Restlessness, Stillness & Ahimsa

I'm currently studying Seasonal Yoga and we are looking at the season of Spring just now. This week's task is to look at Ahimsa - or non-violence - in yourself, your practice and your teaching.....so I thought I would revisit this blog post from around a year ago since it is on the subject...enjoy! 

"Tonight is the first time is some weeks that I have come to my mat for my own practice. 

My health is not good - my adrenal glands do not produce the hormone cortisol , that is essential for life itself, vitality, energy, immunity and much more. 

Once again I have found myself sick and weak and feeling lifeless - I have had no energy even to roll out my mat to lie on it. I've stubbornly avoided it. 

But tonight I came to it for myself. I lay there in savasana (corpse pose) just breathing. I even hung out in uttanasana for a while (standing forward bend). I spent several minutes in balasana (child's pose) - I  was still, I rested, I turned inwards and heard the rhythm of me. I heard the tiredness, I heard the restlessness, the worry , the fear but I heard it all and stayed with my breath.

Admittedly, these may have been short periods of time but for me, right now, these minutes were a lifetime! I became restless and uncomfortable and so I eventually moved but I stayed with it for as long as I could. 

And that's all you can do. Your best.

Tune in; listen to your body, your life-force - breathe. 

Don't be forceful and judgemental. 

Whilst it is important in yoga to stay with the breath and work with the restlessness, inability to sit still and so on, it's also important to practice Ahimsa (non-violence) and compassion for oneself. Be careful and gentle with yourself.

You came to your mat. You listened. You moved. You breathed. 

It is better that you came here than not at all. 

You did your damn best and you are a warrior!"

Namaste,

Austen x

Emotion on the Mat

Hello! I've not posted in the blog for a while because I recently moved house but here I am! I want to write about something that has been on my mind for a while and something that we will touch upon in my women's class on Wednesday.

So often I see 'yoga inspiration' posts and yoga practitioners talking about how wonderful yoga is and how it helped them heal - it got me thinking and this is where I'm at....

It's true; it truly is wonderful and a powerful healing tool however I feel that what isn't communicated is that yoga will break you. Yes. And I'm not being 'negative', it's absolutely true - it will break you into all the little pieces that you glued together and masked with your resistances, the walls you put up and your coping mechanisms (helpful and unhelpful). The masks we put on are broken away and what's left is something raw, something true - your true Self. And there's no denying that this is a lifelong process but it's also a challenging one that ultimately affords us a better quality of life and to inhabit our true selves. Naturally, as we break down these resistances we can rebuild and find ourselves.

I feel that many teachers focus so much on the wonderful, positive emotions associated with yoga that when a student comes to the mat feeing completely and utterly dreadful, with many powerful emotions - that the student can feel disillusioned, discouraged and as though there is something wrong with them or that they're doing 'it' wrong - 'why am I not feeling amazing, like I'm walking on air?' 'Where is this wonderful feeling?!'...... 

 It's fine to feel angry on the mat. Frustrated. Tense. Grief. Sad. Depressed. Gutted. Jealous. That's absolutely okay. Be in the moment with that emotion. Breathe into it.

That is so much easier said than done! And I will be the first to admit that identifying these emotions and breathing into them is something that I struggle with deeply..

Maybe you leave your yoga class feeling worse than when you went in because something came up for you? That's fine. That's normal. Working to connect the mind-body-breath is powerful and can bring up strong emotions.

You do not need to hide your Self; you do not need to hide these emotions when you come to yoga. Be kinder to yourself. Come as you are. Be as you are. Breathe as you are.

"You are the sky. Everything else is just the weather."

<3 <3

There is so much more on this subject to say but I'll leave it for another post. ;)

<3

Interview: Demystifying the Doula!

A new feature on the blog: - every few weeks I'll post an interview with a local, inspirational and passionate woman who supports other women in her work. This week's interview is with Sam Steele, of From Bump, Birth & Beyond.......

