Alternative Medicine & the Military

Over the years, I have met and interacted with a lot of veterans and active military service people. I've met them in the training hall. I've met them as clients and as students. I've met them in my personal life. Though I am not a veteran myself, we seem to get along well and understand each other.

While this is not a blog about my personal life, I can share that my early life included a lot of tragedy. This gives me a different perspective on life than many people. While I am an artist and a dreamer in some ways, I'm also quite pragmatic. When the pressure is on, I know what I'm capable of and I do it. I also have an attitude of service to the larger community and make personal sacrifices to further that mission. I've often thought that this is why I relate well to veterans.

The military industrial complex has its place, and I in no way intend to denigrate or deny its importance in our history. Nor will I get political here. That being said, military service as it stands today takes a heavy toll on the mind, body and spirit. I believe that we can ameliorate that fact. As any veteran will tell you, being prepared to take the life of another human being is a heavy burden, and nothing can erase that fact.

Alternative medicine can help. I've seen it happen. A few years ago, I was honored to volunteer with an organization that helps veterans with a variety of alternative therapies. We went to a re-integration event for service people returning from Afghanistan. It was like a big expo where they received all sorts of support and information to ease their transition back to non-combat duty or civilian life. I was there offering my massage therapy work, while others offered chiropractic care, biofeedback therapy and HeartMath. I've also treated many, many veterans in my massage & yoga therapy practice.

Friends and patients know my strong empathic ability. That means that I am very sensitive to the feelings and energy of others. When I work with military folks, it breaks my heart. I feel their pain, their guilt, their numbness, their walls and compartmentalization. I feel the injuries that still ache. I feel the anxiety that keeps them awake. I feel the fears that they will fail, that they have failed, that they are not enough, that the ghosts will never leave.

Every now and then, I get to feel them relax, even if only by the tiniest of fractions. Sometimes, I win their trust. I have seen burly Marines cry. I have seen grizzled Rangers smile and tell me that their pain is eased. I have shared some beautiful moments with the most hard-boiled of sergeants and officers, grunts and sailors. A common theme in what they tell me is that they needed to feel safe. They needed to be heard. They needed to be recognized as a whole being, not merely as a serial number or a skill set. Nearly all had no idea they could feel differently, or better. They had no hope.

Recently I've been blessed to have a new student in my Yoga class who is a veteran. He showed up with no idea of what to expect, and had never practiced before. Despite this, he was game for everything and did very well. After class, he said that it was great and all the military should learn Yoga.

Scientists are also actively studying the effects of alternative modalities on members of the military. Yoga, for example, has gotten a lot of press in recent years for its positive effects. Yoga Nidra is helping veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Yoga, meditation and mindfulness are also being studied. So far it's looking good. It works. The military is listening. Slowly, alternative therapies are being integrated with traditional therapies, at least for veterans. I hope that one day, active service people are trained in things like Yoga, mindfulness and meditation. These tools can help, and our military people need all the help they can get.

Help Spread the Word:

University of Connecticut researchers want to further their NIH-funded study for active duty and/or retired military members who have taken at least five yoga classes in the past two months. Participants will be asked about their experiences with yoga and will be compensated for their time. If you aren’t able to participate, please share this with your yoga community!

Link to the survey: http://ow.ly/BYlrN

10 Ways to Make Good Hydration Part of Your Life

This is my water bottle, complete with carrying handle!

Good hydration is important after a massage session, but it's also a key foundation for good health. I'm sure everyone has heard this by now, but these are some great tips that can help you make it an integral part of your daily life. Making it easy, convenient and tasty is how you can ensure that you will follow through, cut out the unhealthy sugary drinks and stay hydrated!

1. EAT WATER BASED FOODS

Apart from including eight to ten glasses of water in your daily diet, try including some water based foods. Celery, cucumber, melons, and leafy greens are great sources of water to your body. Don't forget soup!


2. USE A STRAW

Using a straw will help you to drink more water. Always, use a sipper glass with straw or a bottle with a straw. Eventually, you will see that you are drinking more water when you use a straw.


