if you aren't already drinking nettles you should be

Two weeks ago I went to 'ritual' at my holistic healers house.  As she poured our tea - an herbal concoction of her own - she said "If you aren't already drinking nettles you should be." 

We went through a guided meditation, lighting up our chakras along the way.  We spoke to our great mother of intuitions.  She spoke back.  At times it was powerful, at times unnerving, but I learned that if I asked, and had the patience to listen, she would answer.  I hadn't spoke to her in a while and I think she was glad that I called.  We were all assured that even when we're not in constant communion with her, she is always there. 

After this magical night, the thing that has sat with me the most is "If you're not already drinking nettles, you should be." 

Four days later my homeboy fell ill.  Tylenol, halls, sleep, bitch, repeat.  One week later and he's still sick, and now a little miserable at having missed two summer weekends.  I take action.  Off I go, a superhero of sorts, to the bulk food store to save the day.

me: "Excuse me, my homeboy has fallen ill.  Can you recommend some herbs I can brew up to help him feel better.  I hear nettles are a good place to start".

crotchety cashier:  Blank stare.  "There's a whole section of teas over there, grab one that says 'good for colds'".

me:  Ignore answer. Off to the herb section.

I start racking my brain trying to remember all I've read in the past about herbal immunity boosters.  I start with the nettles, a couple of scoops.  I saw someone write about bee pollen the other day, in the bag it goes.  Raspberry Leaf, yup that sounds good.  Hibiscus, I always see hibiscus in tea, bag it up.  Peppermint, my gramma loves peppermint tea and she's old and wise, in goes the peppermint.

I'm walking to the cashier, when a lovely maiden/eavesdropper says " I overheard you asking about some healing herbs for you homeboy.  May I suggest fenugreek.  It's a blood cleaner and great for phlegm and mucus.  It's not in the herb section it's over there by the spices.  God Speed, super healer".

On my way up to the register I grab some fenugreek.  I now have the perfect concoction.

Here's how it goes:

~ put on a pot of water and bring it to a boil
~ add in the herbs, about half a teaspoon of each into 3 cups of water
~ simmer concoction for 10 minutes, then strain into cups.  Toss leftovers in the fridge for some super healing on ice.

Drink, if you make a funny face, add some honey.

Healing Herbs for Happy Hommies

Nettles: anti-inflammatory (helping symptoms of arthritis), anti-asthmatic (helping clear bronchial and nasal passages), contains natural anti-histamines (great for helping with hay fever and allergies), assists body in detoxification of chemicals and heavy metals

Bee Pollen:  helps to: lower blood pressure, treat chronic fatigue, even out hormonal imbalances, reduce inflammation from arthritis, lower stress levels, improve immune function, fight allergies, aid in weight control

Raspberry Leaf:  can be ued to treat: sore throat, oral cavity irritation and gum disease, skin irritation and acne, diarrhea and inflammtion of the intestine, flu, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, fever and rubella

Hibiscus: good for: fevers and hotflashes, vitamin C and antioxidants, dandruff, acne, high blood pressure, weight loss, high cholesterol and heart disease

Peppermint:  heals: colds and flu, skin irritation, bad breath, headaches, digestion

Fenugreek:  used to: balance cholesterol, treat diabetes and lower blood sugar levels, ease skin infammation, ease heartburn and acid reflux, help with fever, cleanse blood

Cheers!!!

hey you.

Talk about timing.  This showed up in my facebook feed the other day.  Ummm yup!

confessions of an imperfect yogi

"Every moment waited is a moment wasted, and each wasted moment degrades your clarity of purpose."  ~David Deida

What's in a name?  Apparently to me, a lot.

I want to be perfect.  I want to write the perfect post, pose for the perfect picture and shoot the perfect video.  I keep waiting for the moment to be right, only to discover that there is no right moment and then the moment passes, and I don't do anything at all.  Lather, rinse, repeat.

I wish I could do

                                                                                this

this

and this

                                            
But I can't.  At least not yet.  But I can do

                                                                              this

this

and this

                                                                     
I wish I could use words like blossom and radiate and shine from your heart.

But I can't.  My dialogue is riddled with naughty words and mis-understood jokes.

I wish I could say that I do yoga every day and that my diet is kind and clean.

But I can't.  Sometimes I go a whole week without my own practice.  Sometimes I drink, sometimes I drink alot, and sometimes when I drink alot, I smoke, and then sometimes at the end of those nights of drinking and smoking,  I eat a chicken burger from mcdonalds.  I know, I know what you're thinking: sounds like a great night.  And it is.  And it's okay.

It's all okay. Slowly I'm starting to accept my imperfections and just be me.

I'm not naturally flexible, but believe strongly in the concept of 'faking it til you make it'.  My hips and legs will open with time.  I'll get stronger and be able walk around on my hands for longer.  But certain things just won't fly.  My back, my slightly spinabific back, will never let me bridge up with ease.  My shoulders, which refuse to open, keep certain poses at a distance from me. King pigeon - my absolute favourite pose - is just out of the question.  Again, this is okay.

But I need to constantly remind myself that this is all okay.  That it's okay to be where I am. I teach this, I write about this, but now I really need to "feel" it.  And so as a constant reminder to rock out and just go with it, I'm renaming this blog.  a side of yoga will be put aside, to make room for the imperfect yogi.

A place where I can come as I am and just write from my heart.  Post imperfect pictures and less than perfect videos.  A place where imperfections prevail and all self-judgement is checked at the door.  This will be my world to let it all hang out, right from my crooked teeth to my crooked toes.

I hope that this will help me to do more.  Stop reading so much, and start writing.  Stop browsing facebook pages and start posting.  Stop watching so many videos and actually do a little hot-doggin' myself.

I don't want to wait any more.

We'll see.  I am imperfect afterall and tend to change my mind more often than I change my underwear.  My homeboy would say that that's only because I don't change my underwear all that often.  Whatever, inside out is clean right?

Stay posted for new look and web address

~peace :)

a sweet song to celebrate solstice

I was doing a little creepin' on facebook this morning and saw one of the girls from my YTT had mentioned this song, 'Long Time Sun'. This was a song that was played during savasana from time to time during my Yoga Teacher Training in Bali. So, I googled it and now have it on repeat. There are times in life and people who come along with it, that though brief, leave a profound mark. This, was one of those times. It's just over a year ago that I got to experience this and there is seriously not a day that goes where I don't think about it or my time in Indonesia in some way. There are days when my heart yearns to be back in the rice paddies surrounded by the greenest of greens and the sweet foreign sounds that filled our space. If I close my eyes and am just still enough, sometimes I can actually feel and smell the pulse in the air. This song helped to bring me back.


Enjoy :)

May the Long Time Sun

Shine upon you

All love surround you

And the pure light

within you

Guide your way on

Guide your way on