I recently taught at the Austin Yoga Expo and wanted to share the handout with all of you who were not able to make it. It contains some really great information to begin to practice for the planets! A very simple way to start steering your intention toward managing planetary energies is to wear the planets color on the planet's day of the week! You could also use mantra which I have provided phonetically for the sanskrit challenged to be able to pronounce. I will continue to update you all on my progress toward beginning birth chart readings. Those of you who are interested in a reading now should contact my teacher, Craig Williams. It is a complicated science and I want to make sure I am really good at it before offering public readings. Meanwhile, get on your mats and start chanting! Susan

The planets are the most important influences in Vedic Astrology and are the key to understanding your birth chart. Their influences on individuals must be looked at in relation to the signs and houses in order to unlock how the planetary influence manifests for you. This astrology stuff is pretty complicated!

A great place to start if you are interested in this topic is by learning what the planets represent. Did you know that each day of the week has a specific planetary influence?  A simple way to start understanding each planet is to honor them on their respective day of the week!  You can do a related yoga practice, use mantra, or even wear a certain color. This allows you to begin to get a “feel” for the planets, what they represent. Here are some useful things you can do each day of the week.

Sunday: The Sun

Keywords: Ego, self, father, soul

Color: Orange

Mantra: Om Suryaya Namaha (om sir yah YAH nah mah hah)

Monday: The Moon

Keywords: emotions, personality, home, mother

Color: Opaque white

Mantra: Om Chandraya Namaha (om chaan drah YAH nah mah hah)

Tuesday:  Mars

Keywords: energy, logic, injuries, brother

Color: Red

Mantra: Om Kujaya Namaha (om koo jah YAH nah mah hah)

Wednesday: Mercury

Keywords: Communication, adaptability, commerce, childhood

Color: Green

Mantra: Om Budaya Namaha (om boo dah YAH nah mah hah)

Thursday: Jupiter

Keywords: Guru, wealth, grace, husband

Color: Yellow or gold

Mantra: Om Gurave Namaha (om goo rah VAY nah mah hah)

Friday: Venus

Keywords: Love, beauty, charm, wife

Color: Pastels

Mantra: Om Shukraya Namaha (om shoo krah YAH nah mah hah)

Saturday: Saturn

Keywords: Limitation, detachment, fate, property

Color: Blue

Mantra: Om Shanaye Namaha (om shah nah YAY nah mah hah)

For those who have not yet heard...Merrick Lynn Holt has arrived! She was born Wednesday March 28th, at 11:31am. Weighing 8lb 9oz and measuring 20 inches long. Both Jennifer and Merrick are doing great! Hollis finally has a little sister and he is completely in love with her. Congratulations to the entire family and welcome little Merrick to the community!

Meditation for Protection and Projection from the Heart

Some of you have done this meditation with me in the Explorations in Yoga class. This beautiful meditation is for protection and projection from the heart. Try this short blissful meditation along with Snatam Kaur Khalsa's recording of the mantra. The chant is simple: Aad Guray Nameh, Jugaad Guray Nameh, Sat Guray Nameh, Siri Guru Devay Nameh. The meaning of the mantra is: I bow to the Primal Wisdom, I bow to the Wisdom through the ages, I bow to the True Wisdom, I bow to the great, unseen Wisdom.

Click here for the recording of Snatam Kaur.

Enjoy!

Reasons to eat for the seasons

One of the best things we can do for our health and well-being is to eat for the season. What that means is that you change a little of what and how you eat depending on what season it is. This does not have to be complicated! Once way to get started is to choose fruits and vegetables that are in season. Right now, in the winter months, try some root veggies like parsnips, yams, sweet potatoes, and squash. Another great tip is the liberal use of spices. In the colder months, lean toward warming spices like cardamom, clove, cinnamon, and ginger. Also since this is the time of cold and dry air, healthy homemade stews and casseroles are great to warm you up and keep you from drying up. And tea is always a good thing, especially green tea. Of course as I write this, it is 65 degrees outside! I guess Spring is just around the corner!

