Yoga Off The Mat

What’s the Deal with folding the blankets?

When America thinks of yoga, mostly what comes to mind is the physical use of our bodies to build strength, flexibility and balance. Yoga is much more though, than the body. The body is a way into the inner terrain. In the ancient writings of Patanjali, Yoga Sutras, an eight limbed path is described including: rules of conduct in relation to ourselves and others, poses, breathing, learning to concentrate and forms of meditation. One of the principles is shauca (sow-cha) which can be understood as maintaining order in our lives, keeping clean, ridding ourselves of extras and taking good care of our possessions. That’s partly why putting yoga props back in a neat way is yogic. So mindfully folding blankets, replacing blocks back neatly, and wrapping the straps is really a continuation of the yogic experience.

Yoga as Parenting Muse

The trip to find and buy two dresses for my daughters, Shona, 13 years old, and Bella, 10, was not an adventure I looked forward to. These two independent girls (the way I wanted them, right?) are always tough to shop with:  They have their own ideas and it isn’t unusual to spend hours trying clothes on at every possible shop in the mall, only to come away empty-handed.

And this was a must-buy trip.  Shona’s Bat Mitzvah was in a mere two weeks with a series of events including relatives and friends numbering over 200. The girls needed two dresses each of just the right amount of style, formality, hipness and comfort.  Oy, I figured we’d have to travel the globe.

So trying to calm myself, we went to our local department store with the largest selection of girls’ clothes, and I started picking up dresses and saying, “Look at this. This is great!” to which Bella and/or Shona would scrunch their faces with repulsion and say “Oh yeah, right Mom, you wear that. It’s perfect for your style.”  Sometimes they’d just look at each other and then me and laugh and roll their eyes.

I could see I was adding nothing to the purchase potential. We went into the dressing room and I dutifully took clothes off hangers and helped the kids try on clothes. Nothing was right. They went back to the racks and I had an inspiration. I could see that I was useless as a fashion consultant to my pre- and teen girls. What I need to do was relax. I was tired from my usual life of taking care of my family and myself and teaching yoga. I looked at the carpeted floor and then the wall. Ah ha! I lay down on the floor, put my hips against the wall, brought my legs straight up the wall with flexed feet, rested my arms a few inches from my body with palms up and closed my eyes. The world became a beautiful place again. I breathed deeply from my belly, after awhile, even reaching to mula-bandha. I was replenishing my body, mind and spirit right there on the floor of the girls’ fitting room.

There was an officious knock at the door. “Are you alright in there?” came the sales woman’s voice.  “Oh, everything is just fine in here.  Really fine,”  I replied.  And it was. The girls came and went, trying on clothes, asking my opinion only when they already knew what they wanted.  They were a bit embarrassed to see their mother doing yoga in that semi-public arena, but since no one could actually see me, they let it go without too much protestation. Bella sighed and said,  “We know, Mom, everything revolves around Yoga.”

Yes, for me, everything does revolve around yoga–or at least, I’m always looking for that opportunity to add yoga to my everyday life. Because no matter how much we do yoga with great intention, focus and intensity on the mat, for me, it’s really the yoga we can do off that mat that transforms my moments.

Meta’s Chai Tea
(originally from Lisa Schrempp)

1. Chop fresh ginger finely and boil in water a minimum of 5 minutes (the longer the better) until water turns a golden color. Use at least 3 Tablespoons of chopped ginger (I usually use more) to 3 cups of water.

2. Meanwhile, grind the following in a mortar and pestle (about a teaspoon each unless noted):

• coriander seeds (I use double of this)
• fennel seeds
• cumin seeds
• cinnamon stick (1/2 of a stick will do)
• cardamom pods (a little less of this since it can be bitter with too many pods)
• for higher octane, black pepper

3. Add the ground spices to the ginger broth and continue to boil for about 10 minutes.

4. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of black tea. Simmer the teas for 5 minutes or so, or longer for more caffeine effectiveness.

5. Add soy milk (I like Vita Soy creamy original) to the color you like it–I like a very light luscious brown. Bring the brew to a light boil, just enough to warm the soy milk.

6. Strain and put the chai tea in a thermos to stay warm. Add your favorite sweetener–I use honey.

ENJOY! This chai tea not only tastes magnificent but also loves your body. The CCF (cumin, coriander and fennel) combo is, according to Dr. Lad, the magic three of health. Let me know what you think and what you’ve improved.