3. SET A DAILY GOAL

Don’t jump into the routine of including ten glasses of water in your everyday diet. In fact, start with a daily goal. Set a number and follow it. If you already drink two to three glasses of water daily, start by increasing the number by one or two. Eventually, you will reach the magic number of eight to ten glasses.


4. WATER APP TO TRACK PROGRESS

Smartphones really have everything readily available for you. If you love apps, then download Waterlogged for iPhone or Water-your-body for Android. These specialty apps are designed to help you in maintaining your daily water intake. These apps do send you notifications at regular intervals.


5. EAT SPICY FOOD

Eating spicy food will make you to reach your water pitcher multiple times a day. Add crushed pepper or chili pepper to your plate and enjoy drinking more water throughout the day.

6. ALWAYS HAVE YOUR WATER BOTTLE

This may sound funny to many of you, but keeping a cute bottle helps an individual to drink more water. When you have a bottle with you, you will continue drinking water at regular intervals. Klean Kanteen makes some wonderful stainless steel water bottles that last well, are easy to clean and reduce your exposure to plastic. Plus they make an insulated version, for those of us who live in hot climates or prefer our water cold!


7. MAKE YOUR OWN CUTE WATER BOTTLE

If you're a fan of adding some personal flair, then opt for making your own cute bottle. Buy a BPA free sipper or bottle and paint your name on it. If not, just stick your name or initials. This will surely motivate you to include a few more glasses of water in your daily diet. Stickers are also a great option. Besides making it personal and attractive, you'll always know which water bottle is yours in a crowd.


8. MAKE WATER YUMMY

Add in some slices of lemon, orange and a few mint leaves to your water. These refreshing fruits will make your water taste even better. Tru-Lemon is also a good option - it's an all-natural brand of drink flavoring available in unsweetened lemon. Remember - avoiding sugar in our fluids is an incredibly easy way to drop weight and reduce inflammation in our bodies!


9. WAKE UP TO WATER

Begin your day with a glass of water. Hydrating your body in the morning is as important as eating your breakfast. Also, this habit will allow you to keep the flow of drinking water all through the day. BONUS: it helps your digestion!


10. DITCH THE CAFFEINE

If you are used to taking more than a cup of coffee or tea a day, then replace it with a glass of water. By ditching caffeine and including more water, you will improve your metabolism.

Magic at the Women's Wilderness Workshop

Two weeks ago, I was transported to a magical place - an all-women primitive skills gathering in the mountains of NC. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to teach at the first annual Women's Wilderness Workshop (WWW), and for that I am so very grateful.

WWW is the first gathering of its kind in the Southeast, though its roots come from the Earthskills Gathering community. For those that don't know, the Earthskills Gathering, Firefly Gathering and Piedmont Earthskills Gathering, along with others, are events that teach earth-based skills to deepen our nature connection and spark new-old ways of natural living. Participants camp out and learn such things as hide tanning, how to gather wild foods and medicines, basketry, pottery, primitive fire starting, survival skills and much more.

Through my teaching work at the Piedmont Wildlife Center, I was able to share archery with the community at the Piedmont Earthskills Gathering this spring. It was delightful, and I felt that I had found my tribe. I only wish I had known about it sooner!

Then a friend told me about WWW and lo! Many of the wonderful people I met at Piedmont Earthskills Gathering were involved! I just knew that I had to be there. Christina Gordon, the founder of WWW, was impressed by my resume and took me on as a part-time instructor. I was scheduled to teach one session each of my Meditative Archery and Backpacking, Trekking & Equipment Selection.

I'd seen on the map that there was a space for yoga practice, though it would only be a guided practice

on Saturday. Friday morning I went to do my own practice, but there was a mixup with the building. I ran into some other seekers, but none of us could find the space. We found a spare porch, the gang asked me to lead a practice and I did. It was a beautiful beginning for the weekend.

