New Years Eve Sankalpa

Last year in a yoga class one of my teachers suggested to set an intention for New Years rather than setting a specific resolution. I absolutely forget what my intention was or if I even made one. Regardless, I thought it was an interesting idea. In yoga this setting of a goal or intention is known as sankalpa. We can make a small sankalpa for every practice, or in this case an intention for the whole year.   

With our New Years resolutions, it seems often we are playing to our egos. "I would like to be more fit this year." "I would like to get that promotion." Most resolutions start with "I" than rattle on with a very specific goal. Why limit to yourself to something so specific? Why limit yourself to setting life changing goals once a year? What is so magical about the bridging of one year to the next? Generally, I think resolutions are a great thing, but I still am left with lots of questions.

I haven't thought about a resolution or a sankalpa this year, so I'm not going to make up one for the sake of a post. I do hope to find an intention or motivation make my impact on the Earth a more positive one. That goes for 2013 and for 2014. Now just to figure out what general word would apply to such an abstract idea? Perhaps the word "yoga" itself would be a good intention given it means the union of the mind and the body, or at least it can be interpreted that way in some yogic schools of thoughts. In other words, I want my actions to match my ideals. Perhaps, "genuineness" would be a good word for it then? 

Anyways, happy new years! Before things get too heavy, I'm going to go drink some champagne. Here is to an awesome 2014 for all of humanity!  

Monthly Yoga Sanskrit: Avidyā

The word Avidyā mean "ignorance" or "delusion" in Sanskrit. In terms of Buddhism it means you either do not understand the four noble truth, or like me, you just misunderstand reality in itself. As soon as I saw this word it attracted me, because I just feel connected with it when it comes to the "spiritual" elements of yoga. 

For example, in a yoga class the other day our teacher had us waving our hands and chanting as we lunged, and it really took every element of self-control not to burst out laughing. What is wrong with me? Why can't I take these types of things seriously? 

For the past, well forever, I've denied myself the exploration of the spiritual world (whatever that means). I'm about to commence into Yoga Teacher Training in January, so I think my lack of exploration into the spiritual realm is going to work against me. The cynic in me doubts my capacity to take in these lessons at all without scoffing at the false comfort that religion provides.  

I'm curious though. I think the Dalai Lama is generally a cool guy.  Buddhism even sounds pretty rad. Hopefully an open mind will help me to stray further away from Avidyā- if that is the appropriate path. I can't help but question if there is a secular way to approach yoga, and if you skip over the spirituality do you miss the point? 

Do we go into yoga to stretch or do we go into yoga for something more than that? I'm sure it varies from person to person. Even as the most cynical of participants I have to say that I've taken away more than just more open hips and shoulders. Generally I feel more at ease in the world and myself... well , at least some of the time.  

Anyways, it will be fun to become familiar with a non-Western religion, and I look forward to learning about some Buddhism and other tidbits in Yoga Teacher Training. Hopefully it will at least make me more capable in writing about Sanskrit words for y'all. 

Yoga Cat Memes, Images and Comics for Your Enjoyment

I love cats and yoga. When the two combine it is the ultimate experience for me. Every time I see yoga cat memes, images and comics, I get just a little excited. Here are some fun yoga/cat pictures and memes I've found scattered through out the internet. Enjoy! I hope they bring you some warm smiles at this cold and dreary time of year. The top yoga cat meme is actually one of my kitties, Koko. 

Lyme Disease and Yoga Part I

I wanted to take the time share my experience of suffering through Lyme disease and how it led me to really get into yoga. I remember when I was suffering through the disease that it helped to read other people's experiences, so I hope this helps someone else. So the first part of this post is me telling my personal experience with Lyme. Part II will be how I connected through Yoga largely thanks to Lyme disease. 

So two years ago I found out I had Lyme disease. Everything about Lyme disease was a challenge. Diagnosis for me was a challenge that took around 6 months. My doctor had absolutely no idea what was wrong with me. I came in with a swollen knee, a classic symptom of Lyme, and she assumed that I torn something. She told me to not exercise for a couple months to let the injury heal. So I did that than came back after a couple months when the knee was still swollen. We did this two times before she decided I probably needed surgery!   

Despite the fact that I told her that I didn't experience any tear or pop that would indicate a knee injury, she sent me to get an (expensive) MRI then to a specialist. She also acted like the only possibility was that it was an injury that I somehow did not notice happening. Meanwhile, my Lyme is progressively getting worse as the disease inevitably does. The doctor insisted I go to the specialist she recommended, but I decided to go outside the circle to a different orthopaedic specialist. 

