Neti

If you suffer from allergies or just cant seem to kick the sniffles maybe its time for some good old nasal irrigation. In Ayurveda, the sister science to Yoga, the neti pot is used in daily hygiene and health routines. A neti pot is just a small tea pot filled with a warm saline solution that when put to one nostril slowly rinses out the nasal passage and nose. After doing it a couple times on both sides you will likely take a nice easefull, unblocked breath! I got my first Neti from my Dr. when I was a teen. I had a sinus infection but was allergic to antibiotics so my Dr. recommended trying the neti. It cleared me up in two days! I won't go into detail about the things the neti pot dislodged, but I will say I was astonished and am a forever believer. I had terrible allergies as a kid and am very susceptible to them now but with a regular yoga practice and a neti by my side I am able to keep my sniffles at bay.

Here are some simple and effective recipes for your neti:)

Neti Pot Solution Recipes

1. Dissolve ½ teaspoon of salt (uniodized or sea salt) and ½ teaspoon of baking soda in 8 ounces of lukewarm (body temperature) sterile, distilled or previously boiled water to prepare the base solution.
2. Alternatively use more salt and less soda: ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ of baking soda. Baking soda adjusts the pH of the solution to the one your body has.
3. 3 drops of goldenseal tincture added to the base solution will drain the excessive mucous production.
4. To ease nasal dryness add 2-3 drops of sesame essential oil or aloe extract.
5. 2-3 drops of garlic oil, 2-3 drops of grapefruit seed extract or 5-6 drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide added to the base solution are applied as sinus infection treatment.

Now featured at Vertical World Seattle!

You can now find me at the sweet new yoga studio at Vertical world Seattle! I teach Wed 7am restorative and noon level 1, as well as all the weekend yoga classes. Come try a Saturday or Sunday level one directly followed by a soothing restorative .www.verticalworld.com

Wed- 7am restorative
         12pm level 1

Sat- 12pm level 1
        1pm Restorative

Sun- 10am level 1
         11:15am Restorative

        

Happy new year!

LOKAH SAMASTA SUKHINO BHAVANTU
May all beings everywhere be happy and free and may the thoughts, words and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Have you planted your Sankalpas? http://jackiesyoga.blogspot.com/2012/11/sankalpa-seeds.html

Move your Fascia!

Here is a interesting video entitled" Why yoga works" - http://vimeo.com/21878104
In the video Dr. Lipman speaks about how yoga is one of the few things that move and release fascia. Fascia is rarely brought up but people with chronic injuries and chronic pain benefit greatly from myofascial release. I tell you from experience! Fascia runs throught the body, over organs, muscles, tendons, etc and can stiffen or harden from injury or over time from repetition.
The practice of yoga is greatly beneficial for pain management and relief but the awareness to specific muscles and organs literally releases and detoxifies keeping your fascia in tip top shape!

Peace mantra for healing

Before I had a regular yoga practice I dealt with chronic pain, fibromyalgia, subluxating joints, IBS and chronic stress. It has many times over mended my heart and helped me mend others. It has helped me speak clearly and with ease in the most difficult of situations and allowed kindness instead of hate fill up my heart. It has given me hope.

I was practicing yoga as the death toll of the CT school shooting was being tallied yesterday. I had no idea at the time that as I flowed through asana, pranayama and meditation a terrible tragedy was amongst us.  My intuition at the beginning of practice was to dedicate with a mantra of daan shanti, meaning to give peace. I wanted to have the strength to send that into the world. I heard the news soon after I stepped off my mat and what horrific news it was. I know in such tragedy you will never recover without hope. To that I dearly hope the survivors are given the time and tools that yoga has given me to recover from horrific happenings. May they find, peace, hope and healing.

Om, Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi

Om Sahanaa Vavatu Sahanau Bhunaktu
Saha Veeryam Karavaavahai
Tejasvi Naavadheetamastu Maa Vidvishaavahai
Om Shantih Shantih Shantihi

Meaning: The literal meaning of this mantra is: "OM. Let all of us protect each other together, may all of us enjoy together, may all of us work together and let our study become radiant. Let there be no hatred between us, OM Peace, Peace, Peace"

Jackies yoga Seattle Bio

Discovering yoga at the age of 13 after a car accident catapulted Jackie into a life truly inspired by the teachings of yoga. Yoga not only helped Jackie overcome Fibromyalgia but has literally restored her body from years of rough equestrian sports with hypermobile joints, shoulder surgery...I could go on. Its obvious Jackie teaches directly from experience with her relatable approach and integrated creativity.  In her classes she conveys how to find ease in mind and body in challenging postures and transposes that into dealings of daily life. And with her infectious humor and wicked conviction of the effectiveness of living a life of yoga, you will leave her class with a light heart and a new found appreciation of the body. She is a true believer that every body is a yoga body and loves teaching all levels and all ages. Jackie has over  500 Yoga Alliance hours and has studied Hatha, Iyengar, Anusara, Vinyasa and always continues to expand.

Silly Sunday yoga