There were so many interesting people there, both in the pool of instructors and participants. I feel like I made 60 new friends. I learned how to make pine needle baskets. I hiked up the mountain. I napped. I danced, I sang, I drummed and I participated in our beautiful Moon Lodge ceremony. The conversations were extraordinary!

Saturday morning found me teaching my Backpacking, Trekking & Equipment Selection. We had wonderful discussions about how to walk in harmony with the land. We talked about staying safe. We talked about planning and its key role in both of the preceding goals. We played with my collection of equipment. Somehow, the morning flew by and we all wanted to have a Part II of the class.

Sunday morning we had a large crew for Meditative Archery and it was such a hoot. I love to introduce people to archery, and this class was no exception. It was so beautiful to witness these women learn that yes, they CAN do archery! They were such a supportive and fun group; a real pleasure to teach. We really dug into the good stuff - getting centered and grounded and shooting from a place of calmness.

What a beautiful time. Words fail, really. From the WWW website:

"There is a sacred energy that forms when women come together and gather within the cycles of the Earth and we are planting the seeds to bring that energy into this encampment. Opening the doors to women of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds to explore these ancient skills in the company of other women!"

I can't wait for next year! Come and join us. Your spirit will be restored and your heart will be lifted by this wonderful community. And oh yeah, you will learn some awesome skills too!

Six Months of Awesome

June 20 marked the six month anniversary of my Meetup group, South Wake Spiritual Community (SWSC)! Since our inception, we have had 42 meetups, covering a wide variety of topics - everything from Yoga, meditation and Reiki to Tarot cards. Currently, we have 39 fascinating members.

The mission of the SWSC is to create positive, tolerant and openminded spiritual community in the southern Wake County area. This is a place for people of all faiths to explore inner and outer landscapes, to learn and grow together!

One of the most popular events is our monthly Meet & Greet, at which we have gather to share our stories over tea. I keep hearing a recurring theme at these events: people are searching for an accepting spiritual community.  I encourage each new member to take a Diversity Pledge and ask them to agree to a set of ground rules that promote respectful, tolerant community. We seem to be headed in the right direction - our group has received numerous positive reviews and comments.

In other news, on June 25, I was initiated as an Ordained Priestess in both my spiritual tradition and by the Universal Life Church, an interfaith organization. This blessed event represents a lifetime of spiritual exploration and study. My mission as a spiritual leader is to bring people together in celebration of our shared humanity and stewardship of this lovely Earth. I am so blessed to have this opportunity to promote tolerance, diversity and healthy living in the southern Wake county area.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the South Wake Spiritual Community by participating, telling friends and neighbors about the group and by sharing your stories. Thank you also to all those who have provided listening ears, guidance and encouragement as I have stepped out into the public on my teaching and priestessing journey.

It's been a good summer so far. My garden is growing, my kitties are happy and just now, the blackberries are in season. Life is good and my heart is full.

Namaste - the light within me honors the light within you!

The Spiritual Practice of Freecell

If you've never played it, Freecell is a form of solitaire, except all the cards are spread out, face up, in vertical columns. You have four open "cells" at the top, which are used to shift cards around. The goal is the same as solitaire - untangle all 52 cards and pile them up by suit and number, in order.

It’s also a pretty powerful spiritual practice.      

Freecell is teaching me to work with what I have in front of me. The game has many moves, some of which seem like progress, and some that seem like backtracking. It’s not linear. I cannot simply do what I’d like to do. The card I want is buried beneath three cards for which I have no use. I have to deal with a chaotic and seemingly arbitrary jumble. Each tiny step leading me further along my circuitous route…just like life.

Just like real life, there are no jokers, no get out of jail free cards. There’s just raw material and a little bit of wiggle room. You have to shift it around until the chaos is transformed into order. If you fail? That’s it…or you can hit retry. That too, might be like real life, but none of us really know that answer. But back to Freecell.

The game has a certain flow, yet it’s also balanced by longer termed strategy than simply putting a card anywhere it can fit. Looking ahead a few moves, that’s the key. But then, one can easily overbalance in this direction and take on too much. Unbridled ambition doesn’t work in Freecell. It tends to just eat up your free cells and leave you a crucial onemove away from perfection.

