ayurveda 101 for massage therapist

i just attended a 3 day 'ayurveda 101 for massage therapists' continuing education training. i had the most amazing time and didn't want it to end. i'm actually going through a little withdrawal today...


here are a few techniques i learned from the lovely karyn chabot d.ay, lmt

panchakarma (pancha meaning 5 and karma meaning action) is a wonderful cleansing sequence for the body, mind and soul. it helps to restore your constitutional (dosha) balance by improving health. it helps to eliminate toxins and brings a deep sense of relaxation to the body and mind.

some of the steps of panchakarma that i learned to do are:

~ garshana - dry brushing the body with raw silk gloves to benefit the lymphatic system, detoxify the body, and helps to alkalize the blood.


~ abhyanga - rubbing the body with oil helps to calm the nervous system, increases restful and restorative sleep, and gives smoother, softer skin.


~ nasya karma - application of medicated oil in the nose to benefit sinuses, brightening of the eyes, helps with migraines and headaches, and provides mental clarity.


~ karna purna - application of medicated oil in the ears to help alleviate tmj, ringing in the ears, improved hearing, removal of built up ear wax, and sinus infections.


~ swedhana - steam therapy to help detox, remove impurities, stimulates oxygen flow through the body, and brightens the skin.


~ shirodhara - warm oil flowing over the third eye and crown of the head to help calm the central nervous system, clears the mind and the senses, and activates the pituitary gland. this is the most spiritual and sought after component of pancha karma.


doesn't that all sound delightful? i am here to tell you that it is a magnificent therapy and can't recommend it highly enough.

ever since the day i heard the word ayurveda, i have been craving to know more. after attending this training, it only kicked my craving of all things ayurveda into high gear. i put becoming an ayurveda doctor on my long-term goal list. stay tuned for more tricks & tips i learned from this training.

hugs & namaste

image credits ici, ici, ici, ici, ici, et ici

monday moment of zen

to be spiritual is to
be crystal clear, to be

"seen through" and to

see the spiritual in

everyone.

for god's sake
don't be opaque.
be light
and then you'll be bright.
~ yoga bhajan

image credit ici

trouble sleeping?

we all know that good sleeping habits are essential for our health. but sometimes when things get crazy in our lives, our sleep is what pays the price. thus, meaning, that we end up paying the price. when our sleep takes a hit, we are not at our best.

so let's talk about a few things that might improve your sleep and thus improve your life.

~ take a warm shower or bath
~ massage the soles of your feet with warm sesame or coconut oil
~ don't eat for 2-3 hours before sleeping
~ turn off the lights (keeping lights on tricks your brain into thinking it's daytime)
~ rest quietly for 10-20 minutes before going to sleep (use this time to pray, repeat your mantra, count your blessings, or meditate)

~ or when all else fails try a milk nightcap (milk contains an amino acid called tryptophan, which helps sleep occur more easily and naturally)

milk nightcap:
1/2 cups organic milk (non homogenized is best)
1/2 cup water
cook until milk foams, then turn off heat.

add while warm:
1/2 tsp. raw honey* or sucanat
1 tsp. maple syrup
2 pinches of nutmeg
1 pinch of cinnamon
*be sure to let the milk cool to about 100 degrees before adding honey*

enjoy while sipping slowly and sweet dreams!

image credit ici et ici

finding comfort

oh what a difference a day makes...

literally 24 little hours. i am feeling immensely better.

i can't thank you all enough for helping me feel better yesterday. all of your sweet, kind comments made me feel SO much better. thank you for always being there when i need you. hugs!!!!!

this brought me much needed comfort yesterday as well....
my momma's homemade wild raspberry cobbler & ice cream. talk about comfort food ;)

again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you all for being you.

strange day

woke up naturally at 7:30 this morning. ryan was up getting ready to go to work. i got up spoke a few words to him and went back to bed. went back to sleep pretty easily but woke up frequently tossing from one side to the other until around 9:30. that's when i decided i finally had enough and got up.

it was muggy when i finally got out of bed this morning. i made sure to water our petite garden and potted herbs and inside plants while i was at it. i figured everything needed a nice drink of water on this hot summer day.

i lazed around a bit, checking e-mail, a few blogs, twitter & facebook updates. nothing out of the normal. i decided i had better make myself something for breakfast. i decided on a cooling green smoothie which hit the spot.

but something was strange, i didn't feel like myself today. i contribute it to worrying about my finances. as of late they haven't exactly been the best. i know money comes & money goes but when you are in the moment of money not being around it's hard to see the other side of the proverbial coin (that you might not have at that moment).
originally i planed to go observe a few yoga classes for my 200 ryt training but just couldn't seem to make it out of my house, or my pj's for that matter. so i turned the ac on, closed all the blinds (totally unlike me), propped myself up on the couch and watched some food network.

after watching tv for what seemed to be an ungodly amount of time i decided to retreat back to my bed for some reading and napping.

after napping for again what felt like forever, i woke up and took a shower. i feel a little better but my blinds are still closed. i am off to pull myself together (somehow) and take myself to assist a yoga class. i know it will make me feel immensely better but right now it's hard to convince myself otherwise.

please tell me i'm not crazy and that you all experience strange days like this from time to time too. hugs!!

