Lotus Blossoms

I knew that all was not right with my world when my husband brought me my daily wake-up of extra bold, and I felt blue all over, my whole body rejecting it. I was either pregnant or all hell was about to cut loose on planet Gwen.

I was not pregnant.

The next three days I surfed the astral plane of delirium and rode the magic carpet of my queen-sized bed. I would wake up in pools of sweat with my teeth chattering. I had the time to chat with my body and comment on the wild party going on within. (Writer’s note: No Nyquil or meds were involved in the writing of this entry.) 

 During one of my magic carpet rides I was walking down the streets of India with Lakshmi, the many-armed bearer of wealth, prosperity, and abundance, who let it be known on no uncertain terms that I would learn as much if not more about my truest self from my sick bed in Bloomington as I could here on the streets of India. I awoke sick as ever but a bit relieved. As a yogini, I always felt it was my obligation to walk the streets of Calcutta and go back to the place where my way of life all began. Now, somehow, I felt off the hook.

Thank you, Lakshmi.

Well, I am back off to my magic carpet (bed), where maybe Lakshmi will be waiting for me with more divine wisdom. Be well, but if not, enjoy riding the astral plane!

Gwen Linden-Bruzek, Teacher and Ayurvedic Health Educator

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Life's lessons revealed

Last night I finished reading Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses, recommended to me by a long-time Green Lotus student.  In it, author Claire Dederer examines her life – and her life-long, exhausting effort to be “good” or better – weaving in yoga poses and teachers who trigger different thinking.

The book made me laugh at her honesty as presented, and it also made me sad. Why?  Because it is heart-breaking to me as I read what are called “post-feminist”-era books to observe so many younger women wrestling with perfectionism, what I consider to be a plague on our gender.  Supporting women, and having their support, lifted my life, helped me grow and soar. As a new generation (or two now) matures in front of women my age, it seems more important than ever that we cross over those decades and talk with each other. The “elders and the youngers” have information to share and wisdom to impart in both directions.  In this way, we connect our histories so that each generation of women doesn’t have to struggle in isolation.

Also a good read, recommended by GL teacher  and Hamline professor Jenny Keil, is this story in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/magazine/09fob-wwln-t.html?_r=1&emc=eta1, by Judith Warner, an excellent writer and reporter on women and life/family issues. In this particular story, she writes about Poser, and a whole genre of memoirs that is emerging in which yoga plays important roles.

And, when life closes in and you feel as though you aren’t “good enough”,  remember these lines from writer Duane Michaels: “Inside and outside her head, a billion, trillion stars, beyond count, circled and exploded….Songs were heard in spheres within spheres, electric, crackle, sharp. She heard nothing. How could she, when not once had she even heard the sound of her own breathing.”

And then drop perfectionism and embrace your wonderful, whole self.

Marcia Appel, Green Lotus teacher and partner

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Ayurveda, a life science dating back some 3,000 to 5,000 years, teaches us that our bodies are composed of a combination of the elements: Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Ether.  Any imbalance in these elements can cause disturbances in individuals’  health and well-being.

The following are forms of prana  (sensory input) that can help to ignite dormant potential and energy and rekindle tapas (burning enthusiasm):

• Peppermint, eucalyptus, cinnamon and ginger are wonderful scents to ignite dormant energy.
• Bright and vibrant colors are good to stimulate the senses as well. Deep blue, green, yellow, orange, red and white stimulate.
• Upbeat music also can enliven and bring joy. Singing and dancing to your favorite tunes elevate the spirit immediately!
• Specific yoga asanas and pranayama also can help to bring a bit of joy. Inversions in particuar and back bends elevate energy and change perspective.  Heated and flow yoga are good to increase the fire within.  Kapalabhati, or breath of fire,  immediately invigorates the mind, body and spirit.
• Diet probably is the most direct route to influencing balance. This time of year, in this part of the world, it can be very challenging to find fresh foods. The fresher the food, the more prana – or life force – in the food.  Foods that increase digestive fire are raw or steamed fruits and veggies, spices – in particular, ginger, cumin and cinnamon.  One should be careful to limit foods that cool digestive fire, such dairy foods, sweets and oils.

Personally, three tools that really help me bring light into my daily life are fresh flowers, breaking a sweat and belly-laughing daily.  Any activity that helps you to experience child-like joy is perfect! Remember – spring is on the way!

Gwen Linden-Bruzek, GL yoga eacher and Ayurveda Health Educator

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When we find ourselves smack-dab in the middle of January, sometimes the joy and energy we experienced as the year turned seems already dissipated. The bills arrive. The kids go back to school. The resolutions dissolve. We return to the “workaday” world. The shimmer seems to leave even as the days grow longer. We drift, worry, wonder.

And this is the very time, the perfect time, to begin to trust your intuition. Rather than forcing change, giving up, falling back into old patterns as January unfolds, take each moment, each breath, each day at a time. Observe your thoughts, reserve time to rest, allow yourself to dream. The year is new, possibilities will appear. Trust your intuition to choose among them.

Marcia Appel, Green Lotus Teacher and Partner

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Welcome to our new Blog!

Check back often for the latest news and musings from our Green Lotus Yoga Center Staff.

Thank You.

The Green Lotus Staff

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