It’s also showing me how it doesn’t matter if I can see where my step will land. The most unlikely moves can sometimes lead to the most brilliant streak of flowing, easy scores. It seems like such a bad idea, but I have to do something. So I take a chance…and then, eureka!

Freecell reveals my blind spots. I never knew it, but sometimes I am dyslexic with numbers or colors. I think I'm seeing clearly, but the reality is different. How like life, how like Yoga!

Sidebar: a Yoga teacher I studied with recently told me that asana (yoga poses) reveals imbalance and asana corrects imbalance.

Koans everywhere!
 

Anyhoo. I find that I make a lot of mistakes. I think I’m on a roll, maybe I’m just a wee bit too excited about that fact and BOOM! Saw the color wrong, went too fast or overlooked one crucial thing. At other times, frustration will lead me to act recklessly. 

I also find that I’m capable of some brilliant flow. I get into a fugue state and it becomes effortless. One move leads to the next in a harmonious rhythm. It feels the same as when I'm in an altered state creating artwork, when my martial arts mojo is strong or when I'm paddling well on a river. Flow is a whole other topic…I'll write more about that later.

To sum up, it's helping me:

• Use what I have.
• Take one step at a time.
• Look a few moves ahead.
• Balance effort and non-effort.
• Learn from blind spots.
• Flow.
• Trust.

Give it a try, and as always, tell me about your experience! Are there any mundane seeming things you use as a spiritual practice?

Anatomic Yoga: Precision Asana

I attended a workshop this weekend with a gentleman who wrote one of the textbooks in my Yoga teacher training. Ray Long, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon who practices Yoga. He’s taken his in depth knowledge of the human body from his Western medical background, studied cutting-edge research and applied advanced computer animations to figure out how Yoga works in the body, and how we can use anatomic principles to do Yoga more effectively.

His basic premise is that we analyze each pose to see what muscles are involved in creating the form. We then stretch and engage the primary muscles and their opponents to create a precise, correct embodiment of the pose. He integrates modern scientific stretching techniques to enhance the efficacy. I myself got my torso on my leg in Janu Sirsasana (seated forward fold with one leg extended and one bent), which hasn’t happened since my full-time martial arts days.

This type of approach, interestingly enough, is a big part of how I was trained to be a Yoga teacher. Two of the three teachers who created the training program I attended have a detail-oriented, practical and anatomical bent to their teaching. The other instructor came out of a very holistic school of Yoga. She has much of the same knowledge, but different languaging.

Sunny Davis, especially, is skilled in combining anatomy and biomechanics to building good alignment in Yoga poses. But because of her background as a international level fitness educator and former competitive cyclist, her knowledge base is rich enough to inform any type of movement. Sunny has an amazing ability to analyze all the different embodiments of a pose in even a large class, and her corrections are subtle and powerful.

She and I have co-taught a series of therapeutic classes that focus on each functional area of the body, starting from the ground up with the feet and lower legs. In each workshop, we teach anatomy, common problems, options for treatment and then we practice stretching and strengthening approaches that come from her and my broad array of disciplines. Sunny brings in the perspective of an athlete, fitness trainer and long-time therapeutically-focused Yoga and Pilates teacher, and I bring in my martial arts, subtle energy expertise, lifetime Yoga practice and clinical massage background. Together, we make a pretty potent team.

I garnered some excellent asana cues and subtle anatomical insights from Mr. Long this weekend. It’s going to add to my ongoing process of combining disciplines to better help my students and patients. It was also lovely to meet an MD who believes that energetic blockages are the root of most illness. More than anything, it confirmed that I’m headed in the right direction – true integrative medicine. I love the ancient and mystical aspects of Yoga, but I’m quite sure I would not be so effective at using it if I didn’t have so much training in anatomy, physiology and kinesiology.