Tell us a bit about yourself - what brought you to birth work?

"Hello! My name is Sam and I am based in Rosyth, Fife. I have three children ; two boys aged 17 and 22 and an 18 year old daughter. I qualified as a Learning disability nurse in 1990 but following the births of my children I became very interested in all aspects of pregnancy and birth. I commenced my midwifery degree in 2001 and on completion of this I worked in antenatal clinics and wards, gynaecology wards, midwife-led unit, obstetric labour ward and postnatal wards. I loved my work immensely but became disheartened with the amount of interventions and focus on the medical model. I returned to my nursing job in 2010 but I missed working with women and their families. Then I discovered doulas!!"

What is a doula?

"A doula is a layperson who provides support to women and their families during pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatally. A doula does not give clinical care and is not there to replace the midwife or women's partner. A doula provides one-to-one support and a continuity of companionship. I feel that birth should be empowering, free, flexible and intuitive. Every woman should be free to labour in her own way, uninhibited and undisturbed. A doula is the calm, watchful, loving presence who protects the fragile harmony of birth. Nurturing, compassionate and reassuring support of the labouring woman also gives reassurance and stress-relief to her partner and family, assisting them to participate within their own comfort zone (as well as enabling them to take meal breaks and toilet breaks without feeling they are abandoning their loved one). A doula meets the women and her partner /family during pregnancy, discovering what the woman's wishes are for her labour and birth. The doula goes "on-call" from 37 weeks until the birth of the baby and remains with the woman throughout labour (regardless of how long that takes). The birth doula will make postnatal visits too and can, if desired, offer postnatal doula work which can involve cooking nutritious and delicious meals, breastfeeding support and a listening ear."

Why is a doula so beneficial?

"Research based evidence proves how vital the role of the doula is. This includes lower risk of caesarean birth, lower risk of instrumental birth, less need for epidural or painkillers during labour, lower rate of induction of labour and a greater likelihood of successfully establishing breastfeeding. I aim to uphold each individual woman's philosophy of birth and parenting and help her have the type of birthing experience that she wants, be it a waterbirth at home surrounded by faerie lights or an elective caesarean. I am also a clinical aromatherapist and reiki therapist and I offer antenatal massage, postnatal massage and baby massage. The fundamental needs of a woman in labour are trust, privacy, intimacy and freedom. As a doula I help create a safe "nest " for the labouring woman and her partner, particularly in a hospital setting."

What’s your favourite part of your job (if you can choose!)?

"This is the hardest question! Trying to narrow down my favourite part of my job is pretty impossible! But I think it would have to be seeing a woman who had a previous bad birth experience and who was understandably anxious about this birth becoming strong, empowered and have exactly the type of birth that was stolen from her first time round. Women are amazing."

If you had one piece of advice for a pregnant mama, what would it be?

"As a doula I can't really give advice but if I was chatting to a pregnant friend my advice would be 'Read. Read everything. Knowledge is power and you can't make informed choices and informed refusals if you don't know all your options.' And join A.I.M.S! (Association for Improvements in Maternity Services), a vital resource."

And for a postnatal mama?

"Advice for a postnatal mama? You are the expert regarding your baby. Sometimes it might not feel like that, but you are. Don't get bogged down with advice from Tom,Dick or Harry!. You've got this, you're doing a great job."

Tell us about From Bump, Birth & Beyond?

"From Bump, Birth and Beyond was born after I completed my Mindful Doulas course. As a Facebook page, I add articles, studies, photos and fun stuff every day as a resource for women trying to conceive, pregnant women and their families and new mammas and dads. I offer a birth doula service and have worked with women in Fife and Dundee (and a surprise one in Edinburgh)! I also post links to other websites and fb pages that may be of interest and to other doula pages. It is vital that women find the right doula for them. Speak to as many as possible and see who you click with. Find out what services are available in your locality. Shiatsu, yoga, massage, chiropractors, aqua mums, sling networks etc. My page is hopefully a good resource to find information. Drop by and say hello!"