I am so honored to be a guest and to share with you my thoughts on nourishment. Thank you for the invitation, and for all of those whose amazing words came before mine. They have been inspiring and enlightening!

I found myself excited by all the ways nourishment presents itself. In an attempt to reel in my enthusiasm, I head to the dictionary. The dictionary helpfully systematizes my understanding of nourishment with these words: “the substances necessary for growth, health and good condition.” I must add love.

For me, nourishment encompasses being purposeful in all facets of my life. It can be simply showing up for myself and others, fully present with the courage to lead with my heart and the intent to be kind, compassionate, and loving…(I could go on forever here). Nourishment has many faces and often changes with the seasons.

In my life, nourishment begins with reverence, gratitude and grace whether it is in the form of prayer, meditation, journaling, blogging, speaking, practicing, (physical activity – yoga, running etc.) or simply being. It is followed by what I put in my mouth and what comes out of it. It knocks on the door in the form of breathing (not the in and out repetitive non-conscious breathing, the kind that fills you with sustenance…more on this) food(the kind that is produced from the earth) and dialogue (inner and outer stemming from loving kindness). It materializes in my lifestyle choices.

Being mindful of what goes in and out of my mouth is not easy. Sometimes convenience presents itself and I want to give in by choosing foods that are not nourishing but fast. It’s easier to drive through, just throw any ol' thing into the cart without understanding what is in it or where it came from or by letting the kids buy prepackaged food that is sold everywhere. It can be tiring contending with society and good marketing vying for the girl’s (all of our) attention to make healthy choices. Then it hits me; isn’t it worth the fight to provide and seek knowledge so my family can continue to make healthy nourishing choices throughout life? Giving our bodies the best possible growth avenue? Will what we are about to consume provide my family with the nutrients needed to live a healthy active life? Is it made with love? The same goes for what comes out of my mouth. It is mostly in the way I talk to myself (condemning, judging, shoulding) but can sometimes extend to what I say to others. Can I nourish others with my words? Can I nourish myself with my thoughts?

Nourishment can surprise me by making a guest appearance in the form of letting go or the act of surrendering what no longer serves my mind or body. I sometimes find it while taking the first sip of coffee (not saying coffee is nourishing -- I’m aware of its faults) in a quiet house with only a glimmer of light and the auspiciousness of a new day. It kicks me out of bed on a cold morning with the promise of nourishing my family and to sip said coffee. It envelops me in the form of my husband’s loving arms around me. It lures me awake in the middle of the night in the form of my child snuggling so close her nose touches mine all the while knowing I will not get an ounce of sleep but will feel nourished with the notion that I provided love and security for her. It’s ever present in my children’s words, laughter, and actions (even in when naughty creeps in -harder, much harder to feel nourished with affirmation that every situation is a teachable one). I am most comforted in knowing that when I feel depleted there is so much nourishment that surrounds me. It’s available for me to grab hold of. Below is a practice in nourishment. It can be done when you feel depleted OR mindful...

Nourishment practice:

You can do this anywhere (a car, a chair, in your bed, on a cushion, at the grocery store). Begin bringing awareness to your breath (just as an observer – leaving judgment at the back door). Inhale more deeply let it fill your entire mid section extending to your spine, side body all the way to your lower belly. Exhale (slowly) all of your air out through your nose. Continue to breathe deep adding nourishment every time you inhale. Let it be expansive. Exhale what no longer serves you (negative self talk, anything that resides in the form of toxicity). You can do it 3 times or 300. It’s always accessible no matter where you are. Nourishment is a breath away.

Gratitude, love and all smiles, Michelle

The new year can bring a lot of intention for the upcoming year including resolutions for dieting, exercise, and getting rid of bad habits. My teacher, Craig Williams, shared an interesting article from the Harvard School of Public Health. They took the old USDA food pyramid and updated it to reflect a more accurate view of nutrition. It has some great information about the types of foods we should eat, how much we should eat, and what types of foods we should limit. There is also a "Healthy Eating Plate" which some find a little easier to "digest" (ha!) with advice as to what we should be putting on our plates. Especially check out the little blurb about Vitamin D! Click here to view the entire article. And bon appetit!