Here’s a little scrap I wrote in my notes near the end of the workshop:

“Our job as Yoga teachers is not only to help increase overall strength and flexibility, but to counteract the effects of modern sedentary life, which is rife with such problems as: kyphosis of the upper back, lower back pain, flat feet, weak core musculature, weak shoulder girdle musculature, tight hip flexors and hamstrings, sacro-iliac instability, living in a constant state of stress and lack of embodiment.”

A mouthful, I know. This is my life – I work with people every day who have a preponderance of the above conditions. People are stressed, tired, out of shape in crucial areas and not aware of their bodies. That’s what I do in my massage practice, yoga therapy practice and yoga classes. I strive to get people back in their bodies, to build awareness of the body’s sensations and wisdom, calm the nervous system and then get to work on strengthening and stretching safely.

The more trainings I attend, the more I can see that knowledge is knowledge, no matter what the source. Most disciplines and traditions of healing and personal development have similar insights, though they have distinct systems of symbolism and language. My sensei once said “the moves are the moves are the moves”.

Very true.

Happy Earth Day!

Today is the day to acknowledge and honor the Earth. The Earth is alive. The Earth is a giant organism, and we are deeply intertwined and interconnected with all the other forms of life who call this beautiful, messy, chaotic, imperfect place home.

Tonight there will be a global meditation to heal and honor our beloved home, won't you join me there?

Happy Earth Day!

The Healing Power of Silence

I’ve been thinking for quite a while now about one of my superpowers: silence. Doesn’t sound too impressive, does it? Perhaps you’d rather be able to teleport, have x-ray vision or some other flashy power. Me? I’ll stick with silence.

Consider what happens when we are silent: introspection, listening, presence in the moment, rest, receptiveness, focus.

In our fast paced modern lives, how often do we stay silent to truly listen to our partners? Or are we really formulating our next sentence?

How often do we talk on the phone just to drown out the thoughts and feelings inside our minds?

How often do we turn on the TV, stream media over the internet, or zone out in front of a smartphone…attempting to “rest” by overstimulating our senses?

And how often do we actually stop talking, doing, running, consuming…just stop and be with our inner selves?

If you’re like most of us, one or more of the above questions will strike a chord.

As a Yoga Therapist and Instructor, I teach people techniques like asana (yoga poses), pranayama (breathing exercises) and meditation. Like many people, I was taught that these practices are valuable and healing.

Which they are. Each has a different effect on our bodymind, and those effects are wondrous.

But as it turns out, part of why they are effective is that many of them invite us into silence and bring us into calm, quiet environments.

I’m also an Environmental Educator, and today I led a hike into some lovely woods. One of my participants repeatedly remarked on how quiet it was, and I could see that it was having its subtle effect on her.

Modern science is catching up with the ancient wisdom of Yoga on this topic. Research published online in European's leading cardiology journal, European Heart Journal, links exposure to chronic noise with an increased risk of heart attack.

Just recently, I was reading an Ayurvedic text, and was struck by how it talks about meditation. Meditation is not just helpful because of the practice itself, but because it gives us a few minutes of complete silence every day.

Yoga teaches us that silence is healing because the reduced stimulation allows our nervous system to rest and regenerate. This is why a good Yoga teacher will tell you that savasana or corpse pose is the most important pose of the class.

Time in nature has the very same effect. In fact, the sounds of nature may be even more healing than just plain silence, but that's a topic for another blog post!

Why not add a few minutes of silence into your day? Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Sit quietly in your backyard
• Take a walk outside
• Meditate
• Practice Yoga
• Journal
• Take a “silent fast” – set aside some time, from a few minutes up to a day or even a weekend, in which you turn off all electronics and remain in silence as you do whatever calming thing that you like, or nothing at all.

Remember, the goal is to reduce noise, become aware of the present moment, and be present with your Self.

I’d love to hear about your experiences; please leave a comment with the results of your experiment!

The Spiritual Practice of Saving Money

What’s holding you back from having the life you want? If you’re like most people, the answer is stress. But what is truly stressing you out? Is it your job, your spouse, your children…or is it money?

We can’t change the fact that life hands us constant challenges, nor should we. These are growth opportunities, whether positive or negative. The growth comes with how we choose to meet these challenges.

