A Few Words on Bladder Infections

Last month I was blessed with a UTI -  bladder infection.

It didn’t exactly feel like a blessing at the time, but if I learned anything in the last five years, it is that in every unpleasant situation there’s a generous helping of brilliance and insight to be served if one is willing to accept it. A proverbial silver lining, if you wish.

And so, as I lay awake at 3 AM, running to the bathroom every 15 minutes, I start to realize that I have approached this situation from a very holistic perspective. It occurs to me that I can not only share my findings on this particular subject with you, but also use a similar method as a platform to explore and address any chronic (or not so chronic, but nonetheless annoying) ailments that are plaguing you and stopping you from enjoying your life fully. Hey, even bladder-infection induced insomnia can be productive!

So now, every month, we’ll choose a topic together – whatever is current and urgent for you – and use blog posts and Facebook to delve deeper into the discussion. Have you liked Satori on Facebook yet? If not, now is the time!

Before we start, though, I want to remind you that I am not a doctor. Everything that I talk about comes from my own experience.
NO, I didn’t study pharmacology or anatomy in university; YES, I’ve worked in the health food industry for the last decade, I research everything to a fault and am passionate about healing. Consider this to be an invitation, not a prescription.

I look at the healing of any illness or unpleasant situation from 3 different angles. This is the very same approach I use in my private practice.

Here is the holistic approach –  Satori way:

1. iLIVE: How can a change nutrition, diet, lifestyle and supplementation support healing?
2. iMOVE: What are structural imbalances – breathing restrictions, unhealthy or inefficient movement habits and holding patterns – that are contributing factors here?
3. iAM: Is there an underlying chronic stress condition or emotional imbalance worth addressing?

So, in the case of my urinary tract infection here is what I did:

iLIVE:I chose to go on a mono rice diet for the first 3 days to give my digestive system some rest and also let my body use most of its energy for healing, instead of digestion. From there I stuck to an anti-inflammatory diet. If what I just said sounds like a complete gibberish, here’s some good news: Spring Detox course is coming March 25th: we’ll talk about ayurvedic cleanse options as well as herbal formulas available on the market today.  Did you miss the Anti-Inflammatory Diet class last November? Look for a virtual Anti-Inflammatory Diet course coming this summer. And, of course, if you need a solution right NOW, please book your one-on-one consultation – let’s figure it out!
I didn’t want to overcomplicate things with supplements. (A good thing to remember is that they are just that – supplements. They are to supplement an already healthy diet, not to replace it!) The only three I used were unsweetened cranberry juice, critical care probiotics and d-mannose.  Plus an ayurvedic tea made from equal proportions of cumin, coriander and fennel – all cooling, soothing herbs. And lots and lots of water.
I do believe that conventional medicine has a rightful time and place –not as a stand alone solution, but as a part of a complete program. So I chose to go on antibiotics, and discovered something worth mentioning. For the first round of antibiotics I opted for a milder, 3-day solution. My thought behind it was to be as gentle on my body as possible. Not only did this first round of antibiotics not work, they made me feel tired and nauseated. YUCK! I asked Dr. Lyddell’s advice for the second round. Here is what he suggested: “ You have to treat those infections aggressively, as now there are a lot of drug resistant bacteria because of wide – spread use of antibiotics.” So a broad spectrum, potent antibiotic was in order for the second round, and I felt better for it in a matter of hours. Surprisingly, too – I experienced no fatigue or nausea – and that’s because these new generation drugs are hard on bacteria, not on your stomach. Win-win, I like it!
I also made sure that I was getting at least 8 hours of sleep and still napped in the afternoon. Rest is essential!

iMOVE: From the movement perspective, I have designed a therapeutic yoga practice to enhance the blood flow to the lower abdomen to reduce pain and cramping, and improve circulation. I practiced a lot of deep breathing. I also had an enlightening conversation with Janet Wood (a physiotherapist and miracle worker) on the merits of pelvic floor tonus and my bathroom habits.  The pelvic floor is a foundational support of your internal organs and the corner stone of your core stability. If the topic of core strength and balance is of interest to you, sign up for the Essential Core workshop coming up on March 10^th – we’ll be discussing this in much detail.

iAM: Last, but not least, I made sure I fit morning and evening meditation into my day. While I do have a regular practice of meditation, sometimes it slips, as I get really busy – hey, I am human, too. But when I am not feeling up to scratch, meditation becomes essential.
From a spiritual perspective meditation connects us to the deeper part of ourselves untouched by illness, pain, stress and discomfort. It is not just about controlling stress or triggering a relaxation response, even though these are valid reasons to practice meditation. Meditation reminds us of our true, unbound nature; it takes us to a place were all these old tapes that have been playing in our heads for years and years do not exist anymore; it shows us that Perfect Health is indeed a part of who we are. From that standpoint, meditation needs to be an essential piece of any healing program.  You are in luck: Learn to Meditate class is scheduled for January 25^th; and if you are ready to delve deeper and finally resolve your chronic stress issues then the Mastering the Art of Stress – Free living program might be for you.
I also investigated emotional holding patterns that might contribute to urinary tract infections and was surprised to learn that control issues were right there at the forefront.

