Peace

We are all together
Like knitting
If we will accept each other
And be open to each other
And believe in each other
We will understand
That we are all a beautiful combination
Equal and different
If we want, we can
We are all a great combination
Of human beings
Anonymous

Sweet Dreams

Can't quite put my finger on it but I think its a combination of a few things, mostly stuff going on in my head, but it's been a good long time between a solid nights sleep. I'm having a hard time falling asleep, staying asleep and wake up far too early. Intervention is needed before I have a mini crash. Swimming is always helpful for me and it looks like I'll be headed to the pool but my immediate solution is a little viparita karani.

Viparita karani or feet up against the wall position has profound restorative effects on the body. If your feeling a real need to rejuvenate and come back to balance its good to devote a practice to this one pose. A daily practice would be 20-30 minutes. As a general rule its not recommended a person should exceed this amount of time in this inverted position.

This position leads to an increase in blood flow to your upper body as well as to your brain which is very useful to maintain your blood pressure and calm your nervous system. It has numerous other benefits as well but for now that's what I'm aiming for a little calm and relaxation to get me to sleep at night.

Here's to a new year

Have the best year possible,

Love and peace to all.

Shana Tova

Morning

Tea
enjoying the company
of poetry
in these early hours
before work
sipping tea

(Some Short Poems)

Autumn Prescription

Today as we hiked in the woods there was a feel in the air and a noticeable increase in the number of leaves changing colors or already falling. The change is happening and before long we’ll be thinking about hats, gloves and scarves. September is still summer, late summer but an excellent time to begin to shift gears for cooler months to come. There are some very nice practices which ready the body for a shift in temperature and lifestyle.
Sleeping

This is a good time to ground the body through resting more and setting a regular routine. Ideally retiring at 10 and awakening at 5 or 6 a.m. From 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. the liver is purifying while you’re sleeping, so it’s important to help the system rejuvenate and cleanse by giving yourself a routine sleeping pattern.
Eating

Every season is associated with one of natures 5 elements. In Autumn the metal element is at its peak, which governs the energy of our lung and large intestine health. Consider adding some of these foods to support your lungs and intestines as well as help ground and nourish your mind:
Pumpkin, carrot, cabbage, cauliflower, winter squash, spinach, parsley, parsnips, kale, turnip, carrots, onion, garlic, ginger, daikon, radish, pickles, adzuki beans, millet, barley, brown rice, fennel, kuzu (Japanese arrowroot – clears and tones lungs/colon), watercress, seaweeds (excellent to regenerate mucous membranes) ie kombu/arame/wakame.
Flaxseed oil (use in smoothies or add to foods), fenugreek spice.
Stewed apples and pears (peeled) with brown rice congee/porridge.
Mandarins
Marshmallow tea, raspberry leaf tea, green tea.

The Fall is the best time to enjoy local fresh apples. According to Ayurvedic medicine, apples help draw heat out of the body that accumulates over the summer. Heat can dry out and cause digestive distress in the winter season. The pectin in apples also helps to clean and heal digestive mucosa. A fun autumn Ayurvedic prescription is to eat as many apples as possible over a period of several weeks.
Drinking

It’s wise to look after your lungs in preparation for winter. The lungs are sensitive during Autumn, as the air quality changes to more cool and dry. Keep up your hydration with sufficient warm fluids like herbal teas, green tea, fresh ginger tea and liquorice tea. Dryness also affects our skin, so massage yourself after showering with good quality oils.
Yoga
Beneficial yoga asana includes pawanmuktasana ( wind relieving poses), all inverted poses where the head moves below the waist, all twists as this helps to regulate the intestines, slow sun salutation with breaths in each pose and extended shavasana (corpse pose) for proper grounding.

End of Summer Giddiness

September

"Well, the sun’s not so hot in the sky today
And you know I can see summertime slipping on away
A few more geese are gone, a few more leaves turning red
But the grass is as soft as a feather in a featherbed
So I’ll be king and you’ll be queen
Our kingdom’s gonna be this little patch of green
Won’t you lie down here right now
In this September grass
Won’t you lie down with me now
September grass."
James Taylor