But what we can change are all the niggling things in the background. When you can’t sleep at night, what are you thinking about? Commonly, it’s the events of the day. But often enough, it’s that nagging worry about money.

Money. We all have issues with it, seemingly no matter how much or little we earn. But consider this: money is simply energy in material form. The energy of the work that you do is exchanged for the money that you earn.

Nothing more, nothing less.

But that also means that money, as a form of energy, is a part of our spiritual practice. I think followers of most spiritual traditions would agree that balancing all the aspects of our lives – physical-emotional-mental health, spiritual practice, relationships, a clean and pleasant home, career, and community is important.

I’m not sure that many people include finances on that list, but it absolutely should be. How can we have the resources, materially, emotionally and mentally, to live our lives in a healthy manner when our very survival is in question? Of course that sounds dramatic, but most of us don’t live in the woods. Money is essential.

So. Consider efforts toward putting your financial affairs in order as a part of your self-care routine, as a vital part of your spiritual journey to wellness.

Here’s a simple idea that most of us can afford: the 52 Week Money Challenge. This is an image that I came across here on the internet, and it made me realize something: saying that you’re going to save money isn’t nearly as effective as setting dates, amounts and dare I say it, some accountability.

Maybe you’re already a financially responsible citizen. If so, I salute you! Maybe you’re like me, a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of person. That’s ok too. Either way, you can benefit from this challenge.

Is there a special project you’ve always wanted to work on? A trip that just won’t get out of your head? Perhaps an offering to your community, church or favorite charity that you’ve always wanted to make? Or would an extra cushion of savings help decrease your stress?

Here’s your chance. With each week that passes, you will be showing yourself that you are valuable. Your dreams matter. Your security is important. Join me – let’s do this thing!

Asana: Not the Best Part of Yoga

 Finally, my chance to write about Yoga! But first, let me tell you a story.

The other night, we were having a gathering of my Meetup group. I forget now how it came up, but the topic of my weekly Yoga class came up. We were trying to describe exactly what we do in there, and it was a little tricky.

See, I don’t teach traditional Yoga. Well, I do, actually. I’m a Hatha Yoga instructor, trained by some very skilled old school teachers. But I don’t teach *just* traditional yoga.

No, I seem to have gone off the rails somewhere, into the unknown. I find myself letting it all hang out in the Yoga studio. My…err…colorful mode of speech comes out. We have “booty blankets” to sit on, for example. I’ve been known to fistpump and I crack jokes constantly. One night we danced. More than once, we pulled out colored pens and index cards.

One of my students finally said that I’m teaching “renegade yoga”. I like it. And thus the name of this blog was born.

But I kept thinking. The word 'renegade' implies a certain level of rebellion. I'm not actually rebelling against the tradition of Yoga. I love an honor the traditions. In fact, my way of teaching is in many ways more traditional than what you will find at most Yoga studios today. But we are doing something different in my class. So finally, I renamed my class to 'Wild Freedom Yoga'. 

Anyhoo. Back to asana. Yoga is freaking awesome. But asana, or the physical poses, are far from the best part of it. Oh sure, they’re important. One of the purposes of asana is to strengthen one’s body enough to sit in meditation. And I love me some meditation.

But here in the US, we have gotten fixated on asana, and performing all sorts of acrobatic feats. We even have such a thing as Acro-Yoga now. Blame it on the media, blame it on our relentless type-a drive for perfection, physical beauty, whatever. I’m not here to dissect our social problems.

The fact is that the art and science of Yoga is broad and deep. There’s really something in it for everyone. Like serving others and the world? Karma. Devotions to God (no matter what deity/archetype/concept you worship)? Bhakti. Are you the scholarly type? Jnana.

And those are just the branches on the big tree of Yoga. On each branch are scads of practices. Me? I like to meditate. I like to chant. I like devotion. I like service. Luckily, the Yoga police aren’t out to get me. I can do just as I please.

A great teacher of mine once said, “Yoga is liberation”.

Indeed.