You can join Sam on the From Bump, Birth & Beyond page on Facebook .

Thanks so much to Sam for being my first ever interviewee on The Whirling Dervish blog! If you'd like to be featured, drop me a line and we'll have a chat!

X

Lights, camera, action!

Lights, camera, action! 

Throwback to this time last year when YogaBellies Dundee was featured on The Dundee Channel! This was a surreal experience for me and it feels like it happened a lifetime ago, as opposed to last year! Where does the time go ....

Smoothie of the Week!

Ingredients

4-5 Tablespoons Greek yoghurt - High in protein and contains live microorganisms that are beneficial for your gut health and immune system - very good for you especially after a dose of antibiotics! 

Handful of Blueberries - High in Vitamin C and according to a recent study at Rutgers University, blueberries contain compounds similar to cranberries that can help ward off urinary-tract infections!  

1 Banana - High in potassium, sustains blood sugar levels and is said to improve mood and reduce PMS. 

2 Tablespoons of Chia Seeds - very 'fashionable' at the moment but they are actually nice in a smoothie, offering a great texture. A source of protein, high in fibre and Omega

50 ml of Water 

Bung it all in the smoothie whizzer and hey presto! One delicious and rich smoothie for you to indulge in and enjoy! 

Is the Swastika a "Universal" Symbol of Hate?

Is the Swastika a "Universal" Symbol of Hate?

Vegetarian recipes: Darkly Divine Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake

Vegetarian recipes: Darkly Divine Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake

Riding the Waves of Emotion

Through teaching in my prenatal yoga classes, I recently had an epiphany and I wonder why it didn't occur to me before!...so here it is.....

We often discuss how a birthing woman's contractions cannot be stronger than her because they are her - breathing into the surge as it intensifies, breathing out deeply, to release and let go...and upon reflection, I see it is the same for emotions. This occurring to me has actually been very helpful to me of late - I often feel overwhelmed by emotions but realising that they are just a part of me 

- a passing experience-

 and breathing into that, helps to reduce the overwhelmed feeling! 

Anyhoo, a somewhat rambling post and I'm sure I'll touch upon this again but for now, that is all....

Have a wonderful weekend! 

x

Blossom

I came across this quote today and it really resonated with me so I would like to share it with you....

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” 

~ Anaïs Nin

The 4th Trimester & Tea Drinking Meditation

I'm really enjoying the Valentine's box that I ordered from Guilt Free Goodies! Packed with tasty sweet treats suitable for wheat free and Paleo diets - all made with ingredients as close to their natural form as possible!

I don't have any recipes to share from this week however I will be testing out baking these Carrot Banana Breakfast Bakes tomorrow morning! I'll be sure to share the results with you tomorrow!






Meantime, I wanted to make the topic of today's post on self-care during the postpartum period.
This is a wonderful time for many new mums but it is also a little fragile, tender and raw - both physically and emotionally. The '4th Trimester' or the 3 months immediately after giving birth, is a time for creating your own, safe wee bubble for you and your baby and moving reverently through the days. Instead of jumping straight into exercise and trying to 'get back your body' , perhaps take this short period of time to respect your body - respecting what it has been through and what it is currently needing. Self-Care is paramount. The gym will still be there in 3 months, the yoga classes will still be there in 3 months but for now, you can take this time, to settle into this moment and into your new way of life.....

Perhaps taking a short period of time in your day for practicing meditation and deep breathing - creating a haven, inside your mind, where you can relax and let go of your stress, tension or worries as a new momma. Even 2 minutes out of your day would do - you could try, every time you go to make yourself a cuppa, taking 3 deep breaths in through the nose and out through the nose. See how you feel, after a day or two of practicing this each time you make your tea or coffee - see if you can continue practicing it each day. Maybe after a week, you can bring your meditation into the tea drinking itself - so often we are not fully present when drinking our tea so try to notice your hands, moulding around the cosiness of the cup. See the steam dancing above your mug. Enjoy the soothing warmth of each sip.
Now, I'm not naive - I know that with a new baby this sounds like a challenge and a half..and most of the time you might not finish a cup of tea! And it is a challenge, you're right! But even managing to be fully present in your tea drinking for one or two sips , is a mindful act, a meditative act. These simple practices can help you to be present in this moment. Present with all of the emotions inside of you. Present with your baby and your family.