There you have it, the Satori approach to urinary tract infections. To re-iterate what I’ve said earlier, I believe that the holistic way of healing is the only way. To find true healing, not just the band-aid solutions, we need to attend to ourselves in all our holiness – that’s right, the word holy, holistic and healing all have the same root.

To those of you who are thinking, “ where am I going to find time to do all of that?” I have this to say: It is not despite, but because I find the time to take really good care of myself I am able to work 14 – hour days, be productive and take care of my students the way I do. It is the reason I am able to heal myself, educate myself, build a successful business, take care of the household and raise two children all on my own. If I can do it, so can you. Don’t doubt yourself. Not now, not ever!

We have a two contenders for discussion in February – elimination problems (a.k.a. constipation) and sinus infections. I am leaning toward constipation, because both urinary tract infections and constipation depend heavily on the inner workings of your pelvic floor and your bathroom habits – something we are going to discuss in Essential Core workshop this March.  They also both belong to the realm of VATA imbalances, but that’s a whole ball game. Please let me know which topic interests you and resonates with you, so I can continue to serve you to the best of my ability.

 

 

Inflammation: Good, Bad & Ugly

Inflammation is bad news, right?

There’s much talk about hyper-acidity and chronic inflammation. Aging, heart disease, digestive problems, respiratory congestion, joint pain, and even cancer have all been connected to inadequate inflammatory response. No wonder many doctor super – stars and well – known athletes like Dr. Oz, Dr. Andrew Weil, Brandon Brazier all advocate anti – inflammatory diet.

But wait. Is all inflammation actually harmful?

Watch the video below to learn how inflammatory response works ( please ignore the ad at the end of the video; it is difficult to find a good educational video without ad of some sort attached to it)

Consider this:

Local inflammatory response is needed and necessary to repair broken tissue – be it a simple cut, a broken bone, a case of appendicitis or any other surgery. It allows the human body to be unharmed by viruses, bacteria or fungi by triggering an appropriate defense mechanism.

How come this vital part of the healthy immune system function can become such a menace? The reasons are one, two, way too many. For some of us it is genetic predisposition, for others – the state of chronic stress, and for many it is our diet.
All too often the link between the state of our overall health and the state of our digestive system becomes the vicious circle: the weaker our digestion, the poorer is our health; the poorer the health, the weaker the digestion.

Whoa, what a person to do?

You can, just like I did a few years back, pour over the books, experiment with different diets, try dozens of different supplements in hopes of finding something that works. It only took me about 7 years… give or take.

You can also attend Anti – Inflammatory Diet and Beyond:

You’ll get all the information I have collected and tested over the years of being unwell, working at the Health Hut and studying Ayurveda. Plus, as a special bonus feature, you’ll get a great overview of anti-inflammatory supplements available on the market from Kelly Stubbert (she had worked at the Hut for over 15 years; trust me, she knows her stuff).

So, what do you think? Quite honestly, if I was invited to one of these workshops 10 years ago when I was ill, I would have dropped my books and registered without even thinking twice. Lucky for you, though, none of that was available in 2001, so I had to do my own research and lots of it.

Anti – Inflammatory Diet and Beyond:
November 16 ( a Wednesday) 6:30 – 8:30 PM at the Northwest Wellness Centre. Register now!

Be Good…For Goodness Sake!

 

When I ask my students how are they feeling, more often then not I hear “ good…fine.”

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Birds of the Feather & Spring Yoga Plans

My intermediate yoga class inspired me to take a second look at the way I map out the yoga sessions.

A few students in the intermediate class were eager to practice Rajakapotasana, the pigeon pose. According to Martin Kirk, a senior Anusara yoga instructor, the pigeon pose offers a whole range of benefits: it energizes the body and the mind, opens the hip flexors, thighs, chest and shoulders, relieves mild depression and stress, improves circulation to the abdominal cavity and low back, stimulates the digestive and reproductive system, alleviates menstrual and menopausal discomfort and encourages healthy thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal function. Therapeutically it is used for low blood pressure, infertility and headaches. Unfortunately, in many flow classes this asana is routinely taught without any emphasis on safety, pelvic stability or alignment, and as a result yogis are experiencing knee, shin or ankle pain, amongst other problems. The injury rates in modern yoga classes are staggering and have been on the rise for the past decade. Knowing that, and having experienced a number of yoga mishaps myself, I just wasn’t willing to sacrifice the safety of my students for the glory of a pose… even if it was the King–Pigeon pose.

That’s when I got an idea. What if I created a class template that allowed the class to progress towards the pigeon pose, while still maintaining overall safety and integrity of alignment? What if instead of protecting my students by refusing to bring more complex asanas into the practice, I taught them how to listen to their bodies so intently that not even a quietest whisper went unheard? My teacher Susi Hately often says:” If you listen to your body’s whispers, you don’t have to hear it scream.”

