On the occasion of the death of a beloved pet – Wednesday, Jill’s companion, dog, we sat in silence, her presence palpable. Sending love and peace to Jill and her family and Wednesday, through this mysterious, familiar transition and a knowing of eternity,, our true nature.

AUTUMN with AYURVEDA

Rough, Cold Dry yet Damp…FALL and CONSTIPATION – Macro and microcosm mirroring. VATA – Air and Ether elements aggravated inside and out.
Alleviating and soothing with warm and unctuous foods….
Mind and Body grounding and calming….

We continued developing a sequence of 8 Breathworks:

1. Daily Pranayama:1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th 6th in the sequence practiced today.
2. Bhastrika (Bellows breath)
3. Kapalabhati follows (Shining Skull)
4. Anuloma viloma
5. Agni Sara follows
6. Brahmari (Bee’s Breath
7. Utjayi breath (breath of victory

(Sharing from a newsletter from Ayurprana)

The beauty of Ayurveda is that it allows for the concept of rest and resting to be different for each person, with each of us living in our very particular constitutionalparadigms, but rest can also look different even moment to moment for each individual. By allowing our rest to be framed differently for each of us day to day, season to season. 

What if we moved beyond the need to just “crash” due to the intensity of our day-to-day living, and rather sought to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature, seasons, and the world around us? Proper sleep, proper diet, proper activity all yield natural periods of rest within our day-to-day – allowing us to rethink how we spend our time, and especially how we frame periods of rest. When we spend time replenishing our being, these actions can permeate the many layers of our bodies, minds, and consciousness. 

As we restart our Fall sittings, we ask you to take a moment to be present with yourself, and reflect on the idea of what rest is needed in the moment. What does it take to replenish all the levels, layers, facets, and aspects of yourself?  Remembering in this process that there is no judgment, no right or wrong when it comes to personal rest. You’re perfection, beauty, and wonderment incarnate and in you is a bright glimmer of the divine; and when we are present and balanced we shine this divinity into the world!

Look at what is with all your mind,

with all your heart

and all your gut.

Then your grief, your attachment,

your longing or your discontent

will burst into pure bliss.

This is your true nature.

This life is most unique.

Don’t waste it on trifles.

Every moment, live it completely.

Everything is here.

The entire Universe is throbbing

in your heart.

The entire existence is breathing

in your lungs.

No religion can give you that.

No guru can give you that.

Do you have the gut, the courage

to be with what is?

~ By Vasant Lad

Taken from Vasant Lad’s book of poetry Strands of Eternity

“Shining Skull Breath” Kapalabhati invigorates the brain and awakens the dormant centres which are responsible for subtle perception.

Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Definition: Kapalabhati is the “skull shining” breath -a dynamic and energizing purification breath that helps clear and move out stagnant energy and is life promoting. Kapala means “head”, bhati means “shining”.

• Tones the digestive organs, thereby improving agni (digestive fire) and appetite.
• Keeps forehead cool. Brings alertness, light and consciousness to the body.
• Removes sensory distractions from the mind.
• Cleanses the blood.
• Clears the pranic channels without creating heat. Not incredibly drying and heating (like Bhastrika).
• Supports immunity (any time the abdomen is engaged, the immune system is supported). Energizes the body and brain.
• Massages the hear therefore has a cardiovascular benefit equal to running without the impact stress on the joints.

Instructions: This practice is best done on an empty stomach.
You will feel like you are throwing/pushing air out from the belly similar to the action of coughing.

1. Begin from a comfortable seated position to align spine over the pelvis.
2. During this practice, the focus is on the exhalation; the inhalation happens naturally, without effort.
3. Expel and push the breath out through the nose by forcefully contracting the abdominal muscles in
   and up – pushing the diaphragm into the lungs to expel the air out.
4. Allow the inhalation to fill the lungs naturally, without effort. The inhalation is spontaneous and
   involves no effort while the exhalation is strong and active.
5. After your round is complete. Sit comfortably and breathe.

Progression: Start with two rounds progressing to two rounds. Slowly increase 10 repetitions per week. Start at 50/50 and can work up to 500/500. This will take quite a few months to accomplish.

Indications:

• Low immunity,
• inability to focus,
• poor digestion,
• poor circulation,
• thyroid conditions,
• cardiovascular conditions which involve high cholesterol, diabetes (helps pancreas release insulin),
• stimulates the liver and gallbladder.

Caution: Use caution for the following conditions Detached retina, glaucoma, very high or very low blood
pressure, heart problems, nose bleeds, hernia, ulcers, recent history of epilepsy, recent abdominal surgery.
No pranayama during pregnancy and menses.

Signs and Symptoms of Improper Kapalabhati: Headaches, overactive upward moving circulation (udana vayu), sensations of being overheated

The information on this handout is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For more information pertaining to your personal needs, please see a qualified medical professional.