Physically, the body is not ready for exercise until a minimum of 6 weeks postnatal (10 weeks if you had a section) and once it is starting to emerge from its postnatal haze, yoga is a very good practice for both you and baby. I would recommend going to a mother & baby yoga class; here, you can safely practice yoga that respects the stage in which your body is and also practice some yoga for baby - helping to strengthen the bond between mother and baby, stimulating and soothing, increasing baby's co-ordination and a great excuse to sing fun songs and meet other mums! You can also learn breathing techniques to ground you when life seems a little overwhelming :)

So give yourself permission aside the need to 'get your body back' until you are fully ready for that type of movement.. Enjoy your tea drinking meditation and your beautiful new baby..You're doing well. And it is wonderful.

Namaste

x

Sweet Treats, Gratitude & Achievements

I'm really cherishing having some relatively normal levels of energy and being able to enjoy the things that I love to do! Cooking, being one of these things - I spent most of my Friday night, happily cooking and baking away in the kitchen.

This is a huge change from last year where I could barely stand long enough to enjoy cooking and if I could, brain fog stopped me from being fully present. Looking back, I wonder how I got through last year! I am so proud to say that this week I completed my RYT 200 Certificate and I have been nominated for Young Woman of the Year with Women AHEAD -  I don't know how I achieved what I did but I've done it! With the nature of adrenal insufficiency, one minor bug or even cold often landed me very sick, in hospital or at out of hours.... so I cancelled many classes last year and issued many refunds but I've very grateful to the clients who stuck by me during this time.  I reflect now and honestly wonder how I managed to teach the classes that I did (usually required me to stay in bed for half or most of the day beforehand or afterward!). Last year, I was in my doctor's office at least once a week and I am SO pleased to say that I haven't seen her for nearly 8 weeks now - as wonderful a person and Doctor that she is, I am glad to have not needed her care recently!

Anyway, back to the cooking....I love food, baking and cooking. "One cannot think well, Love well, Sleep well, if one has not Dined well."
I have a wheat allergy so for the most part my diet is already gluten free and little processed food and I am attempting to eat less dairy too! I'm currently reading into Paleo - I'm not one for fad diets and I'm more a believer in at least half of your plate being vegetables but Paleo seems to be on a good track! I'm enjoying making vegan desserts/sweet treats/cakes  - these are far less processed, using unrefined sugars and fats. Anyhoo, on Friday I made chocolate for the first time! White chocolate with almonds - it was supposed to be shards but ended up being chunks! (it's great because you only need teeny pieces to satisfy any sweet cravings!)

 Vegan Almond White Chocolate

• 113g of  cocoa butter
• 57g of cashew nut butter 
• 3 tbsp maple syrup (I used slightly less and it was the perfect sweetness!)
• slivered almonds

Melt all the ingredients except the almonds, together then pour into a shallow plastic box lined with baking/greaseproof paper. Sprinkle over the almonds (maybe adding some fresh raspberries or edible rose petals) and then pop in the freezer. Once cooled, roughly chop into small chunks and enjoy! (Probably best to store in the freezer in an air tight bag/box, whilst not being eaten.) If you're raw vegan - you can whizz all the ingredients (at room temperature) in a blender, until smooth.

I hope you enjoy making and munching this recipe!

I also received my 'Paleo Starter Pack' from Cherry's Deli this weekend which contains all the staples you need for Paleo/clean eating and minus the Ghee, it's all vegan! I got all of these goodies for £55 plus £2 delivery, which is pretty good! It also comes with a great wee  recipe book which is probably most useful for those not used to cooking from scratch however I have to say I enjoyed looking at the recipes and there's loads of info at the front about all of the ingredients in the pack! I'm looking forward to cooking up more delights in the kitchen!

