – Ayurveda  (Kalee)
12:45-1:15pm – Macrobiotics  (Tannis)
2-2:30pm – Intro to Bikram Yoga  (Amanda)

If you know anyone who is afraid of or interested in Bikram Yoga, but hasn’t made it through the doors yet, this is the day to bring them!

They can ask questions, take a tour and meet our lovely staff. Or if you have any questions/concerns and are looking for more information, come on down!

Hi there! Tannis here, with more delving into the esoteric theme that I touched upon in my last blog.

It is no secret that the Secrets are out and the common person can now access once hidden knowledge to help bring about transformation in the Mind, Body and Spirit. We live in a thrilling era, as we compress ever more into smaller bits of time. Rome rises and falls 9 times in an hour as we move at roller coaster speed toward ?!! (Check out Terence Mckenna’s Time Wave Zero Theory for THAT scoop!)

The biggest Secret to gain publicity in recent years is the beautiful and simple LAW OF ATTRACTION, which goes as follows:

Thought + Emotion = Attraction

Simple, but how does it really work? It works on the idea that like attracts like, and that all is energy; or frequencies. We all vibrate at our own individual frequency and attract the like. Our thought is our image of the FUTURE ~ what we wish and desire to come to us. It is our VISION. Our Emotion is how we FEEL NOW ~ in the PRESENT moment. Our E-motions are our greatest gift and the only compass we ever need. CULTure has denied us this Truth by convincing most people to ignore or repress their emotional body when it comes to knowing. The cat is out of the bag, people. Get in touch with your feelings because they are the magnets for what you attract in your life.

Here is the trick. Inherent in the equation is the Paradox of Intention. You have your vision of the future; the GOAL. But you MUST be HAPPY independent of reaching your goal. Have your focus and don’t ever quit until you get it, but cultivate feelings of bliss and joy as much as you can. Remain aware of your emotional state and what it will attract more of.

It’s called Positive Stamina (Donald Trump coined this one). That in the face of negative situations, circumstances, pain and trouble, you remain optimistic and focused on the POSITIVE in EVERY situation and full of the JOY of life. The stamina part is keeping your personal vibration high, contrary to external stimuli that will try to break you down. It’s not easy but you will get better with practice.

Remember that 10% of life is what happens and 90% is how you react to what happens. There is always choice. Practice makes you strong. Simple things like yoga, sunshine, deep breathing, whole and living foods help keep us grounded in this crazy world.  So, DREAM BIG, don’t worry and BE HAPPY!

Blessings on your path,

Tannis