We began our practice by nourishing relaxation. We practiced all-too  familiar Sun Salutation with a new – found meditative mindset, watching our bodies flow fluidly from pose to pose.

I introduced my students to the principles of core stability without gripping or tension (a concept from therapeutic yoga practice) and we challenged our core through the series of neuromuscular exercises.

Through smart sequencing we moved from simple to more complex postures to warm the body and give targeted attention to the areas which would be worked more deeply. Anticipatory asanas helped to open and stabilize the muscles and joints most involved in the pigeon pose and prepare the ankles, knees and hips for a gentle, yet profound opening.

At last I introduced my students to Rajakapotasana, the pigeon pose. It was breathtaking to watch my class practice this complicated and difficult pose with such care and awareness…There was no going back the the old way of session planning.

Welcome to the intelligent yoga practice.

While your safety is still my first and foremost priority, each session now has a goal in mind – asana to build toward; and in the process, the stillness of the present moment and the sweetness of surrender to experience.

A Pigeon!

What could be more fitting for this time of year?

See you in the class!

 

Where do you find your stability?

Exploratory movement in yesterday’s Hatha class revealed something very interesting.

Oftentimes we lack awareness and/or strength in deep, intrinsic muscles of the inner core. Instead, when our stability is challenged, we engage the familiar, big postural muscles creating tightness and tension. Some of us, without being consciously aware of what’s happening, also hold our breath or lock our jaws.

How do we change that pattern?

Nourishing relaxation above all, before we even start moving, is the key to success. Some simple techniques might include breath awareness, the practice of pranayama or a body scan.

Join Satori Yoga class to learn more.

See you soon!

The Law of Diminishing Intentions or How to Win The Loosing Battle

Have you made your New Year’s resolution yet?

If it includes becoming healthier, more flexible, loosing weight or finally addressing your stress levels, starting a yoga practice might be exactly the thing you need! Winter yoga session is starting tomorrow and there is a spot in one of the classes just for you.

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Eat, Pray, Love,….Yoga

What do you want from your yoga class?

A good stretch?

Peace?

Harmony?

Laughter? Read more

7 Spiritual Laws of Success: The Law of Dharma

Work is love made visible.
And if you cannot work with love but  only with distaste,
it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate
of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.

~Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

This class is our final installment in the 7 Spiritual Laws of Success Series.

What is Dharma? Dharma is a Sanskrit word that means “purpose in life”.

According to the Law of Dharma, each of us have our unique strengths and talents and a unique way of expressing those talents. When we match the expression of our talents with the service to humanity, we align ourselves with our Dharma – our purpose in life.

How do you practice the Law of Dharma? Starting by identifying your unique gifts and talents, something that you are really good at, something that brings you joy.

 

The Mantra for the Law of Dharma is

Om Varunam Namah – My Life is in Harmony with the Cosmic Law.

The Law of Dharma or Purpose in Life governs the sixth chakra. It guides us to express the highest aspects of our nature and manifest our full potential.

The Law of Detachment

Like two golden birds perched on the selfsame tree, intimate friends, the ego and the Self dwell in the same body.
The former eats the sweet and sour fruit of the tree of life, while the latter looks on in detachment.

The Mundaka Upanishad

The sixth spiritual Law of Success is the Law of Detachment.

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It states that in order to acquire anything in the physical universe, we must relinquish out attachment to it.

You might ask: ” Does that mean I give up my intention to create my desire?”

This is the topic of our next class – The Law of Intention and Desire. While I am preparing the material for the class, think about where the attachment is coming from – what believes are supporting your need for attachment to the outcome.

The mantra for the Law of Detachment is ” Om Anandham Namah” ” My actions are blissfully free from the attachment to the outcome”
Here is how to practice the Law of Detachment:

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The Law of Detachment governs the throat chakra – Visshuddha Chakra, the center of expression, and reminds us that while we can choose our words and actions, but we cannot control the response to them.

The Law of Intention and Desire

In the beginning there was desire, which was the first seed of mind

Hymn of Creation, The Rig Veda

Every yoga class I teach starts with setting of intention.  I invite my students to close the eyes and rest their awareness on the heart before asking themselves what is it that  they need from the practice.  As they are listening to their bodies for ques and messages, I close my eyes and set my intention for the class I am about to teach…

How powerful are our intentions?

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That’s the topic of our next class in Seven Spiritual Laws of Success series: The Law of Intention and Desire.

Lynne McTaggart,  the author of “Intention Experiment” talks about the science behind our thoughts and intentions.

The mantra for the Law of Intention and Desire is :

Om Ritam Namah

My Intentions and Desires are supported by the Universe

The Law of Intention and Desire is lively in your third chakra – Manipura – located at your solar plexus. This Law reminds us to be clear about our intentions – the process of manifesting our desires is first to bring them into our consciousness, expand our awareness through meditation and detach from the outcome.

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Please share your  thoughts or questions by using the comment box or on Satori Yoga Studio page on Facebook.

Talk to you soon!

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