*update: just got word that the yoga class i was going to assist just got canceled. probably for the best for today. i think i am going to do legs up the wall for a while and see if i can't reconnect back to myself.

image credit ici

monday moment of zen

... on the summer solstice ...
"whatever is dreamed on this night, will come to pass."

william shakespeare - acknowledging the magic of this time
a mid-summernight's dream

"with hands in prayer, i face the sun - feeling love and joy in my heart.
i reach out and let the sun fill me with warmth.
i bow before the sun's radiance and place my face to the ground in humble respect.
i must be as the dust of the earth.
i stretch upward towards its light trying to reach the greatest heights and then surrender.
i stand tall and i remember - the sun is within me!"
~ sun salute prayer

image credit ici

taking it all in

i had the pleasure to be a part of these lovely ladies lives this past week at my yoga teacher training. let me just say that was a dynamic group of women. i couldn't have asked for a better group to share my yoga teacher training with.

and that bountiful beauty in the sunflower shirt in the middle of the pic is the fabulous joanne vandenhengel of schoolhouse yoga in pittsburgh and one aaaooooohhhhmmmmazing teacher!!

our intensive was 8am to 5pm monday - friday. but it was much more than that. lela and i stayed in pittsburgh in a hotel room and were running on 4-6 hours of sleep a night. but it was SO worth it!

while i've been home since late friday night, i'm still trying to process all that has happened in one very busy little week.

each day we did an asana practice and i plan on continuing that. each day, whether it's a 10-15 min practice or work on one specific pose, i will continue to work on my asanas.

i'm sure i will infuse gussying up the tuttle with some of what i've learned in my ytt but for now, i'm off to enjoy some time with my pets and ryan.

hugs and namaste

monday moment of zen

"until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness concerning all acts of initiative and creation. there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. all sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. a whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. boldness has genius, power and magic in it. begin it now."
~ goethe

i found this quote in one of my many yoga books that i read for my h(om)ework. i am at yoga teacher training all this week so please excuse my absence from the blogging community. what dreams can you begin now? have a wonderful week. namaste

image credit ici

toilet paper in the form of art?

in this house, yes!

my dearest sanjay loves to make art. unfortunately it's usually my toilet paper is his medium...


and here is the artist himself, proud of his accomplishments i'm sure

that's my crazy boy! :)

what's next

shortly after passing the ncetmb (and by shortly i mean just a few hours) i began doing the metric ton of h(om)ework for my yoga teacher training.


wait, i know what you are thinking, aren't you already a yoga teacher?

well, yes i am. i am a certified yoga teacher but always wanting to learn & grow more i am embarking on the 200 ryt training. i am doing an intensive training this summer in pittsburgh, pa. it starts next week - yikes! i'm already behind on my h(om)ework due to all of the studying i was doing for my massage exam but that's ok, i'll get it!

from one certificate straight into the next... that's how i roll!

monday moment of zen

"people do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character."
~ ralph waldo emerson

image credit ici

if you haven't heard....

i passed my massage therapy exam!!!

i just wanted to take a minute to thank each and everyone of you beautiful souls who sent me your love, thoughts, prayers, vibes, energy, etc. you will never know how much that meant to me!! you all are amazing people and i am so incredibly honored to be connected to each and everyone of you.

may your day be as brilliant as you are!

from the plantar surface of my toes i thank you and sent you all huge hugs!!

my thursday moment of zen

may today there be peace within.
may you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
may you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others.
may you be content with yourself just the way you are.
let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love.
it is there for each and everyone of us.
~ mother teresa

today i am in need of a moment of zen. as you know, my massage therapy exam is tomorrow. it's no surprise that i get test anxiety and yes, it's in full force today. i am working with my breath to try to put myself in a state of zen. i've also been using bach rescue remedy which seems to be most helpful.

mother teresa's quote is most helpful in calming my monkey mind. i believe that we are all exactly where we are meant to be and that there are infinite possibilities for us all.

thank you SO much for all of your well wishes, good luck vibes, etc for my exam tomorrow. i will keep you posted.

love & hugs & overcoming test anxiety

image credit ici

wish me luck

it's SO hard studying for a test that you have NO idea what questions will be on there. ok, well, i have an idea of what will be on ncbtmb (national certification board for therapeutic massage & bodywork) but that covers a lot!!

it can include:
* anatomy & physiology (including hundreds of muscles, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, movements, etc)
* pathology
* eastern philosophy
* hydrotherapy
* hands on techniques
* massage effects
* business practices
* and the list goes on & on & on

have i mentioned that i'm taking the ncbtmb THIS FRIDAY?!?! i am excited and nervous all at the same time. as some of you know, i'm not exactly the best standardized test taker so that makes me nervous! (remember my battle with the gmat?! ugh!!) at least i am (or should be) aware of all material that will be covered on the ncbtmb test so in that regards it will be NOTHING like the gmat (at least for me).

so, if you would, please, send me some extra good study vibes this week and send me some extra, extra love & good energy on friday at 1pm. merci!!

image credit ici