After looking at the MRI, the orthopaedic specialist said I only had a tiny tear in my meniscus that would hardly be worth operating on. Based on my other symptoms he suggested that I get tested for Lyme's disease, and he seemed pretty confident that it was Lyme's disease. When I went back to see my GP she was upset that I didn't go to who she recommend, because "he just would have gone ahead and gotten the surgery taken care of." Well, I'm glad I didn't get a unnecessary surgery, but whatever, what do I know? 
I do not blame my doctor at all, but it seems odd to me in an area where the disease is extremely common she had no knowledge of it. I just want to warn people out there to not expect your GP to know what Lyme's disease is or to know to diagnose it. If you live in an area where Lyme disease is common it is a good idea to familiarize yourselves with the symptoms just in case, let the goddess forbid, you get Lyme's disease yourself. Very little research will show you how often Lyme's is misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all, so be careful out there!

So back to my story, I went to Lab Corp to get tested for Lyme disease. After waiting a couple of weeks for my results, it turned out I had Lyme disease. I simultaneously experienced fear and relief. I was glad to know what was wrong with me after a half year of limping around, but oh shit, I just got diagnosed with a serious disease.

Once you are diagnosed there are two courses of action. The doctor will either prescribe you just pill antibiotics or an IV bag of antibiotics. My doctor, yes I stayed with the one who was mad I didn't get surgery I didn't need, said we should start with the pills then see if it was necessary to progress to the IV bag. Fortunately for me, two rounds of the antibiotics "cured" me as far as you can get cured from Lyme disease. 

Taking the pills suck. Your joints will hurt. The antibiotic brings out the worst of the symptoms including something called Lyme arthritis. It will be hard to get out of bed. You will need to constantly take pain killers. You can't go in the sun without risking getting burnt. 

On the sad side of things I had to limp my way around for about half a year including a trip to Seattle. My knee is only now starting to get back to 100%, but it still honestly occasionally hurts if I bend it the wrong way. It is supposedly normal to take a long time to heal if you are experiencing any joint swelling due to Lyme. Yeah, it sucks, but I promise one day it will get at least almost all the way better. Maybe. You'll just have to be patient (not that I was) for things to get back to normal. 

If anything I have Lyme to thank for a deeper appreciation of things like er, walking, but I also have a deeper appreciation for Yoga too. I also really, really hate ticks now. Not that anyone really likes ticks, but GEEZ, how lame is it that something tiny as a tick can throw a person's life off balance for years.  

Thank you Lyme disease for pretty much ruining my trip to Seattle.

The Wonderful Things Yoga Does for Us in One Inforgraphic

I'm always telling people that they should try yoga whenever they mention a problem. I try not to go off the deep end that yoga can fix everything, but the truth is that it does address a lot of common issues us modern day folks deal with due to our lifestyles. I know it helps me manage my weight, anxiety, knee problems and general grumpiness. 

Unlike other forms of workout, in my opinion, yoga leaves you feeling elated afterwards. Through sports, working out and outdoorsy stuff I've experienced a lot of post exercising highs, but there is nothing quite like the peace you feel after a good yoga class. I think if everyone just gave one yoga class a chance they would love it! Even if you enter yoga in the most dower mood, I think you'll have a hard time holding onto that negativity through a practice. 

So... lets give three cheers for yoga! 

All of the Cute Yoga Fashions I Can't Afford Right Now

Greed is not very zen. I'm working on eliminating my lust for all of the things! Especially all of the yoga fashion that tempts me everyday. It is not easy when one of my jobs is to actually write about yoga fashion. I already have yoga clothes coming out of my ears, but I thought I would share some of my latest yoga fashion finds for you to enjoy. Perhaps you can indulge your greedy side for me, or you can just feel as lustful for these cute yoga fashion items as I do! 

Left Click on the image to get details about where to get these items! 

yoga by holly-smells featuring prAna

The Neuroscience Behind How Yoga Reduces Stress

Psychology Today recently featured an interesting article called "Yoga: Changing the Brain's Stressful Habits". The writer, Alex Korb Ph.D., discusses his experience with yoga and how neuroscience fits into yoga. It turns out all the benefits of practicing yoga are not just new age hand waviness, but are backed up by science. 

Korb is extremely effective at simplifying the complexity of neuroscience in ways that most readers can understand. Korb explains how the mind and work together in the following passage: 

"The fascinating thing about the mind-body interaction is that it works both ways.  For example, if you're stressed, your muscles will tense (preparing to run away from a lion), and this will lead to more negative thinking.  Relaxing those muscles, particularly the facial muscles, will push the brain in the other direction, away from stress, and toward more relaxed thoughts.  Similarly, under stress, your breathing rate increases.  Slowing down your breathing pushes the brain away from the stress response, and again toward more relaxed thinking."

By practicing yoga we learn to manage stress caused by physical poses. The hope is to have this lesson transcends to the rest of our lives too. When that stressful meeting comes up or little Johnny spills the milk, our reactions can be calm instead of stressed. Honestly, that meeting or cleaning up milk are small things, but unfortunately, we tend to blow things out of proportion. Or as the kids put it "have a cow". Having a cow too often leads to problem like heart attacks, strokes, depression and the list goes on.    

I hate to say yoga or die, but there is no doubt in our desk-ridden, stressed out world yoga is a good thing. In yoga your body may be learning new ways to stretch, but it is more significant that your brain learns new ways to move.