I hope your week ROCKS and I look forward to seeing you all back on the mat this week. (I hope I'll have time to post another blog post this week!)
And once again, I want to express my gratitude - from the bottom of my heart - to my clients who stuck by me whilst I was sick and to all the other family and friends behind the scenes, helping me to achieve my dream!

Yoni Shakti

"Be in the world as a womb.

Know the womb as world.

Both are places of nurture and creativity,

Spaces for nourishment and growth.

The wombs in the world are worlds within."

(Uma Dinsmore-Tuli 2012, Womb Yoga Training Manual)

Excerpt: Yoni Shakti 

Lunar

"Yoga and Aromatherapy have physical, mental and spiritual benefits for the practitioner and therefore, it becomes logical to use aromatherapy when practising yoga. Not only are your senses enthralled by the beautiful aromas during your practice, the focus and effects of your practice are intensified by the therapeutic use of the essential oil blends. Healing benefits of aromatherapy oils include releasing old or negative emotions; experiencing a detoxifying or cleansing feeling; soothing tense muscles; helping to balance hormonal fluctuations or even helping to realign the chakras and promote feelings of calm and peace." - Cheryl McDonald (source:Fabafterfifty)

In my Lunar flow classes beginning in January, we'll be burning Jasmine essential oil. Jasmine has antidepressant and antispasmodic properties and is also good for women who have painful or irregular menses - helping to regulate the menstrual cycle. 

In the practice of Lunar Flow, we work through asana that massages the abdominal region and promotes good blood flow to the uterus. This is helpful in alleviating painful periods and PMS...the pranayama that we practice, naturally, focuses the mind and allows us to think more clearly and freely. In turn , this can help us in dealing with hormonal mood swings! Quite frankly, I wish someone had taught me about all of this when I was 13 and it would have saved a whole lot of strife!

Just a very brief glance at the class...there is so much more wonderful-ness that I could go on about but I will save it for the class itself! When we begin, the moon will be in it's New phase- the perfect time to set intentions for the coming cycle....

AI, Gherkins & Me!

So it's been quite along and arduous journey, since I've been diagnosed with Adrenal Insufficiency! 

This past year has been filled with great highs but also massive lows and I've spent most of it very, very sick but now, I am on the correct replacement cortisol medication and it is expected that things are to be on the up!

In fact, over the Christmas period, I caught a cold and managed to stay out of hospital and actually enjoy Christmas with my family! And in the past twenty four hours, I've managed to practice some gentle yoga, on three occasions and I even walked home from the shops.... These are all massive achievements for me and I think I'm starting to see a glimpse of normality on the horizon!

In between my yoga and holistic posts, I'll be chronicling my journey this year and hopefully it will be a positive one....offering an insight to friends and family of AI sufferers, into what living with this condition is like and also to those with the condition themselves - who may gleam some hope or inspiration from my trial and error approach to living with this!

Suffice to say that a trusty bottle of water, a couple of Polish dill gherkins and a smidgen extra hydrocortisone have got me through the more strenuous activities of today! :)

2 Essential Yoga Poses

I couldn't agree more!

"I start every personal yoga practice with a squat and a hang."

"These are power poses — essential poses to do even if you're not going to do anything else; they are the poses that give you the most bang for your buck.

One of the predictors of longevity is how easy it is to sit down on the ground and stand up again without assistance. The squat and hang poses are great ways to practice these important physical movements.

Many yoga poses are simply variations on the squat or the hang. A squat is a compression and the hang is an extension. They are yin and yang movements that complement each other."

Source: Mind. Body. Green

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-16795/the-only-2-yoga-poses-you-need-for-mental-physical-balance.html

New Year!

Here's hoping that 2015 is better than last!